Keep A Wheelchair in Good Repair
Think of a wheelchair as your car. It will need a regular tune-up for proper functioning. Regular maintenance of a wheelchair requires cleaning, inspecting and adjusting all parts of the wheelchair and seating system. If you follow a regular maintenance schedule, you will have fewer problems and lengthen the life of a chair.
- Each day wipe down the wheelchair using a clean damp rag
- Keep the owner's manual for the chair in a safe place for future reference. Have the chair serviced regularly according to the warranty and manual guidelines.
- Have the tools you need for repairing a wheelchair:
- Allen wrench set (English and/or metric if your wheelchair contains European parts)
- Adjustable wrench
- A Phillips and flat head screwdrivers
- Spoke wrench
- Tire repair kit.
- Learn how to change the tires. Keep wheels on tightly; loose tires can cause a chair to tip over or become more difficult to steer.
- Check tires monthly to be sure that they are inflated at the proper pressure and replace worn tires promptly
- To check overall condition, be sure the wheelchair opens and closes with ease and rolls straight.
- Be sure the brakes are in good working order and not too loose.
- Check the chair at least once a month for loose nuts and bolts. Do not switch damaged nuts and bolts with a different grade or size. Only replace bolts with those of the same grade or strength rating.
- Check the brakes each month to be sure they are not too loose.
- Be sure leg rests, foot rests, arm rests, and backrests can be released and put back into place easily.
- Lubricate the folding mechanism of a chair (see owner’s manual) at least once a year.
- There are points where a wheelchair pivots, such as where the front casters turn. Lubricate all pivot points twice a year.
- Ball bearings require special care and should be serviced by a trained specialist. Contact your wheelchair manufacturer for the closest specialist in your area.
- Look at the wheelchair frame for cracks, especially in areas that sustain significant stress, such as the cross-brace of a folding wheelchair and the caster housing. A crack can be a serious threat to safety and should be tended to immediately.
Home Design
If a person will be using a wheelchair all the time, their home should be wheelchair accessible and safe. There are some simple steps you can take to make a person’s home wheelchair accessible.
If you need help in making changes to the home, a Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS) can help. The specialist can design and adapt a home so that a person can continue living in a familiar environment that is safe. The CAPS will design and build attractive, barrier-free living environments.
Some basic changes needed in a home to make it wheelchair accessible include:
- Remove barriers that make it hard to move a wheelchair across a floor, such as throw rugs and electrical cords. Chairs move best on smooth linoleum, tile or wood floors.
- Place threshold ramps over doorways and raised landings to make entry and/or exit easy and safe. A threshold ramp simply sits against the doorsill (inside or outside) to provide a smooth ground to sill transition,
- Install wheelchair ramps for entrance into your front and back doors. You will want the lowest slope possible on a ramp to make it easier to climb. The lowest ramps are also the longest. It is recommended you find a contractor such as a CAPS who can design a safe and properly constructed ramp for you.
- Have a contractor help you make the bathroom wheelchair accessible. This means you may need to modify the size of the bathroom doorway and change the location of the toilet bowl and vanity so a person can reach both while in the chair.
- Widen doorways to allow the wheelchair to move easily from room to room.
Pressure Ulcer Prevention
A person who sits in a wheelchair all day is physically disabled and at risk for forming a pressure ulcer, or bedsore. A pressure ulcer is an injury to the skin due to constant prolonged pressure or a combination of pressure and friction. Constant pressure on an area of skin such as the buttocks and hips reduces blood supply to the area. Over time this causes the skin to break down and form an open sore or ulcer.
Check the person’s skin
Look at the person’s skin routinely each day to be sure no pressure areas are forming. Our lesson on Skin Care will show you how and where to check the person’s skin.
After sitting in one position for a long time, the person is at risk for a pressure ulcer. A Stage I ulcer is the first type to form. The skin becomes red or discolored and the color does not fade within 30 minutes after the person changes position. The skin may also be painful or it can become numb because of the long time the tissue was without oxygen. The person you are caring for needs to understand the importance of changing positions in order to prevent skin injury.
Have the Person Change Seat Position
Be sure a person in a wheelchair moves their buttocks and hips up and off of the wheelchair seat every 15 to 20 minutes. There are cushions you can place on the seat that will help to relieve pressure. There are also wheelchairs with tilt systems for pressure relief. Consult with your doctor, medical equipment store, or home care nurse on the type of pressure relief devices to use.