A Electric wheelchair, more commonly known as a power wheelchair, offers the advantage of mobility for those bound to their homes due to illness, stroke or other injury. "I have one in my garage right now for zooming around the yard and doing yard work," says Bill Fertig, the Virginia Beach-based director of the United Spinal Association Resource Center. The devices typically have at least four or six wheels which help with stability, they are powered by batteries that generally last around 10 miles before having to recharge.
To choose to select the Best electronic wheelchairs for older adults for seniors, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed the data of more than 50 products from top brands and evaluated the price and weight capacity. travel range, top travel speed and portability. See which Electric wheelchairs are available for purchase on our list. Note: Prices are accurate at the time of publication.
What Is an Electric Wheelchair?
A portable electric chair, also known as motorized or powered electric wheelchair near me - is a four or six-wheel chair that has a motor that operates using one or two batteries. They can be operated using an electronic joystick, and don't require muscular upper body strength. Electric wheelchairs that are powered are available from standard, basic wheelchairs for short-term use to highly customized versions for longer-term, more complicated needs.
Cory Lee, 31, of Georgia has been using wheelchairs since four years old. In addition, he's hot ballooned in Israel and floated in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland and was able to encounter an hippopotamus while in South Africa. He's also an expert on how to travel in the wheelchair. Over the course of Lee's life Lee had used a variety of various sizes and kinds of wheelchairs--and knows the importance of selecting the right one.
Best electric wheelchairs at prices similar to those utilized by Lee are part of a class known as complex rehabilitation technology also known as CRT. "These wheelchairs are measured and built specifically to meet each individual's unique needs," says Angie Kiger, a clinical director of strategy and education at Sunrise Medical, a California-based manufacturer of wheelchairs. This technology includes multiple positioning options, high-tech electronics and controls, as well as adjustments for injuries to the joints and accommodations for ventilators.
What is a Power Wheelchair?
Power wheelchairs (also called power chairs) provide exceptional mobility in narrow spaces and around sharp corners, making them an ideal solution for getting around within and outside your home. A power wheelchair also allows you to pull in close proximity to counters, tables and other work surfaces to carry out routine tasks and stay in your home. They are prescribed by doctors to those who require full-time mobility for daily tasks within their home, and are also available to rent or purchase for those who could benefit from the increased mobility and freedom that a powered wheel chair provides.
Electric Wheelchair Basics
When you're looking for a best electric wheelchair prices You'll see various terms that are often seen on websites of the dealers. We've listed a few the most basic terms below to make shopping simpler.
Front-, Mid-, & Rear-Wheel Drive
All Medicare electric wheelchair coverage have four or six wheels, however, only two wheels of the chair are powered via the motor. Other wheels ("casters") provide stability to the chair. Mid-wheel drive tends to be best for turning completely around in tight spaces. On the other hand, front and rear wheel drive wheelchairs tend to provide the most comfortable rides and can handle outdoor terrain well. It is recommended to speak with an occupational therapist in order to decide what type of wheel drive is the best choice for your everyday use.
Turning Radius
The radius of the turning point is the smallest turn the electric wheelchair near me. The narrower the radius the better the chair is for indoor use or smaller areas. A turning radius of 20" and about 35" is the norm. Chairs with a lot of weight will have big turning radiuses. Other factors like the angle of the footrest as well as the drive for the wheel can also influence the turning radius.
Travel Range
A wheelchair's range of travel- often simply referred to as "range" - is the miles that it will travel before its batteries need to be recharged. Range varies widely, from 4 to 5 miles in certain chairs , to as much as 20 miles in some. The range may be less than advertised if the passenger is unusually heavy, the terrain isn't smooth and the battery getting old. Finding an electric wheelchair that has high-range is important for those who want to travel or often take their Electric wheelchair for sale outdoors for solo trips to the shop or other places.
Warranty Limits
Electric wheelchairs usually have "limited" warranties and not every day wear and tear can be taken care of by the maker. Most warranties cover structural elements such as the metal frame that the wheelchair is covered for five to ten years and usually, different parts for shorter periods of time specified in the warranty agreement. In the overview table and in the company profiles below, the number listed next to the word limited (for instance, "5 year limited") will indicate the maximum coverage of the warranty. This is usually for the frame.
How to Choose a Power Wheelchair Store
When you're searching for a local store for power wheelchairs near me or an online store there are certain points you will want to research prior to doing business with any business. The cost of purchasing a power wheelchair will easily cost $1,000.00and you'll want to ensure you are doing everything you can to ensure you are going to be working with a business that offers outstanding customer service, low rates on new units and also the knowledge to guide you in finding the right Best electric wheelchair for you.
Here are three main things that you should think about prior to buying a power chair:
Online Reviews - Crowd sourcing information is the most effective way to evaluate the quality of customer care provided to historical customers. No business can run in a flawless manner without any errors, so whenever something goes wrong, it is important to make sure that the company stands by you and will do what is essential to ensure that you end with a satisfied customer. Currently, MobilityScootersDirect.com has a 4.7/5.0 which is a very strong rating. Any business with less than a 4.0 rating could be thought of as average. Any company that has less than a 3.0 rating may be considered poor.
Pricing - A critical factor is the price. Why would you want to pay more for an identical product? Local retailers are often forced by law to charge higher prices since they are obligated to pay rent and expenses to pay for. The cost of overhead can be in the hundreds of dollars per month for a bricks and mortar enterprise, so this must be accounted for in the pricing. At MobilityScootersDirect.com, we're an online store so able to offer you these products at the lowest price the manufacturers will allow us to sell them for. This is commonly referred to as MAP pricing.
Expert Knowledge of products Portable Best electric wheelchair - All of our sales personnel are certified in electronics and are able physically repair mobility scooters and power wheelchairs. Our sales team members are avid aviation enthusiasts and enjoy the flying drones made of electronic technology. Their love for electronics is translated into a deep understanding of products that are unmatched elsewhere. One of the reasons our reviews are so outstanding is due to the fact that our sales staff is so knowledgeable that our clients receive an item that not only meets their needs but can even exceed their expectations.