Archive for Wheelchairs
Wheelchair Lifts Explained
Posted by: | CommentsVital to a the mobility of those in wheelchairs is a reliable wheelchair lift. A wheelchair lift allows those in wheelchairs to accomplish tasks otherwise impossible such as climbing a flight of stairs or getting in and out of a vehicle.
The most popular wheelchairs on the market nowadays are powered by electricity and hydraulics. Although you can still find them, manual powered chairs are less and less available. Sometimes, you will find a wheelchair lift with a manual power option for those times when the power goes out.
It should be no surprise that lifts can be found both in hospitals, buildings, and at home. Over the last couple of years, the price of wheelchair lifts has come down considerably. Furthermore installation is typically a breeze. The hardest part is deciding which type you would like installed. Here is some information about the different types of wheelchair lifts available, so that you can make a better decision:
Inclined platform wheelchair lift. These lifts are designed for both indoor and outdoor use. This is especially useful for those that are always on the go and live a very active lifestyle. You might keep one of these wheelchair lifts in the van and use it to get up stairs at school, work, or church for example.
Portable wheelchair lifts – If the person who will use the lift is very mobile and always on the go, then getting a portable wheelchair lift is a good option. This kind of lift is also sometimes referred to as mobilift – and with good reason. It is easy to bring along practically anywhere, like outdoor bleachers and vertical raised platforms.
Vertical platform wheelchair lift. These types of lifts often take up more space than other types of lifts. If you are looking for a lift for commercial use, this may be the type to look into. Also this lift can be used an an in home elevator.
Portable vertical lifts. These lifts are typically similar to a vertical lift with the additional functionality of being portable. The are fantastic in that you get the same functionality as the vertical lift, but with the ability to fold up and take up less space.
If you are looking for more information San Diego wheelchairs, chair lifts, and other wheelchair accessories, contact Access Medical, Inc. Access Medical supplies wheelchair lifts in San Diego, Orange County and the surrounding communities.
Have You Tried The SilverGlide Stair Lift?Wheelchair Accidents – Beware!
Posted by: | CommentsThe quality of life of people with a handicap or other mobility problem is greatly improved by a wheelchair, power scooter, powered wheelchair or other such mobility devices. However you can benefit from one of these devices without being permanently confined to one.
A wheelchair can allow a person who cannot walk for any great distance to take trips with friends and family and to gain the freedom to attend to other personal matters. Wheelchairs provide the ability to go places like the beach, mall, parks, sporting event and even Disney World.
Quality of life for my own grandmother was greatly improved after she got her wheelchair. A power scooter was a natural progression for my mother once her health deteriorated to a point where she could not walk without help. These devices improve quality of life for caregivers, friends and family in addition to those with the handicap.
Most people don’t realize that wheelchairs, power scooters, power wheel chairs and other mobile carrier devices can also result in accidents. Simply getting in and out of a wheelchair can result in a person slipping, falling to the ground, or somehow otherwise hurting themselves. The simple act of going to the bathroom, getting in out and of a chair or bed, transitioning to a car or van, or wheeling over a wheelchair ramp or going over a curb can be dangerous. Wheelchair lifts for access to vans or even stair glides can breakdown, causing concern. These are little things we take for granted. But when you are alone and disabled, these little things can not only be frustrating, but dangerous.
Most people don’t realize that wheelchair accidents are fairly common. Ramps can be especially dangerous where slipping off the ramp or getting stuck are also common occurrences. These situations while potentially dangerous, are also very frustrating and further drive home the reality of the individuals limitations. Calling for help with a cell phone is an option in some cases, but in others an automated system could be the better answer.
But there is hope. Technology has advanced today where systems can monitor and provide automated assistance. ScooterTracker is one such product that can track the location of a rider and call for assistance if necessary. The system uses the nationwide cellular network to monitor location anywhere in the US and abroad. Using wireless sensor technology, ScooterTracker can detect an accident or fallen rider and provide automated help.
