An electric wheelchair, popularly referred to a power wheelchair, offers the advantage of mobility to people otherwise housebound due to stroke, illness or injury. "I have one in my garage right now for zooming around the yard and doing yard work," says Bill Fertig, the Virginia Beach-based director of the United Spinal Association Resource Center. They typically come with at least four or six wheels which help with stability, being powered with lithium-ion batteries that normally last for about 10 miles before needing to recharge.
To choose for the Best Electric Wheelchair for older adults and older adults, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed data from around 50 items of top brands. They evaluated their prices and weight capacity. travel range, top speed and portability. Check out which Electric wheelchairs on sale were on our list. Please note that prices are correct as of the publication date.
What Is an Electric Wheelchair?
A portable Electric wheelchair for sale, also referred to as motorized or powered electric wheelchair, is an eight- or six-wheel chair powered by a motor which runs on one or two batteries. The wheelchairs can be operated with the joystick and do not require upper body strength. The electric wheelchair rental options powered by electricity include basic wheelchairs that are suitable for short-term use, and highly customized models to meet the more difficult and lengthy-term requirements.
Cory Lee, 31, of Georgia is in wheelchairs since 4 years old. The avid traveler has hot air ballooned in Israel and floated in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland and had a run-in with the hippopotamus of South Africa. He's also an expert in travelling in the wheelchair. Over the course of his career, Lee utilized many different sizes and types of wheelchairs. He is well aware of purchasing the correct one.
Best electric wheelchairs at prices similar to the ones employed by Lee fall into a category called complex rehabilitation technology, also known as CRT. "These wheelchairs are measured and built specifically to meet each individual's unique needs," says Angie Kiger, a clinical plan and education manager in Sunrise Medical, a California-based wheelchair manufacturer. This is a technology that offers multiple position options, advanced electronics and controls, as well as adjustments for orthopedic issues , and accommodations for ventilators.
What is a Power Wheelchair?
Power wheelchairs (also called power chairs) are incredibly maneuverable in small spaces, and through tight corners, making them an ideal solution for getting around both inside and outside your home. A power wheelchair also allows you to lift up close to counters, tables, and working surfaces so that you can complete your everyday tasks and remain in your home. Power wheelchairs are prescribed by doctors to those needing full-time assistance with mobility to carry out daily tasks at their home. They are also available for lease or purchase by any person who wants to enjoy the new freedom and mobility that the powered wheel chair can provide.
Electric Wheelchair Basics
If you're looking for the best electric wheelchair prices You'll see some terms that appear frequently on dealer websites. We've listed a few the most essential terms below for you to make your shopping more straightforward.
Front-, Mid-, & Rear-Wheel Drive
All Medicare electric wheelchairs come with at least six or four wheels, but only two wheels of the chair get power straight from the motor. The other wheels ("casters") ensure the stability of the chair. Mid-wheel drive is ideal for complete turn-around within tight spaces. In contrast, front and rear wheel drive wheelchairs tend to provide the smoothest rides and deal with outdoor terrain best. It's a good idea to talk to an occupational therapist in order to decide the type of wheel drive that is ideal for your daily use.
Turning Radius
The turning radius is the least u-turn the electric wheelchair near me can make. The smaller the turning radius, the better the chair is for indoor use or small spaces. A turning radius between 20" and about 35" is the norm. The chairs that are bulky will have larger turning radiuses. Other factors such as the angle the footrest and the wheel drive affect the turn radius.
Travel Range
An electric wheelchair's travel rangewhich is commonly called "range" - is the distance it is able to travel before it needs to be recharged. The range of the chair varies, ranging from 4 or 5 miles in some chairs to up to almost 20 miles in others. The range could be less than advertised if the passenger is a heavy person, the terrain is rough, and the battery becoming old. Finding an electric wheelchair with an impressive range is important for those who plan to travel frequently or who regularly use their electric wheelchair outside on solo trips to the grocery store or other locations.
Warranty Limits
Portable electric wheelchair generally has "limited" warranties and not every day wear and tear will be provided by the company. Most warranties cover structural elements such as the frame in the frame for at least five and ten years and typically, they cover other parts for shorter periods of time stipulated in the warranty contract. In the overview table and company profiles below, the number given next to the word"limited" (for instance, "5 year limited") will indicate the maximum amount of coverage included in the warranty, which usually for the frame.
How to Choose a Power Wheelchair Store
No matter if you're looking for a wheelchair shop near me or a store online there are certain points you will want to research prior to doing business with any business. When you invest in a wheelchair, it could easily go over $1,000.00or more, so you'll want to make sure you are doing everything you can to ensure you are going to be working with a company that has great customer service, rock bottom prices for new products, and also the knowledge to guide you in finding the right Best electric wheelchair.
Below are 3 main points you must consider prior to purchasing a power chair:
Online Reviews - Crowd sourcing data is the best way to evaluate the quality of customer care provided to historical customers. It isn't possible for any business to function perfectly without a glitch, and whenever something goes wrong, you must make sure that the company is there for you and will take the steps essential to ensure that you wind in a positive experience as a customer. Currently, MobilityScootersDirect.com has a 4.7/5.0 which is a very strong rating. Any company with less than a 4.0 rating could be thought of as average. Any company that has less than a 3.0 rating could be considered poor.
Pricing - A crucial factor is the price. Why would you want to spend more money for the exact item? Local retailers are often forced to increase prices due to the fact that they have overhead and rent to pay for. Overhead can typically run in the thousands of dollars each month for a brick-and-mortar business , and this has to be factored into their pricing. At MobilityScootersDirect.com, we're an online store so able to offer you these products at the lowest price the manufacturers will allow us to sell them for. This is often referred to as MAP pricing.
Expertise of the products Portable electric wheelchair - All of our sales representatives are trained in electronics and are able to physically fix mobility scooters and electric wheelchairs. Many of our sales associates are avid aviation enthusiasts and enjoy the flying drones made of electronic technology. Their love for electronics is translated into an amazing understanding of the products they sell that is unlike anything else. Part of the reason why our reviews are so excellent is because our sales staff has such a great relationship with customers that clients receive one that not only matches their needs but even exceed the expectations of those they purchase.