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Motorized Wheelchairs
Difficulties in walking no longer preclude
living independently at home. You can continue
to move about your home, your neighborhood,
and make trips to the store by relying on
a motorized wheelchair, also known as an
electric wheelchair or mobility scooter.
When choosing one for yourself
or your parents,
consider these aspects:
- Style - Motorized wheelchairs may resemble
chairs or lightweight golf
carts with either
three or four wheels. While
most have single
seating, some models have double.
- Capacity - Check that the maximum rated weight
covers your need. Be sure that
seat size
and height accommodates your
frame and that
the armrests are at a comfortable
size and
height.
- Speed and distance - Models vary in how much
battery capacity they carry
and how much
power they transmit to the
wheels. If you
anticipate a great deal of
outdoor use, check
how much of a slope (climb
angle) it can
handle.
- Comfort and handling - Occupants may spend
a lot of time in their chair;
make sure it
is comfortable even on long
trips. For shopping
or even just getting around
the house, the
turning radius is important.
- Disassembly or folding - For transportation
by car or van, it may be easier
to put the
chair into the trunk or back
seat rather
than putting it on an outside
mount. If you
travel a great deal, consider
a folding one
that you may check with your
luggage at the
airport.
- Accessories - Models differ in a wide variety
of details. Look for the items,
whether standard
or extra, that fit your needs
like baskets,
cane holder, headlights, key
lock, and a
top speed governor.
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