Wheelchairs from Amazon

[5kidsmommy]

Hoping you all can offer some insight and advice.

My daughter has health issues that make walking for long periods of time difficult, especially in the heat.

In the past we have rented wheelchairs when we travel but I am thinking it would be best if we just made an investment in one. It would get used maybe 2-3 weeks every year. She is a teenager and smallish, just over 100 lbs.

So I've been looking online at amazon and wondering if anyone has had any person experience with the wheelchairs under $200. We would add a chair pad for her that I haven't included in the cost. In the past when we've rented some have been great and some not so great. She does get in and out of them throughout the day but really it's the walking and standing for extended periods she cannot do and her health is unfortunately declining. We have a trip to DC in a couple of months and at this point there is no way she could handle walking through the city.

Any advice?

 

[gap2368]

I think that getting one could be a good idea as it sounds like you could really use one I would try and get one for her size I think someone else can tell you how to get one for her size better then I can, but I think you can messer when she sits and that is how wide you want the set. this will make it easer for her to push it when she want to. also have you talked to her bro as she might be able to get one paid for through insurance

 

[5kidsmommy]

I think that getting one could be a good idea as it sounds like you could really use one I would try and get one for her size I think someone else can tell you how to get one for her size better then I can, but I think you can messer when she sits and that is how wide you want the set. this will make it easer for her to push it when she want to. also have you talked to her bro as she might be able to get one paid for through insurance

We meet with her specialist in a couple weeks, I'll check with him about going through our insurance, I honestly hadn't even thought about that. Maybe then we could even go with something sturdier. Thanks.

 

[mamabunny]

There is a class of Rollator that doubles as a transport chair. (Transport chairs are those weird wheelchairs that have small wheels on all four corners, instead of two small front wheels and two big back wheels. Transport chairs are most typically pushed by a walking person from behind, or are sometimes used with elderly patients who can still "pedal" the chair with their feet to get around at retirement & nursing homes)

Primary reason for using this is for someone who wants to walk and be mobile as much as possible, but needs the ability to sit on demand.

These hybrid Rollator-transport chairs can be used as a walker, have a seat to sit on when needed, and have handlebars so that the sitting person can be pushed like with a standard transport chair. There is at least one model I have seen in the past that folds and fits in the trunk of most sedans.

This search on Amazon.com shows what I am talking about.

This would give her the ability to walk when she wanted, always have a place to sit, and could be pushed if needed. (You can, of course, accomplish the same thing with a traditional wheelchair) For a teenager, sometimes it's more important to look as "cool" as possible... We struggled with this with our (now adult) daughter for years.

There is also a scooter (or ECV) that is manufactured for people of shorter stature, and kids with mobility issues. It is expensive, and typically insurance will not pay for it. The website is here, look for the "Junior" model. (for some weird reason, the new website is down almost every night, overnight, so try to check during the day!) I have the "Deluxe" model of this scooter, and it saved my sanity, and gave me back my freedom. I only have to remove the seat back and drop the handlebars to set it in the back of my Kia Soul.

Regardless of whether you get a wheelchair, transport chair, or some other device, remember to bring along a pair of bike gloves to help prevent blisters on anything that will be pushed. Try to resist the urge to outfit it with bags to carry "stuff" in; it makes the chair feel heavier and heavier as the day goes on.

Last but not least, remember that any time you cross any tracks (like on Main Street in MK) or any deep grooves in the pavement, be sure to cross at an angle to help prevent the wheels from getting stuck in the groove, and potentially causing injury. There are ramps, hills, and inclines everywhere at WDW (I always thought it was relatively flat until the first time I had to push a chair around!) so do take care to approach going up at a slight angle, and coming down have a firm grip on the chair.

I'm so sorry to hear that your daughter is not doing well. I hope that, like so many of us here, she will find that the Magic gives her a respite from her daily struggles.

 

[dismom57]

We seem to pay a premium for WC in Canada, I have looked at the low priced ones from department stores, but they are generally too big, with very narrow wheels, and no seating. So are uncomfortable and very difficult to push and steer for Disney rides, buses etc. I would look for proper sizing and supplier. There are how to measure guides on internet, generally width sitting and length of leg above and below knee.

