OT: Really, really need w/c help

[OneLittleSpark]

I know this isn’t Disney related, but I need help, and I can’t think of anyone else who can provide it. My medical issues have been dragging on and on (I won’t bore you with the details) and I’m still reliant on a w/c to go anywhere outside the house. However the Red Cross need the rental I have back in a few weeks and I don’t want to go back to being trapped in my own house, like I was before. Because I’m still “in the system” (i.e. I’m nobody’s problem at the moment) I don’t think I’ll be able to get an NHS chair, so it looks like I’m going to have to buy my own. My father has kindly offered to help with the cost, but I really don’t know what I’m looking for. So this was my very long winded way of asking for any help and advice. If anyone knows of any relatively cheap chairs out there (hopefully around or under £150), or have any advice, I’d really appreciate it. I preferably need one that folds and has removable arms and foldable back (I’m pretty useless at pushing around them).

Thank you so much in advance, guys.

 

[RNMOM]

Dear Spark,

I hope I can be of assistance but your health care is so different from ours. Here, I would contact my doctor's office and see if they have a recommendation. I would also consider contacting several medical supply companies that handle sales of wheelchairs and see what new prices are and if they also might handle reconditioned chairs. They might also have people they can recommend you contact.

Sometimes in our newspapers there are people who are selling medical equipment of family members who have died or no longer need them. You might also try contacting any social workers or people at rehabilitation centers who can direct you to sources. I would probably be able to find a chair pretty easily here for you but give some of these ideas a try. Good luck and I hope someone comes up with some more answers for you.

Have you also tried posting this on the UK boards? Someone there might have just what you need.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Thanks for all the suggestions, RNMOM, I'll look into them. I've tried looking at local papers, but no luck yet. I'm thinking of buying one online, as the prices seem to be a bit lower. Has anyone had any experience of this, and if so, how was it?

I'm hoping to get something a little lighter than the rental I'm using at the moment, because the one I've got is a beastie (about the weight of WDW rentals), but I've been looking online and I'm baffled. What weights are light weight, and what aren't? How does 'without detachables' compare to what you're actually going to have to wheel about? Sorry if I'm being thick here, I'm just new to all this and finding all the options a little overwhelming .

TIA everyone

 

[KPeveler]

I would try 1800wheelchair.com. you can get a standard weight chair for $129, with removable arms and footrests... this is what i will probly do for myself...

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I've found Mobility Zone ( http://www.mobilitymegastore.co.uk/cat10_1.htm ) seem to be the cheapest suppliers for the pound (from my research, please correct me if I'm wrong), but I'm not sure if they operate in the US or not. I've found some good quality (I think) lightweight chairs for only a little more than a bog standard chair costs on a number of other sites. If anyone can suggest better, please do.

 

[Figmentatious]

Hello. You might want to contact the Disabled Living Foundation (in the UK @ dlf.org.uk) or ABLEDATA (in the US @ abledata.com). They both provide free objective information about Assistive Technology including wheelchairs.

Good luck.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Thank you very much for that, I'll look into the DLF further.

Also, great to see another Figmenter around

 

[RNMOM]

Spark,

I ordered my mobility scooter from an online store and had good service. I was quite pleased. Keep us updated on your progress.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Thanks RNMOM, I'm glad to hear that buying online worked for you. I'm going to a local chair supplier today to see what they've got and how much they cost. Hopefully I'll try out a few different chairs there, see how they suit and then either buy one from there or online depending on the prices / range of stock. I've already scoured the net for the best chair prices, so I've a pretty good idea what I can get online. Wish me luck