Guest guest Posted April 28, 2000 Report Share Posted April 28, 2000 Janalise, here is the info from my friend..... love A. My chair is a "storm". It's a very popular brand here. It's a power chair with a small computer board which the service people can probram so you can program it to have the right sensativity for using the joy stick. You can program how sharp it turns, and what percentage of it's total power you want to use. It has 4 speeds going faster as you change gears. I have mine set so that when I'm in drive 4 someone can drive my chair for me using attendendant control which is a joy stick at the back of the chair. Attendendaant control is relatively new technology. But it's great for me because if my left arm is tired from using my white cane or if there are too many obsticles for someone to give me directions than I just put it in drive 4 and they steer the chair from the back. The tilt function lowers the back of the chair and raises the feet kind of like a recliner. So I can go from sitting straight up to laying flat and any where inbetween. I really like that feature in that it allows me to move and get weight off of different parts of my but which really helps to prevent bed sores and skin break down. The chair runs about $14,000 and was covered by my health insurance. I've had it for 15 months. Comfort in a chair is very dependent on the type of cushion you have. I use a Jay cushion. The service and mantanence people wh owork with my chair have told me (and I think this is amazing) that in seven years or so when I'm due for a new chair I will probably get one that goes up steps. They are working on a prototype and it has tracks like a tank. Exciting! Oh yeah with a tilt chair you pretty much have to have a head rest so if you are tilted toward the flat side your head and neck don't dangle. I haven't been able to find a head rest that is comfortable and last fall just happened to find a purple stuffed frog which I use as a pillow and it in conjunction with my head rest work great. I get lots of comments about my purple friend so I have fun with that as well. I'm doing much better, although I've been having some arm pain which has been getting worse the last few days. Unfortunately it feels like one of the rods in my arm (implanted because of fractures) has moved. The last time that happened I had to have surgery to remove the rod since it was hitting a nerve on my hand. SO my theory is I'll just try and ignor it because I've had enough surgery. Around 40 operations. Anyway enough of my complaining. Take care and here's a quote for the day The only sure things in life are death and taxes but death doesn't get worse every year Bye for now Love Maureen ----- Original Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 3, 2002 Report Share Posted December 3, 2002 In a message dated 12/3/2002 12:43:27 AM Pacific Standard Time, nelliestar@... writes: > As I look back, I dont remember being that > understanding to disable people during my ypunger years. I just couldn't > relate. > Raising my hand high saying...here here, That was me! Now, I will go over and talk to the person in the wheelchair. And sometimes end up walking with them, or pushing them up a hill. What ever needs a little help. I watch as other able bodies sort of avoid the wheel chair person. I honestly don't think they even realize they are doing that. I think for me, it took meeting all of your, and realizing some of you are the ones in the electric carts at the stores, or the wheel chairs at fairs and attractions, and how all are real people and have stories to tell. I just hope, that if my daughter ever ends up needing a wheel chair, and she is out and about on her own, that someone will be willing to assist her if she needs it. Maya have you had any luck with getting a different wheelchair? I know they make many kinds... and some are, like you say, very heavy and awkward, and others are fairly light. I recall my grandma had a hard time getting one that was right... she wasn't five feet tall and weighed about 78 pounds soaking wet. When she finally got one that fit her, and was light weight and easy to transport, she was very happy. In our town, we have a wheel chair loan service. It is all volunteer, but they deliver the wheel chair and let you have it for a donation of what ever can be afforded. (free if need be) Here, one would find them by calling the hospital. Good luck! I am thinking of you! K Adrienne's Mom Adrienne age 19, spondy, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Hypo Thyroid, HLA-B27+ Full time student, great kid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 8, 2003 Report Share Posted November 8, 2003 I know I've proclaimed the coolness of my wheelchair like 900 times on this list, but you need a BounderPlus! I have the seat elevator and tilt, and now don't believe I can live without them. And the reason we chose this chair was because it was the narrowest we could find. (We needed narrow so that my brother and I can both get into the van.) I love my chair, it's the best. You can read