StrokeSurvivorBlog

Last week we purchased a wonderful used power wheelchair for Steve. Even though he has a manual wheelchair paid for by Medicare and our Medi-gap policy, it really limited him (and me) whenever we went somewhere which required a lot of walking. Steve did qualify for an electric wheelchair right after his stroke, but we were advised not to get it because it would make it too easy for him and then he wouldn’t walk. So I put a condition on this new wheelchair: He can’t use it in the house.

I looked for a used power wheelchair because I knew Medicare wouldn’t pay for another new chair so soon, and I was trying to save some money. Our local retailer only rented used wheelchairs, and our county Aging and Disabilities Center didn’t have any. I checked out another agency that had a “closet” of used durable equipment for people with disabilities, but they were very old electric wheelchairs and a few run-down scooters. In that condition we’d have to stick several hundred dollars into them for new batteries, and that still wouldn’t change the poor condition they were in. So I started searching online for used power wheelchairs.

On several sites I left messages asking questions, and requested that they contact me with more information. One particular website was very user friendly, and it offered a feature called Find My Perfect Wheelchair to narrow down the type of power wheelchair we needed.

Surprisingly, only one website owner followed up and called me, and it was the very next day. This wheelchair sales person, Lisa, was so friendly and helpful…not pushy at all. She answered all my questions, and when she had to check on something, she was faithful to call me back or email me with the information. She helped us find the perfect power wheelchair for Steve, and we are so pleased with it.

This used wheelchair company purchases very lightly used wheelchairs and scooters and refurbishes them into like-new condition. The one we got was originally purchased by the family of a man who never used it, so it was in pristine condition at a fraction of the cost. The company installed new batteries and an arm trough for Steve’s left arm to meet our specifications. We also ordered a leg rest for his left leg, but that wasn’t needed after all.

I was a little nervous about purchasing a used power wheelchair without Steve being able to sit in it first, but it was sized perfectly for him. Lisa asked me to take measurements of Steve’s legs to make sure the seat was the right size before we ordered it, and there were pictures on the website of the actual wheelchair too.

A friend of mine who is confined to a wheelchair offered some advice. She said to get the new batteries installed right away, and to make sure the tires were solid core (flat-free) and not pneumatic. She’s had a few flats in the most inconvenient places, and they were hard to fix. So I took her advice and asked Lisa about it. Fortunately, our wheelchair already had the hard core tires on it, so there was no extra charge. But we did pay for the new batteries, which was quite reasonable compared to local retailers.

Exactly one week after I ordered our Pride Jazzy power wheelchair, it was delivered right to our door. It was packaged and crated very well, and it came in excellent condition. It looks brand new, much to my delight. The only adjustment I had to make was to the back of the chair so it would be the proper tilt for Steve’s back…a very easy modification.

This new power wheelchair will allow us to go places and have some fun without me pushing him around all the time. We’ve already gone for a couple of walks down our street and back. Steve could easily keep up with me on this two-mile trek. On a full charge, his power wheelchair can go 15-20 miles, depending on the terrain. The top speed is 5 miles an hour, which is faster than I can walk.

Now, the only other thing we need is a lift to get the chair into our vehicle, and that’s a whole other story.

Until next time…

Kathy