Re: trapped/Donna OT

January 1, 2008

Hi Donna,

No, we don't have a Benson Medical Supply Store, but I do use a Medical

Supply Store in our area. They would not issue a transport chair on medicare

without a doctor's request and the doctor would not request a transport chair

using Medicare. Anyway, it has been fine. Anytime the chair needs repairing the

medical supply store repairs it free, since I bought it there. Jim gets so much

use out of a chair, that they do break down beyond repair. They last about 3

years with Jim and then it is time for a new one. Jim is on his third transport

chair. It is because I use it in the house and on our rides and everywhere we

go. I never use an actual wheelchair when he is with me. It saves my back

lifting and storing it into the car and it is easy to get Jim around in the

house with it. I would never have anything, but a transport chair. Jim only uses

an actual wheelchair at the nursing home. Really, it's a pain in the nh home

too, because it takes up so much space in the room and

Jim doesn't know how to use a wheelchair by moving the wheels to go forward, he

just sits in it. He really doesn't need anymore than a transport chair.

Thanks for the information.............Hugs, Jan

Donna Mido wrote:

Jan,

Actually I may have " snuck " it through. The MD wrote a prescription, It was for

a wheel chair. When I got to Med Supply house, they asked which kind I wanted. I

didn't know about the transport chair but quickly agreed. I did say I needed

something light. She just ordered it for me. Don't ask the MD. Ask at the Med

Supply store. They know what and how to order them.

But the other thing that we have here you might want to check on is the Senior

Center collects used Senior equipment. They give it out to Seniors that need it.

You might try them too.

But I didn't ask the MD. The Med supply offered it to me. They do rent them on

Medicare for the first 15-18 months and then you can " buy it out. " But with my

insurance it didn't cost anything because if Medicare pays, so did her

insurance. But with the rental, you can go on renting if you want and they

repair or fix anything that is a problem.. Once I bought it out, it became my

responsibility.

Do you have a Benson Med. Supply out there? That was who gave it to me.

Hugs,

Donna R

Caregave for Mom (after I brought her from WI to MI) for 3 years and 4th year in

a nh.

She was almost 89 when she died in '02. No dx other than mine.

Re: trapped/Ron

Hi Ron,

I have this type of " transport chair " for my husband. They are very light and

very easy to fold up and put in the car. I think this is what Courage is talking

about.

http://www.1800wheelchair.com/asp/view-category-products.asp?category_id=369 it

makes getting out and about so much more easier than trying to lift one of those

heavy big wheel wheelchairs into a car or SUV. It is the only way I transport my

husband around and it's easy on the back to lift and they are not too expensive.

You can not use medicare to pay for it as you can one of those large big wheel

wheelchairs, but I found them very reasonable and I could pay for it

anyway..............Jan

gaat wrote:

Hi Ron,

Reading your posts made me sad because I know that your siblings could be doing

so much more to help you yet they won't.

I couldn't help but think that one doesn't have to be a caregiver to get that

" trapped " feeling. Just ask the majority of moms who stay home caring for their

children for any length of time and they'll tell you they feel the same thing

every now and again - if they're honest.

Since no one is coming around to help you get out of the house then maybe its

time for you and your mom to go out? I used to make a point of walking around

the block with mom nearly everyday - for her sanity and mine. When mom began

getting unsteady on her feet I got her a collapsible wheel-chair at the Goodwill

and off we went. The good thing with the wheelchair was that we could go for

longer periods and for greater distances. If I remember correctly, you mentioned

that you had a car. How about getting a collapsible wheelchair, putting it in

the truck and taking mom to the mall, the library, the museum, art galleries,

historical sites (a lot of these places have " free " days/hours). Even if you

don't need to buy anything at the mall it helps to just get out and about among

other people and will do you good. Lots of malls have food courts and you could

enjoy a coffee/tea/drink with you mom or a little snack - mom and I hit the

bakery every chance we got. It isn't much of an

outing but its something.

Courage

January 1, 2008

Jan,

Mom could never use the nh chairs either. I kept the foot things off and she

moved around with her feet. I tried a couple of times to get her use the wheels

and push them but she never could.

I guess I just happen to get lucky with chair. Although I did find after that

the Senior Center had all kinds of stuff I could have borrowed.

Hope you had a good time New Years.