about it and see pictures at www.wheelchairs.com ~e Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 9, 2003 Report Share Posted November 9, 2003 Bernie's is quite narrow - Quantum Dynamo. Tight turns. Made by Jazzy / Pride. No elevator but tilt. Not sure if they can put an elevator on. I've seen the permobil used by kids - very narrow and has an elevator. Makes us jealous. Don't know the model #. The down side of choosing a child's chair is that it may not be able to go as fast as an adult's. bettylou wheelchairs i'm looking at a new powerchair. I'm looking for the narrowist i can get to go down isles and tight doors. A seat elatator and maybe tilt. I'm only 4ft 10, 70 pounds a child's might work. Any ideas? Also new ideas on to sit upright if you have no head/body control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 10, 2003 Report Share Posted November 10, 2003 My days of burn rubber are over. My head flops to easy. I've seen kids with those chairs. They still get good speed. Plus kids get better color choices:) > Bernie's is quite narrow - Quantum Dynamo. Tight turns. Made by Jazzy / Pride. No elevator but tilt. Not sure if they can put an elevator on. > I've seen the permobil used by kids - very narrow and has an elevator. Makes us jealous. Don't know the model #. > The down side of choosing a child's chair is that it may not be able to go as fast as an adult's. > bettylou > wheelchairs > > > i'm looking at a new powerchair. I'm looking for the narrowist i can > get to go down isles and tight doors. A seat elatator and maybe tilt. > I'm only 4ft 10, 70 pounds a child's might work. Any ideas? > > Also new ideas on to sit upright if you have no head/body control. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 10, 2003 Report Share Posted November 10, 2003 It's not so much the acceleration - but I can walk faster than Bernie's chair, and I don't walk very fast. I think it might be annoying to a wheeling adult to not be able to keep up with a walking adult. Just check with the sales rep to make sure it can be set high enough. But you are right, the colors are cool. Hope you find the coolest, bettylou wheelchairs > > > i'm looking at a new powerchair. I'm looking for the narrowist i can > get to go down isles and tight doors. A seat elatator and maybe tilt. > I'm only 4ft 10, 70 pounds a child's might work. Any ideas? > > Also new ideas on to sit upright if you have no head/body control. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2003 Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 well, they tend to set kids lower then they actually can go. I compared some kids with some adults and some shared the same top speed. But some adults can go to 20 mph! Yikes! It doesnt look like I'm getting a kids anyway. Not sure yet.Now they make bases all about the same size (unless your a tall/heavy person). But I may get the lift with tilt! I'm also trying to get a kids manual chair to use in friends houses. They are small and very light. My big strong men will like dragging the manual up stairs better then the power I make them do now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2003 Report Share Posted November 12, 2003 You make them drag your power chair up steps!! Oh man! They better have strong backs. With the manual chair maybe you'll get to meet the " average " strengthened guys! Later, Mike Briggs Photo Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/photogrif/ " Fish Gotta Swim, I Gotta Dive " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2003 Report Share Posted November 12, 2003 In a message dated 11/12/03 2:53:29 PM Central Standard Time, briggs.m@... writes: > > > You make them drag your power chair up steps!! Oh man! They better have > strong backs. With the manual chair maybe you'll get to meet the " average " > strengthened guys! > They are average strength guys. But if you remove my batteries (about 50 pounds) my ancient chair is much lighter than the new heavy bastards. Then you can " hop " up the steps. Usually it's one or two steps but I have done five before. Or I use a piece of wood for a " ramp " but you still usually need to lift it on the " ramp " . It's not a weekly or monthly thing. But might be with a manual! Then I can do a booty call with a guy on the second story Apt. ! JK ;o) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 Wheelchairs are covered as " durable medical equipment " at least under Medicare. So are shower chairs, and other things to make life livable. Not sure where the folks under 55 fall into this scheme of things. Probably through a loophole somewhere. However, generally whatever Medicare covers, other insurances will cover as well. Worth looking into. ____________________________________________________________ Beauty Product Reviews Read Unbiased Beauty Product Reviews and Join Our Product Review Team! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/JKFkuJi7Uvs0qS2YOF7UsIL32nQagfILALkK\ pMCogrDPZn6Ud2em6f/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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