Electric Mobility Scooters

How do you know whether you or a loved one would be better off with a rollator or a walker?  Comparing these two products will help you to make your decision. Perhaps rollators are not as well-known as walkers. Overall, walkers are devices with four legs and two handles that you lift up and place in front of you for stability when walking. Rollators on the other hand have wheels. The most common designs have three or four wheels. Some are also equipped with a breaking and locking system for the wheels. Both a rollator and a walker can fold for easy storage or travel. They are used by individuals who require more support than a walking stick or cane can provide.The true benefit of a rollator are the wheels that offer ease of movement. Some people find the continuous lifting and setting down of a walker awkward and uncomfortable. If that is the case, it is almost more of a hindrance than a help. If you or a loved one is not putting their walker to use think about this. Are you suffering from a feeling of isolation, because your lack of mobility makes simple little trips, like going to the shopping mall, beauty salon/barber, temple or church, close to impossible? If that is the case, perhaps you would be much happier with a rollator than a walker. A rollator provides all the benefits of a traditional walker, but is very easy to use. For some it is a more dignified alternative to the traditional walker. With a rollator the trip to the shopping mall or even the grocery store is a possibility again. Once again you can get out and get exercise, chat with people, and buy the supplies you need to live happily and healthily.

Selecting the right chair, especially for a first-time wheelchair user can be confusing. It’s always a good idea to work with an occupational therapist who has experience with various kinds of wheelchairs, but here are some mobility basics on wheelchairs.

Manual Wheelchairs

People with upper body strength typically use a manual – they propel it with their arms on the rims of the wheels.  Today’s standard comes in every color and designed for much superior performance. Newer chairs ride truer and are much easier to push than the old-fashioned one. The lightweights, whether with either a rigid frame or a folding frame, are also easier to transfer in and out of cars.

Power Wheelchairs

Many people cannot push a wheelchair with their own arm strength and may require a wheelchair powered by batteries. Power chairs come in several basic styles. The traditional style looks like a beefed up standard manual plus the batteries, motor and control systems. There are also platform-model power chairs with a more ordinary seat fixed atop a powered base. Scooters come in three- and four-wheel configurations and are typically used by people who don’t require them full time.

Tilt or Recline Wheelchairs

Some people use special wheelchairs to distribute pressure and thus reduce the risk of skin sores. These chairs also increase comfort and sitting tolerance. One type of chair, called “tilt in space,” changes a person’s orientation while maintaining fixed hip, knee, and ankle angles. The whole seat, in effect, tilts. The other chair option is called a recline system, which basically changes the seat-to-back angle, flattening out the back of the chair and in some cases raising the legs to form a flat surface. 

Even with the best treatment, rheumatoid arthritis can slow you down. That’s why a good treatment plan doesn’t stop with just medicine and exercise. If you start to have trouble with everyday activities, help is available.Assistive devices are products and tools that can make life with rheumatoid arthritis easier. These simple devices let you continue to cook, clean, get dressed, bathe, and move around with relative ease.Assistive Devices to Help You Get Around

• A cane or crutch used on the opposite side of a painful knee or hip makes walking easier and makes the joint last longer.
• Braces and splints provide support to joints and decrease strain.
• Reachers are long rods with a grip handle on one end and pincers (like a claw, used to grab) on the other. They let you pick up small objects without having to bend over or reach uncomfortably.
• Elevated chair legs make it easier to get in and out of your seat. The chairs you have can usually be fitted with extenders.

Assistive Devices for the Bathroom

• A tub bench or shower seat lets you bathe more comfortably and reduces the chance of falls. Nonskid shower mats will make the tub safer, too.
• Grab bars make it easier to get in and out of the bath.
• A raised toilet seat with side rails reduces the strain of getting on and off.
• Long-handled sponges help you to wash your legs and feet without bending. Also, large sponges are easier to grip than washcloths.
• Easy-to-pull shower curtains are better than heavy shower doors.
• An electric toothbrush with a fat handle is easier than a regular toothbrush.
• By putting a seat in front of your sink you can avoid leaning forward; the same with using a freestanding mirror for grooming.

If you are stuck with a power wheelchair that is a lemon you have two Choices. The first is to read your state lemon law and go kick some butt. The second is to sit around and feel sorry for yourself. The choice is yours to make.
Wheelchair Lemon Laws provide a legal remedy for consumers who are buyers or leasees of new motorized wheelchairs that turn out to be lemons. If the wheelchair does not conform to the terms of the written warranty and the manufacturer or its authorized dealer is unable to repair the wheelchair after a reasonable number of attempts during the first year, the consumer may be able to get a refund or have the wheelchair replaced.

These laws may vary from state to state so be sure to check your state’s wheelchair lemon law above.
 