 

[5kidsmommy]

There is a class of Rollator that doubles as a transport chair. (Transport chairs are those weird wheelchairs that have small wheels on all four corners, instead of two small front wheels and two big back wheels. Transport chairs are most typically pushed by a walking person from behind, or are sometimes used with elderly patients who can still "pedal" the chair with their feet to get around at retirement & nursing homes)

Primary reason for using this is for someone who wants to walk and be mobile as much as possible, but needs the ability to sit on demand.

These hybrid Rollator-transport chairs can be used as a walker, have a seat to sit on when needed, and have handlebars so that the sitting person can be pushed like with a standard transport chair. There is at least one model I have seen in the past that folds and fits in the trunk of most sedans.

This search on Amazon.com shows what I am talking about.

This would give her the ability to walk when she wanted, always have a place to sit, and could be pushed if needed. (You can, of course, accomplish the same thing with a traditional wheelchair) For a teenager, sometimes it's more important to look as "cool" as possible... We struggled with this with our (now adult) daughter for years.

There is also a scooter (or ECV) that is manufactured for people of shorter stature, and kids with mobility issues. It is expensive, and typically insurance will not pay for it. The website is here, look for the "Junior" model. (for some weird reason, the new website is down almost every night, overnight, so try to check during the day!) I have the "Deluxe" model of this scooter, and it saved my sanity, and gave me back my freedom. I only have to remove the seat back and drop the handlebars to set it in the back of my Kia Soul.

Regardless of whether you get a wheelchair, transport chair, or some other device, remember to bring along a pair of bike gloves to help prevent blisters on anything that will be pushed. Try to resist the urge to outfit it with bags to carry "stuff" in; it makes the chair feel heavier and heavier as the day goes on.

Last but not least, remember that any time you cross any tracks (like on Main Street in MK) or any deep grooves in the pavement, be sure to cross at an angle to help prevent the wheels from getting stuck in the groove, and potentially causing injury. There are ramps, hills, and inclines everywhere at WDW (I always thought it was relatively flat until the first time I had to push a chair around!) so do take care to approach going up at a slight angle, and coming down have a firm grip on the chair.

I'm so sorry to hear that your daughter is not doing well. I hope that, like so many of us here, she will find that the Magic gives her a respite from her daily struggles.

I've looked at rollators, I really don't think it's an option for her, if she is up and moving pushing anything would be difficult. We've just rented chairs in the past and when she wants to walk I just push the chair for her but when she sits she really needs something that she can "sink" into like a chair.

And I learned the bike glove trick real fast, the first time I rented one for my oldest child it hurt like heck, never again. I did really well pushing her last trip in November, the only issue I ran into was crowds, I swear people just run right into you and I learned going up hills in no fun.

 

[Mommee]

http://www.amazon.com/Medline-MDS80..._UL160_SR160,160_&refRID=14VMQKPA63QQ96XEA9FV

This is what I have. My original had a smaller seat and a lower weight limit, but the frame broke while we were at Disney (it was 5 years old at that point) and this size is what they make now. The frame has a lifetime warranty; we were able to go pick one up at their warehouse the same day it broke with no hassle.

I'm around 140 and it's a bit too wide for me but then again it allows me to shift around and sit a bit sideways to get comfy lol. My teens (one 100 and one 115 lbs.) like to ride in it and find it comfortable, but they've only ever done short rides while I walked a bit to stretch my legs. My insurance covered the cost when I was unable to get around the house after a surgery (I cannot use crutches). My husband says it is 1,000 times easier to push than the rental chairs. I cannot self-propel so not having that option doesn't bother me. I can scoot around with my feet to move around short distances. It folds easily (pull up on the handles on each side of the seat). The back folds down and the leg rests fold backward if needed, too.

 

[Pridemom]

Talk to her doctor and the insurance may help cover some of the cost. I recommend one with the large wheels in back instead of a transport chair. They are easier to push.

 

[5kidsmommy]

Talk to her doctor and the insurance may help cover some of the cost. I recommend one with the large wheels in back instead of a transport chair. They are easier to push.

Yeah we would definitely get a regular one not a transport one, they are far easier to push. I plan on talking to the cardiologist next week and see what he thinks, we also have another appointment coming up with her primary care doctor and his office staff may know more about what's available with our insurance.