Introduction to Using a Wheelchair
By using a wheelchair correctly, you will protect the person you care for and yourself from injury. Many persons only use wheelchairs when they need to travel distances (such as going into a mall or doctor’s office). Others use wheelchairs as their only means of moving around, for as much as 16 hours or more a day.
Wheelchairs are designed for a person’s mobility limitations. However, serious accidents occur when wheelchairs tip over or when a person falls from a chair. Accidents commonly occur outdoors or on ramps.
Get Fitted for a Chair
There are many wheelchair designs to choose from. The doctor of the person you are caring for will order a visit to a rehabilitation facility or ask that a Physical Therapist come to your home to evaluate what type of chair will work best. It is important to have a wheelchair that is properly fitted, both for comfort and ease in using the chair to get from one place to another. A therapist will suggest a wheelchair based on a person’s:
- ability to function (e.g. strength, movement, coordination).
- medical condition
- size
- home setting (e.g. width of hallways, size of bathroom).
Here is Cleo’s story
My grandmother has had to get around in a wheelchair since her stroke 2 years ago. Since that time we have had a few accidents. Once we almost had a bad accident when I was pushing the chair over a curb and it tipped forward. Grandma started to fall out of the chair but my husband was there to catch her. You have to be careful how to move around with the chair, it actually tips easily. My husband takes care of the wheelchair and checks it every few months to be sure the tires, brakes and other parts are all ok. It’s almost like taking care of a car! We have learned that wheelchair safety is important for the well-being of my grandmother.