Key points to to take into account when choosing a power wheelchair.
Note: The information below has been designed to assist prescribers - it can be complex for general customers. If you are not a prescriber, please contact our team for assistance.
Client’s abilities - Level of injury, time since injury, vision, cognition, spasms, physical skills (2)
Previous mobility equipment (2)
Features to be retained in new powerdrive chair (2)
Specific postural requirements (2)
Client’s participation goal (2)
Funding Source (2) - DVA, MASS, NDIS/NDIS, Others ?
FEATURES TO CONSIDER PRIOR TO ARRANGING TRIAL (2)
- Type of controls (2)
- Joystick: right / left / type of knob
- Chin control: Switch / Sip n Puff
- Scanner: Switch/ Sip n Puff
- Attendant control required: Swing away / drop down controller:
- Other (?)
- Armrests (2)
- Swing up / fixed / heavy duty
- Desk arm / full length
- Height adjustable
- Arm supports e.g. arm trough, waterfall
- Thigh guard
- Ease of adjustment
- Footplates /Leg rests (2)
- Swing away / fixed / central mount
- Manual elevating / Power elevating
- Padded / calf strap
- Angle / length / width adjustable
- Heel loops
- Other e.g. one piece / heavy duty
- Backrest (2)
- Contoured / slung / Padded / custom
- Recline - manual / power
- Specialised seating
- Seat (2)
- Type - seat board / slung / padded
- Width
- Pressure cushion
- Air/ Gel/ Foam/ Honeycomb/ Hybrid
- Level of risk: Low/ Low to Medium/ Medium/ Medium to High/ High/ High to Very High/ Very High
- Safe Work Load/ Bariatric
- Contoured
- Footrest/ Footplate, Legrest or Stump Support
- Tilt in Space (2)
- Manual / Electric / Fixed
- Degree of tilt needed
- Transportation (2)
- Current form of transport: Station wagon / sedan / van / other
- Number of people to assist: One / two / other
- Does the chair need to easily dismantle?
- Use of ramps / loader required?
- Accessories (2)
- Tray (purpose)
- Head rest: Multi-axial / padded / other
- Anti tip bars
- Chest strap / seat belt
- Ventilator cage
- Spare tyres / no flats
- Batteries (amperage required for endurance)
- Drink holder
- Mouthstick holder
- Urinary drainage bag emptier (consider switch & positioning)
- Other
- Drive wheels (2)
- Mid / Rear / Front
- Mid - Mid Wheel Drive Power chairs, look very different from rear wheel drive power chairs, as the main drive wheels have been moved from the rear of the wheelchair to the middle part of the wheelchair. Moving the drive wheels to the middle of a wheelchair makes a very big difference to how the wheelchair drives and the space the wheelchair needs for turning. Mid Wheel Drive Power chairs also have a very low centre of gravity, which can make them feel more stable in use. Like rear wheel drive power chairs, mid wheel drive power chairs are controlled in just the same way, with a joystick control, which can be mounted on either the left of right of the power chair. Because mid wheel drive wheelchairs need less space to turn in, you can very often get a larger wheelchair into a smaller space. (1)
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Rear - Rear Wheel Drive Power chairs are what most people would recognise as a power chair. The frame of the wheelchair can range in style and this type of wheelchair comes with a choice of folding frame or fixed frame depending on the model.
Rear Wheel Drive Power chairs are very simple to drive with the aid of a joystick control, which can be mounted on either the left or right of the wheelchair. The seating and comfort can be adjusted around your needs and they can be re-charged through a simple connection on the joystick (most models). Because the drive wheels are at the back of the wheelchair, rear wheel drive wheelchairs can need larger spaces to turn around in.(1)
- Front - Front Wheel Drive Power chairs have the drive wheels mounted at the front of the wheelchair. (1)
- Transfers (2)
- Hoist / sling use
- Independent
- Safe Work Load
- Bariatric
Environment where chair will be used (2)
- Indoors (2)
- Tile / Lino / Short pile carpet / Long pile carpet
- Confined spaces
- Outdoors (2)
- Paths / gutters
- Camber
- Rough terrain / grass / gradients (>1:14)
- Other e.g. workplace (2)
- What environmental control systems are required to be linked into the controller? (2)
POWERDRIVE TRIAL EVALUATION (2)
- Date & duration
- Location
- Chair trialled
- Set up of chair for trial (controller, access to various control features, seat size etc.)
- Positive features of chair
- Negative features of chair
- Client feedback
- Summary
Sources
(1) Pride Mobility Australia - Power chairs or electric wheelchairs (Visited 08/02/2019)
(2) Queensland Spinal Cord Injuries Service - Power Drive Wheelchair Assessment and Evaluation Form (Visited 08/02/2019)
Disclaimer: The Queensland Spinal Cord Injuries Service - does not promote, endorse or fund Think Mobility. These links are provided by Think Mobility only as a convenience to our customers.