Welcome to the Wheelie-drome! (wheelchairs and all mobility stuff)

[ThisIsANiceCage]

A thread to share tips and technology for making life that little bit better when walking is a problem - temporarily or longer term.

There's so much good mobility kit out there. But it can take ages to discover gizmo X even exists, never mind that it will be the answer to our prayers. A far cry from the deluge of information and adverts we're all bombarded with about whizzy new features for pushchairs and cars,

So I thought it would be nice to have a place where we can share MN's vast experience in all matters wheelie and walkie.

[MaryQueenOfSpots]

Poppy and NiceCage, you both mentioned struggling with effort of self propel. Just thought I'd mentiin my BIL used power assist wheels on his manual wheelchair (until his condition progressed so now he needs a powered wheelchair) in case it wasn't something you'd come across.

I think they were called eMotion or something? They work by amplifying your effort. They did make his chair a little bit wider than standard, so the odd doorway was a bit tricky (we live in a narrow Victorian terrace). He got help from access to work for funding as well.

[MaryQueenOfSpots]

OMG I just googled how much they are

Only investigate further if you have deep pockets.

Sorry, that'll learn me to post before researching.

[Tianc]

£4,000? But will be worth it for some, so thanks for mentioning.

Presumably ordinary battery packs are much cheaper - but I haven't gone there yet.

[gingeroots]

Someone has just directed me over here to share my enthusiasim for this
www.thiis.co.uk/new-products-cricket.aspx
piece of equipment .

IME a lot of elderly people are provided with hoists ,or standing hoists if lucky ,when their mobilty gets to the point where zimmer frames aren't enough .
But the full hoists are very scary for the person in them ( not to mention needing 2 people to operate ,or at least IME care agencies require 2 people to operate ) plus they make the person use even less muscles and become even more dependent .( IMO ) And they're so big .

The cricket hoist is really simple - you can't really see it from the link but the sling bit that you sit on comes undone so that the person uses the frame bit to get up and then the carer ( it's easy to use with one person ) then puts the sling in place while the person is standing .Then you can wheel them to WC or commode and back to chair .
( speaking as a lay person of course )

An elderly lady I used to care for was provided with a cricket hoist ,sadly she was too disabled by then to use it ,but it would have been perfect for her a few years earlier . And had she had it then she might have retained more mobility for longer .

The lovely local authority OT who ordered it for us said that as a piece of equipment it was non standard and had to be ordered in . The hoists usually supplied are standard and kept in stock ,hence when someone being discharged from hospital and time is of the essence ,the person ends up with a full hoist and no one ever then thinks to consider a cricket hoist .

[noarguments]

sorry for mini hijack but am looking at lightweight foldable wheelchair for occasional use for my Mum who's been poorly recently and will take a while to recover - getting out and about would perk her up I think but she is realy lacking in energy - was thinking of getting one from Amazon - any particular suggestions?

THANK YOU.

[Tianc]

Hey there, noarguments. Not a hijack at all - exactly what this thread's for!

Marvellous idea to get your mum a wheelchair and get out and about.

I got mine from eBay, so probably very similar to what's on Amazon. It's aluminium and very light, and folds and comes apart in improbable ways. I've yet to find a car it won't fit.

On the downside, it's not spectacularly comfortable and too flimsy to do wheelies in which is a bummer.. Certainly wouldn't want to be stuck in it all day. But for an hour or two it's great - and stows neatly in cafes while I relax in a proper seat. It also has a weight limit of iirc 75kg, so that's something to watch out for.

The other thing to think about is transit vs self-propelled.

Con of self-propelled is big wheels to stow - but these are usually quick-release so not a major issue, and in fact I almost never have to take mine off.

Pro of self-propelled is that the user can pootle within shops, etc, even if a pusher does the A-to-B stuff. I would actually explode if I didn't have self-propelled, as DP has been known to stop when he is level with something on a shelf and say, "What do you think about these?"

"I don't know dear, whatever it is is a foot behind my left ear and you're talking to the back of my head. Again." So being able to reverse, adjust and spin round has stopped me actually killing him so far.

Good luck and happy days out!

[Tianc]

If there's a Shopmobility near you, may be able to try out various wheelchairs and see what suits you and DM. You may also be able to hire one for more than just a few hours (may vary per branch).

[Tianc]

Thanks for posting, gingeroot, I know someone who may benefit from that gizmo.

[noarguments]

OK that's brilliant. Next question - and this is for work really. Is there a charity that collects and redestributes stairlifts that are now longer required? I know someone (Nottinghamshire) who wants his to go to a good home ...?

[Tianc]

Ooh, stairlifts were being discussed just yesterday: Can anyone give me an idea of how much a stair lift cost Please

Perhaps ask the folks on that thread - and share any useful advice here?

[Reenypip]

Hi chickchickchicken, that remap website was helpful thank you. I've just given them an email.

[gingeroots]

Wow Reenypip how right you are ,the idea behind the remap site is brilliant
www.remap.org.uk/

I see they've come up with a table that can be used by someone with very little upper body movement in a reclining chair - we looked everywhere for this .
But y'know ,how crazy that there isn't a comercially available one ?

Dibbler and chick - with those high tech walking sticks - can you use them on pavements ? Doesn't the spike at the end prevent that ?

[CMOTDibbler]

You put a rubber bit on for pavements. Since DH had one, I've noticed a lot of 'younger' stick users with them.

[gingeroots]

Oh I see ,thank you .

Do you have a link to a preferred one ,i'd like to send it to someone I know ?

[Tianc]

Another great thread that might have relevance for some people looking here: Care tips for the elderly (and perhaps not so elderly)

[Tianc]

More fabulous funky sticks and crutches:
Chic Aid
Glam Sticks
Switch Sticks

[slipperandpjsmum]

I a looking for a bag on wheels for work, never had one before does anyone have any tips on how good they are and any links if people have bought one or know of one. Is this the best way to transport my paperwork?

[Tianc]

[gingeroots]

slipper not sure I understand quite what you are looking for .
Can you say more ?

[KnitMinion]

I have had this funded to help me get around university, I love it!

www.teamhybrid.co.uk/handcycles2/viper.php

[Tianc]

OMG that's so cool, Knit!

Needs a rigid wheelchair, rather than a folding one, so alas not on my list for Santa. But at £2,800 it's expensive but significantly cheaper than the other wheelchair power-device mentioned above.

It looks really stable, too - what's it like over rough ground?

[Tianc]

Plenty of shoppers at Shopping Trolley Direct, including ones with seats. Any good?

[KnitMinion]

Tianc, it makes me wish i had rear wheel suspension, but i've not met a kerb it couldn't take on, and over the bump pavements of Edinburgh it's been great.

[Tianc]

Helpful discussion about scooters on this thread: To think some big stores should save Bullring Shopmobility?

[Tianc]

The above link to the cricket hoist is now dead, but I've just checked and more can be found by googling "cricket hoist".