dclcd

When my grandma, Yia Yia as we called her due to her Greek heritage, became ill it changed everyone’s lives in our family. She became immobile and fragile almost over night due to what the doctors told us was Alzheimer’s disease. A mournful realization we all underwent that day, we made a pact to provide her with the best care and the best tools to keep her active longer. After a few hours of detailed research, we were able to make a list of things we could buy her to prolong her mental awareness and safety.

Already at the fragile age of 72, grandma had trouble walking because her feet had become so swollen. One of the items at the top of our list was an electric wheelchair. Comfy and compact in design, it became a lifesaver when we would run errands. It also ended up saving everyone a little bit of energy at the end of the day because no one had to push her. It became a tool of comfort to her, like a child’s blanket it was there to protect her.

While many people think they understand the challenges of being disabled, the experience is very different when you actually live it. Someone who is on crutches or in a wheelchair for the first time quickly realizes that communities and buildings are planned and constructed under the assumption that most people are physically able to navigate them. For every door that opens automatically or with the push of a button, there are 10 more that do not. A person who needs assistance with basic tasks because of a disability can feel helpless and embarrassed.

Some challenges that confront people with disabilities, especially those who use manual wheelchairs, are nearly invisible to able people, like how difficult it can be to navigate up a steep ramp while powering the wheels by hand. For this reason, electric wheelchairs are not just luxuries; they’re necessary for some people to live fulfilled lives that are not ruled by their disabilities. If you’re a caregiver or friend of someone who has a disability, take a moment to understand what it would feel like to be immobile or dependant on someone or something else to get around. This will help you be a more patient, thoughtful caregiver, and it will also empower you to advocate for your friend to have the proper tools needed to offset his or her disability.

Good Ergonomic News! 

Whether disabled from an injury, surgery, or a medical condition, it’s important for disabled people to have the means to get around.  Having to sit in one location and be immobile can be a painful experience, but mobility for a disabled person isn’t all that difficult.  With the invention of electric wheelchairs and scooters, the extent of a disability is no longer of consequence.  With just their hands, disabled people can get around through the same means as those walking on their own two legs.  In addition, most, if not all metropolitan locations have provided accommodations for disabled people including ramps and elevators.  Electric wheelchairs and scooters are designed to navigate through tight spaces. 

Many insurance policies will cover an electric wheelchair or scooter under their plan, so there’s no reason not to take charge and become mobile.  Don’t bother hobbling around with crutches and canes, become mobile and independent today! 

Common microorganisms such as bacteria, algae, and fungi (mold, mildew) are found all around use and can cause a wide range of problems for almost any product. The AEGIS Microbe Shield controls these problems by providing odor protection in wheelchair upholstery, reduced bio-loading, and stain and deterioration control in linens and medical garments. All of these benefits come from the unique properties provided by the AEGIS Microbe Shield technology. Everything from socks to hospital linens and shirts to carpeting are protected by the AEGIS Microbe Shield technology. The AEGIS Microbe Shield successfully protects even high performance applications, such as surgical drapes where safety and performance are paramount. When a product displays the AEGIS Microbe Shield certification mark, it provides consumers with the confidence that the product is protected by the most advanced anti-microbial on the market today. Treating performance wear with the AEGIS Microbe Shield technology has many benefits. The AEGIS Microbe Shield technology controls the growth of odor-causing bacteria and fungi, reducing odor, staining and deterioration which is the most common result of repeatedly using medical equipment. Freshness is assured with the AEGIS Microbe Shield technology:

• Protection against microbial growth without leaching onto the skin or crossing the skin barrier
• Controls or eliminates objectionable odors, unsightly stains, and product deterioration
• Ideal surface for prolonged sitting

Effective against a wide range of microorganisms from bacteria to fungal contamination like mold, mildew, algae and yeast; which helps to reduce the breakdown of skin.   

Certain features of your new wheelchair will make your chair more comfortable.
Know what “extras” will make it easier for you to do your daily activities.
Also, make an informed decision about the “extras” you don’t need.
Consult your physical therapist and the sales person about all of the structural features of the wheelchair. Utilize interactive websites to provide measurements, for a comfortable fit. The right fitting chair gives you the best mobility, range, stability, and comfort.
 
Find out if the controls or brakes are easy to use and reach. Consider if the footrests should be adjustable, movable or detachable. Depending on the surfaces/ terrain you anticipate using most, and whether or not you will propel the chair, the wheel size is a major factor when making a selection. Certain style armrests work better than other’s depending on how you transfer and your level of activities. A lap tray might be helpful to have on your wheelchair. 

