How to Choose the Right Power Chair
When you’re choosing a new power chair, the amount of choice and information out there can be overwhelming.
Unfortunately, this amount of information can be too daunting for some people to even begin to consider which power chair will suit them best.
To try and make this process simpler for you and to provide help with choosing the best power chair for you, here are 10 questions you need to ask yourself before beginning the search…
Where you will use it?
With power chairs, there is a wide selection as certain chairs are designed for different terrains. For example, there are power chairs that are specific to indoor use, a mix of indoor and outdoor use and predominantly outdoor use on all terrains.
As well as this, if you’re tight on space and will be using the power chair predominantly indoors, the turning radius will be a big factor for you as you’d need one that doesn’t need a lot of space to turn 360 degrees.
Thinking about where you will need to use the power chair will be a great place to start so that you are sure which specification you need before you start searching.
How far do you need to be able to travel?
The range you need your power chair to be able to reach is another important factor to think about. You can expect a range from 8 miles to 15 miles from most power chairs, so it depends on what you intend to use the power chair for and the journeys you will be making.
It’s important to note that you can’t put an exact figure on range due to varied user weight, type and incline of terrain, weather, battery charge and condition, operating speed and general driving situation. However, having an approximate figure will ensure the power chair will be able to meet your needs.
Do I need it to be compactable?
Power chairs come in all shapes and sizes – some fully dismantle into multiple pieces, some fold down into a smaller size and some don’t compact at all.
The available space within your home and vehicles is a big factor when you’re answering this question. If you feel you won’t need to transport it anywhere, then it mightn’t be necessary to have a compactable power chair. However, if you’re limited on space, it might be best to look at power chairs that dismantle into smaller pieces for storage or transport.
What extra support might I need?
Power chairs come with a large selection of features. From adjustable armrests, foldable footrests, extra back support, joystick digital displays and even storage compartments for your handbag and shopping – it’s important to think about what extra support you might need from your power chair in order to give you the highest level of comfort and independence possible.
What do I need the max weight to be?
All stairlifts have different weight limits, so if you need one that will be comfortable supporting a heavier weight, it’s important to note that down before looking at any options.
How fast would I like it to go?
Most power chairs have ranging speeds of 4.5 to 8 mph. If you’re looking for a power chair which will be used predominantly outdoors, you might value a quicker speed in order to cover more range faster than if your power chair was just for use in the house.
These questions are a great place to start when you’re starting the search for a power chair as they will allow you to keep in mind the features you definitely DON’T want or need.
There are many individual needs and factors that may also need to be thought about and discussed, so please feel free to get in touch here and one of our helpful experts will get in touch to answer any of your questions.