Elderly people around the world are limited by their mobility, and it is the right of all people to be able to move about and experience all that life has to offer, no matter what their condition.  There are a variety of options for increasing the mobility of an elderly person, the most prominent being a scooter or power chair.  Though you might think electric scooters and power chairs are expensive, often times they are covered through Medicare or insurance.  Owning an electric scooter or power chair is quite easy; you simply need to plug it in and charge the batteries when it is not in use, and other than that there is little maintenance required.

Imagine being able to go to the grocery store, get around the kitchen with ease, or even take a stroll through the park anytime you want; being mobile provides a feeling of freedom and accomplishment that shouldn’t be denied to anyone.

The word commode comes from the French word meaning convenient or suitable, and refers to a small cabinet placed at the bedside.  The commode can be used to place a lamp on for reading, store medicines, clothing, hygiene products, or act as a surface for jotting down notes.  The commode is different from a standard bedside table because it is wider, and acts more like a small dresser or linen cabinet than mere flat surface.  Some commodes are designed to cater to the needs of elderly people, and can be used as seats or stools for getting in and out of bed safely. 

The commode is a classic piece of furniture that is celebrated for its simplicity and elegant design; it’s great for impressing your friends and family or even as a gift to your bed companion. 

You can literally rise to any occasion in this State-of-The-Art Power-Standing/Drive Lightweight Wheelchair, the New XO-202:
With a USA Patent /CE Approved. The frame is made with durable 6061 T-6 Aircraft-grade Aluminum. Features also include see- through Sleek Side Panels, Flip-back Concaved Armrests w/SHARK II Easy To Use Joystick Remote For Drive & Stand, Denmark Linak Control Box, Adjustable Backrest Height, Adjustable Footrest Height & Angle, Knee Support, Safety Belt, Chest Support & Leg Strap, Gel Memory Cushion Back and Seat, Weighs Only: 110 lbs w/o Battery, Breathable Nylon Upholstery, Flat Free Rear Wheels & Front Wheels, Motor: DC24V. 320W, Maximum Speed: 5 Mph (Moving slowly is recommended while standing up), Battery: 12V/36AH x2pcs, Range per Charge: ~20 Miles.  

Is there any routine maintenance I should do on my Amigo?

While it is not necessary to do daily or monthly maintenance, we do recommend these tips for optimum performance:

Daily:Charge batteries daily when the Amigo is used. Charge the battery until fully charged to ensure proper battery operation. Extended charging is good for the batteries and will not overcharge them.  Monthly:

Check and clean battery terminals and the wire connections as needed with a light piece of emery cloth or brush and soda water. Clean upholstery, plastic and metal. Inspect batteries for any cracks or damage of any kind. Check and tighten any exposed fasteners. Check tire pressure of pneumatic tires.  

Though the common perception is that world travel is an activity for younger people, it can be just as fun and enlightening as an elderly person.  Even if you can’t move around on your own, with a power chair, a travel agent, and a bit of savings, there’s no limit to the locations you can visit.  For most every person out there, there’s some location they always wanted to visit but never had the chance.  What better time than right now?

Don’t wait until it’s too late, find a travel partner, and hit the road!

Adaptive automotive equipment offers people in wheelchairs the means to regain the freedom they may have lost due to a disability. They must learn to operate adaptive automotive equipment in the same manner as people who drive with standard equipment and there are a variety of modifications available to enable drivers and/or passengers to motor safely across the country or across their neighborhoods. The ability to drive allows individuals with disabilities to stay active and it immeasurably improves the quality of their lives. Whether commuting to work, buying groceries, taking their children to school, going on vacation, or competing in adaptive sports, people with disabilities rely on adaptive motor vehicle equipment to keep them in the driver’s and/or passenger’s seat.   There is a surprising amount of information
gathering required before helping a client choose a vehicle or determine the suitability of a given chassis. One answer often leads to many other questions. A Mobility Dealer will be able to take over and finalize the options available to the client and ensure they don’t purchase the wrong chassis for the appropriate mobility solution. The following questions will prepare you for the evaluation visit  for ordering  adaptive equipment for your vehicle. The answer to these questions will enable the consumer to arrive at a proper mobility solution more quickly.
• What is the nature of the disability?
• Will the person with the special need
be a driver or a passenger?
• Type of mobility device - Does the
person use a wheelchair or scooter?
• What is the make and model?
• Will the mobility device be occupied
when being brought into the vehicle?
• If occupied, how tall is the person
when sitting in the wheelchair?
• How wide is the mobility device at it’s
widest?
• Does the person have, or will they be
getting, an assessment from any source?
• How will the chassis be paid for?
• How will the special needs items be
paid for?