Proper seating is an important part of wheelchair fitting. There are many different seat cushions and backrests that can be added to your chair. The newer model wheelchairs have anti-microbial stain-resistant fabric. There are also ergonomic designs, with S-shaped seating. These features help you sit with better posture, and reduce pressure sores, back pain, and spinal deformities caused by chronic poor posture. A good seat cushion is a must to help prevent pressure sores, especially for anyone who has a loss of feeling in their buttocks. 

Tilt seating distributes your weight in the chair. This is ideal for prolonged sitting, and provides an alternative to tranferring in and out of the chair to recline.  Anti-tippers can prevent you from flipping over backwards or falling out of your chair. 

There is a wide range of prices and styles of wheelchairs on the market. However it is important to remember, the one you choose should be specific to your personal needs. This is not a “one size fits all” item.

The American Heart Association states the following:

Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for developing coronary artery disease and stroke. It also contributes to other risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, a low level of HDL (“good”) cholesterol and diabetes. Even modest levels of physical activity are beneficial.

The AHA says that older adults and those with disabilities can gain significant health benefits with a moderate amount of physical activity, preferably daily. Physical activity doesn’t need to be strenuous to bring health benefits. What’s important is to include physical activity as part of a regular routine.

For older adults, this moderate amount of activity can come from

• longer sessions of moderately intense activities such as walking or swimming
• shorter sessions of more vigorous activities such as fast walking, moon-rocking or stair-climbing

Greater amounts of physical activity can bring more benefits. But it shouldn’t be done excessively, or your risk of injury will increase.

People with disabilities are less likely to engage in regular moderate physical activity. Still, they can benefit from 

• moderately intense activities (such as 30–40 minutes of using a manual wheelchair)
• shorter sessions of more intense activity (such as 20 minutes of wheelchair basketball)

Selecting the right chair, especially for a first-time wheelchair user can be confusing. It’s always a good idea to work with an occupational therapist who has experience with various kinds of wheelchairs, but here are some mobility basics on wheelchairs.

Manual Wheelchairs

People with upper body strength typically use a manual – they propel it with their arms on the rims of the wheels.  Today’s standard comes in every color and designed for much superior performance. Newer chairs ride truer and are much easier to push than the old-fashioned one. The lightweights, whether with either a rigid frame or a folding frame, are also easier to transfer in and out of cars.

Power Wheelchairs

Many people cannot push a wheelchair with their own arm strength and may require a wheelchair powered by batteries. Power chairs come in several basic styles. The traditional style looks like a beefed up standard manual plus the batteries, motor and control systems. There are also platform-model power chairs with a more ordinary seat fixed atop a powered base. Scooters come in three- and four-wheel configurations and are typically used by people who don’t require them full time.

Tilt or Recline Wheelchairs

Some people use special wheelchairs to distribute pressure and thus reduce the risk of skin sores. These chairs also increase comfort and sitting tolerance. One type of chair, called “tilt in space,” changes a person’s orientation while maintaining fixed hip, knee, and ankle angles. The whole seat, in effect, tilts. The other chair option is called a recline system, which basically changes the seat-to-back angle, flattening out the back of the chair and in some cases raising the legs to form a flat surface. 

You can literally rise to any occasion in this State-of-The-Art Power-Standing/Drive Lightweight Wheelchair, the New XO-202:
With a USA Patent /CE Approved. The frame is made with durable 6061 T-6 Aircraft-grade Aluminum. Features also include see- through Sleek Side Panels, Flip-back Concaved Armrests w/SHARK II Easy To Use Joystick Remote For Drive & Stand, Denmark Linak Control Box, Adjustable Backrest Height, Adjustable Footrest Height & Angle, Knee Support, Safety Belt, Chest Support & Leg Strap, Gel Memory Cushion Back and Seat, Weighs Only: 110 lbs w/o Battery, Breathable Nylon Upholstery, Flat Free Rear Wheels & Front Wheels, Motor: DC24V. 320W, Maximum Speed: 5 Mph (Moving slowly is recommended while standing up), Battery: 12V/36AH x2pcs, Range per Charge: ~20 Miles.  

Though the common perception is that world travel is an activity for younger people, it can be just as fun and enlightening as an elderly person.  Even if you can’t move around on your own, with a power chair, a travel agent, and a bit of savings, there’s no limit to the locations you can visit.  For most every person out there, there’s some location they always wanted to visit but never had the chance.  What better time than right now?

Don’t wait until it’s too late, find a travel partner, and hit the road!