If you or someone you know are concerned about the dangers of wheelchair accidents, then consider an automated help system. Looking to find more information on this technology or the best deals on related products, then visit the ScooterTracker website
Have You Tried The SilverGlide Stair Lift?Power Wheelchairs Can Keep You Mobile
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The whole purpose of wheelchairs is to facilitate greater freedom and independence for people who might find it difficult or impossible to do without the assistance of the wheelchair. Only 1 – 2% of everyone who could really use a wheelchair actually has one or has access to one at this time.
Those reading this article are more likely to come from a part of the world where most of the people who need wheelchairs actually get them. For people who have suffered from an accident or an injury there may be some difficulty in adjusting to the need for a wheelchair and the person may suffer from feeling confined to it and limited by it rather than perceiving the whole thing as more of a matter of liberation.
Not everyone has the same type or degree of disability. This has a strong influence on what the needs are, in terms of wheelchairs. The most important question is whether or not the person using the wheelchairs can and will use his or her arms with ease and variation. If not then, the powered wheelchairs with extremely simplified navigation may well be mandatory. Strong supports for the head and back may be involved. Some people need to have help holding their heads at all times, whereas others do not have so much need for this. In actual experience I know a girl child and a grown woman who’s wheelchairs have neck and head supports they seem to very much need and also know a grown man who doesn’t need that kind of support except for occasionally in order to rest. All three of these people rely on the powered wheelchairs to enhance their mobility. One is just a child presently but the other two benefit greatly from their wheelchairs and seem to be as independent and responsible as possible – which is either fully or very nearly so in both cases.
If you have a disability that makes even walking difficult then the level of liberation offered by a wheelchair is incredible. You will be more dependent on one than you had expected once you allow yourself to adjust to a lifestyle that incorporates it. As a consequence, being able to maintain it will prove to be highly important. It will help if you are aware of this from the beginning.
Finally, there are other types of wheelchairs. All of them can be transported but the way that this will be done is mutually influenced by the type of wheelchairs needed. In addition to the vehicle used to transport the wheelchairs, the pathways in and out of buildings have to fall within certain parameters in order to be wheelchairs accessible. Fortunately for the rest, ramps can be attractive as well as practical additions to a building. Ramps can be laid onto a stair case relatively easily although the limit to gradient until a lift is needed must be determined.
Looking to find the best deal on wheelchairs in San Diego California, then visit www.accessmedicalrehab.com to find the best advice on mobility products and information on the how to get involved in the San Diego disability community.
Have You Tried The SilverGlide Stair Lift?Shopping For A Power Wheelchair? What To Expect.
Posted by: | CommentsInvesting in an electric wheelchair might be a high priority. It is important to think beyond the initial costs and consider what it will take to maintain them for an extended period of years. Effective maintenance care will frequently be far less expensive than having to start over by buying a new one for adults. One important question for you to ask a wheelchair provider is the whole category of their maintenance. Wheelchairs can be like those cars that require customers to buy replacement parts and repair services from the dealership only or primarily, particularly for warranties to be covered.
The major wheelchair brands such as Invacare are reliable in these regards. Still, first timers need to ask about this to ensure they know how to get the services and parts they will need. Insurance companies at times have stronger connections with specific providers. They do not legally have the right to dictate to their customers which providers or brands to work with. This is important knowledge since there are times when they try to bully customers into certain business partnerships. Often, the insurance company will select respectable and reliable brand names but those are not necessarily the only good ones.
Wheelchairs are far more personalized than many people may realize. Your provider is like a normal retailer in some ways but is highly unusual in some others. The wheelchair needs to do more than simply meet general specifications. It needs to be designed specifically for you or your loved one.
The provider should be able to help you find a wheel chair with all the accessories and functions that will work for you. A key area you should focus on the mobility of your arms and neck. Support for both will be vital. In this way a wheelchair provider works with your physician to determine the level and type of wheelchair that will suit your daily needs. Communication systems, beverages, portability, transportation, navigation are among the most important things to consider.
