Whether you need a manual or powered wheelchair in Maryland, choosing the right chair for your circumstances is a big decision. If a person is only going to use the chair occasionally, it may be more of a matter of price. For those who will be using their wheelchair most of the time, comfort, ease of use and mobility may be a bigger issue than price. There are different chairs available depending on the person’s age, the kind of injury they have and the level of injury they have. What kind of chair they choose depends on the person’s physical ability level and the kinds of activities that they want to and need to be able to do while in their chair.
Consider your lifestyle before you even go shopping for a chair. Ask yourself questions like what you need to be able to do each day and where you need to be able to go. How will you transport the chair in a vehicle? Will anyone be able to help you lift a chair in and out of the car? Are you able to get in and out of a car by yourself or with assistance, or do you need to be in a wheelchair the entire time? Do you need head and neck support? Are you able to use hand controls to operate either a manual or powered chair?
When choosing wheelchairs in Baltimore or any kind of mobility equipment, it helps to make your selection at a well-equipped dealer who is knowledgeable about all the products available and who has a large showroom so users can try out different chairs, test the comfort and test the speed and test the maneuverability of each one.
Some of the questions that you can prepare ahead of time to ask are about the warranty of each product, and where you can can get the chair serviced locally. Ask about the battery life, how to replace batteries, and where to get new batteries. Which kind of batteries are better for certain situations? Can the chair be used with special cushions if you need them? Can the chair offer elevation and cushioned support for your legs? Does it have comfortable foot rests? For these and other questions, speak with a mobility product company that has an Assistive Technology Professional who is certified through the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America.
