Mobility Aids and MS: Power Wheelchairs

You need a wheelchair, but much more than a manual chair. What are the options? Last week I covered scooters. Today I will talk about the power of power chairs.

Do your online research, talk with your physical or occupational therapist and visit a store representative. They may all have suggestions and recommendation, but only you know what you want and need. My online friend, Diane J. Standiford, stayed with the Jazzy based on her gut feeling and strengthened by her experience. "The first one I got has lasted for 5 years, and it always gets compliments from strangers. It seemed a product that had passed the test of time and parts can be replaced, changed; the chairs are flexible to change just like MS makes me have to be."

I know what she means, because I replaced my first Amigo with another Amigo. I knew the chair, I knew the people, and now I have been a satisfied customer for 16 years. But this is MS, and situations change. Even though the scooter is trendy and popular, there are times the power wheelchair is the better choice.

Motorized versions of the wheelchair, called electric wheelchairs, were in limited use early in the 1900s. Motivated by the many disabled WWII veterans, the electric wheelchair was modernized and became available commercially to the middle class by the 1950s. With minor improvements and continuing innovations, we arrive at today, when any wheelchair powered by electricity is a bona fide power chair.

One cannot know by looking how wonderful some of these chairs actually are for the person sitting in them. Society marvels at some. For example, the iBot was the talk of the world, and not just the disabled community. It allows standing upright with a strong and sturdy balance as well as climbing stairs. But alas, it wasn't enough, and with the price tag reaching $25K, production was halted. Hopefully, power chair innovation was not halted with it.

When is a power chair the best choice?

When selecting a power chair, talk to salespeople because they know what products are available, at least those available at their store or company. Talk to a physical and/or occupational therapist because they know the products as well as your needs. Keep in mind that MS may change, sometimes drastically, and getting a chair before you are too disabled to move without it is a good idea as well as a safe idea.  Many health professionals recommend a power chair from the beginning to avert a future problem in case of a setback. We all know how quickly MS can change, and the fact is Medicare does not pay for more than one chair of any kind in a five-year period.

Be aware that a power chair is more expensive, sometimes very much so. My online friend Michael G. Berger, who owns a power chair, says the cost is "a sin." Insurance coverage is time-consuming and difficult to obtain, involving doctors, therapists, consultations, second opinions and re-evaluations. Beware inexpensive power chairs found online (Craig's list, ebay), because they may not fit your particular needs or measurements.