It is reasonable for you to expect that your wheelchair provider will be well versed in a range of wheelchair adjustments, maintenance processes, and utilities that go far beyond what you will need in your specific case. Thanks to this fact, you will also be able to get what you need. The provider should be able to prove to you how they will ensure that the whole wheelchair package will be able to be maintained. They will make clear whether you will need to go through them all of the time or not. Be sure you know how to handle different issues that may arise with caring for your wheelchair.
The final aspects of your provider are more essentially interpersonal. Here, you simply need a good enough personality match to make it so that you can handle questions, communications and conflicts reasonably well. You need competence and the right equipment but also want to have people who you are able to work with instead of people that make you feel shy or frightened or contentious.
As an expert in mobility products Nathan Mattel has been involved with disability devices for over 15 years. He specializes in San Diego wheelchairs. He is heavily involved in the San Diego mobility community.
Have You Tried The SilverGlide Stair Lift?An Investigation Of Remote Monitoring & Alerting Systems for Healthcare Mobility
Posted by: | CommentsDoes this sound familiar?
My elderly mother recently had an accident while walking outside her home. At 78 years old she broke her hip during a fall and was unable to reach her phone. The alert system failed because she was too far from the base station. After waiting for help for 2 hours she was finally discovered by a neighbor. She could have easily died. Roger G.
This could happen to anyone! Wireless life alert systems are extremely limited, and really require the person to be close to their “base station” which is often located in their home or bedroom.
Physically and mentally challenged people need a fully automated system that calls for help when they can’t!
If someone you know is physically or mentally challenged, has limited mobility and cannot always be left by themselves, you should consider an automated remote alert and monitoring solution. Piece of mind can be given to loved ones of these individuals while independence and personal freedom is maintained to some degree.
Both the needy and the caregiver will benefit from a remote alerting and monitoring system. The physically or mentally challenged, elderly, children or even pregnant women have moments where they require help. In emergency situations these systems are not only invaluable, but also life saving.
Technology can surely improve a person’s quality of life while offering relief to loved ones and caregivers.
However, technology also introduces other problems. One area in particular is wheelchairs. Wheelchairs can extend an individual’s mobility, but it also means they can potentially travel further from home or available help.
Many otherwise immobile people have found comfort in manual and powered mobility devices. Many are self propelled or pushed by care providers, but technology has improved and cost offsets are in place today where more people are able to use powered wheelchairs and scooters. Regardless of what device is used, mobility and personal freedom is much increased.
A range of 10 to 15 miles or more is provided by many wheelchairs or scooters on a single battery charge. This dinstance can place an otherwise needy person far from help. They are not only used around the house and yard, but are used to travel to local shopping and to visit neighbors and family which greatly increases personal freedom.
A cell phone should be carried by wheelchair and scooter users because of the inherent dangers. However some people are unable to use a mobile phone for various reasons which may include a sudden attach or accident.
This investigation examines alternatives to cell phones that provide greater reliability, convenience and just may be more effective at limiting physical damage and pain and saving lives.
A scooter or powered wheelchair user can travel far from help. A sudden attack or accident could evolve into something much more serious without immediate attention.
What is Monitoring & Alerting?
Monitoring and alerting are separate and distinct events. Alerting provides reporting of monitored parameters. Parameters can be such things heart rate, blood pressure of body position. Most systems provide monitoring solutions, but few provide automated alerting solutions that can really save lives.
Alerting is a very important part of the equation. When someone needs assistance during an emergency situation; someone needs to be immediately notified. In those cases where the user is unable to call for help and automated solution is required. This complication requires robust and accurate monitoring.
Monitoring is carried out by a variety of sensors. For those mobile people the sensors are often powered by battery. The monitored data is analyzed and when meeting certain criteria can activate an alert. Alerts can come in many forms to include emails, text messages and even phone calls.
The Value of Monitoring and Alerting
Monitoring and alerting in real-time for a scooter or powered wheelchair can greatly reduce the danger associated with emergency situations. Monitoring systems can track vital information and provide automated alerting and notification to those that can provide help.
Looking to find the best deal on HealthCare Monitoring and Alerting, then visit www.ScooterTracker.com to find the best advice on great wheelchair accessories for you.
Have You Tried The SilverGlide Stair Lift?