The tips and tricks I have picked up along the way about what to know when you are looking to get either a new wheelchair (manual or powered), k-walkers, and standers, these tips can be used for any of these pieces of equipment along with advice from your GP or OT.
Wheelchair tips #1: Find a chair type that works best for you be it manual or powered, rigid or structured, sport style or standard. Which wheels and castors (small front wheels) suit you best and what type of handlebars, backrest heights, and tipping bars are your preference.
Wheelchair extra tip: It helps the assessment go a lot quicker and straightforward if you have an idea or a reference chair from the internet so that you can discuss it with the seating department so that you can get a better idea of what your options are.
Wheelchair tip #2: Early on try to have a few favorite colors are that you would like your chair's frame to be, at least you will have a list ready for those times where you are being assessed for your new manual or powered wheelchairs.
Wheelchair extra tip: Before you choose your chair, it helps to think of it as like buying a new pair of shoes, ones that you will be showing off all the time so it does help to get it as customized as possible so that you can continue on with not only the type of chair that you like (frame-wise) but also the overall aesthetic of you and your chair combined.
Wheelchair tip #3: In my experience, the whole process goes a lot smoother when you are referred to your seating clinic by either your physiotherapist, OT, or GP whatever the case is.
Wheelchair tip #4: Depending on how you are sourcing your chairs either by medical cards, insurances, or self-funded, the wait times can range anywhere from 6 to 12 months which then sometimes depends on the specifications and styles that you choose.
Wheelchair extra tip: Once you have received your new chair and the excitement eases a little, it is important that you are at least helping to maintain your wheelchair – this is easier said than done but I’ve just started this in the last while and it does help by looking after them, this can be done simply by getting a full service or remembering to clean out your castors every so often (trust me!!)
** Also, the period of time between when you receive your chair and when you can change it again mainly depends if you have started to outgrow your wheelchair and need it to accommodate the same or if you are a medical cardholder or have any health insurance where the wait times could possibly be different depending on each person’s situation.
Please note that these tips were created from my own experiences as a wheelchair user and I would highly recommend having a chat with your doctors, physios, OTs about what options you have and where to go from there! Good Luck
Happy Wheeling! X
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