Wheelchairs are life and sanity saving devices for those that cannot walk due to old age or a medical condition. Attendant propelled wheelchairs are specially designed for those users who need assistance in pushing the wheelchair around. As people are different from one another, here are some tips and suggestions on how to choose the right one for your specific requirements.

Attendant Propelled Wheelchair Specifics

In order for the attendant propelled wheelchair to be perfectly suitable for its user you will need to pay close attention to the following details: the seat size, which should provide comfort by stretching all the way to the end of the thighs and a stable base designed to sustain the user’s weight. You will also need to know the foot rest angle and length, arm support adjusted at the required height, backrest shape and angle and the overall comfort of the user.

Attendant propelled wheelchairs can be made from different types of materials such as steel, which is strong and practically indestructible but also heavy and sometimes hard to maneuver and push around. Or you can choose to make it from aluminum, which is light, easy to use but not as strong as the steel. Attendant propelled wheelchairs come with folding frames so they can be stored away when not in use and are available in a variety of wheel types.

Other Important Features to Remember

While keeping in mind the comfort of the user you must remember to include the comfort of the one pushing the wheelchair around as well. You also need to take in to consideration, the amount of time that it will be used. There are energy saving wheelchairs available which have different types of wheels designed specially to make maneuvering the chair easy and convenient especially for those who are required to be pushed most of the day.

Shopping for an Attendant Propelled Wheelchair

There is a large variety of retail stores which sell only wheelchairs and that would be the best place to shop for one as they can usually offer to custom make a wheelchair according to your specific requirements. You may also find a variety of stores online that stock attendant propelled wheelchairs. Many ship for free, therefore check all your options in order to get the best bargain.

If you are on a tight budget you may also find second hand attendant propelled wheelchairs both online and locally if you look in the local newspapers and/or place an advertisement that you are looking to purchase one. Your insurance company may also be able to cover the cost and some wheelchairs manufacturers work with them to provide you with a wheelchair at little or no cost to you.

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Modern wheelchairs are lightweight, customizable, available for sports, battery-operated and constantly being improved. In spite of the modern feel of wheelchairs, they have been around in one form or another for much longer than most people would guess. Probably from the time that wheels were invented and the time that chairs were around, it was natural that the two would come together. If that seems like an exaggeration, then read on about the history of antique wheelchairs.

A Long, Long Time Ago

The oldest existing picture of a chair with wheels is from China – in the 6th Century! The odds that they were around before someone drew a picture that would survive this long are excellent. There is also an image of a wheeled chair from Ancient Egypt. Again, it’s more likely that it exists because their culture made long-lasting images than that they invented antique wheelchairs. Records show that in the 16th Century, King Phillip of Spain owned an elaborate rolling chair and in 1700, King Louis XIV of France used a wheeled conveyance while recuperating from an operation. No doubt commoners with a flair for furniture building found uses for antique wheelchairs as well.

It was in the 18th Century that the antique wheelchairs began to resemble our modern version. It had two large front wheels and a caser in the back. After the American Civil War and World War I, antique wheelchairs were built with wooden frames, wicker seats, big spoked wheels and featured adjustable arm and foot rests. A patent was filed in 1894 for the first wheelchair that could be propelled by the occupant.

The first folding wheelchair was designed in 1932. It was invented by an injured mining engineer and a mechanical engineer who went on to found the E&J Company. These antique wheelchairs are probably quite collectible since the same company developed the first powered wheelchair in the 1950s. This is the same decade that saw wheelchair sports develop in England. The first Paralympics were held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Wheelchair athlete Bob Hall completed the 1975 Boston Marathon in a manual wheelchair.

Lighter weight antique wheelchairs began showing up in the 1970s and 1980s in response to the need for sports chairs. Microprocessor controls for power chairs showed up in the 1980s. After this point, the term “antique wheelchairs” seems out of place. The developments in the 1990s were very modern, but nevertheless the history of antique wheelchairs is truly amazing.

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The inability to walk due to a medical condition or old age can make one a prisoner in his or her own home not to mention how it can affect one’s morale and general state of mind. Wheelchairs have been a blessing in disguise and the key to the freedom for those who for any reason cannot use their legs to get around. There are many types of wheelchairs in order to suit the special needs and requirements each individual has and some are better then the other by offering special features such as the all terrain power wheelchair.

Enjoy the Outdoors as Much as You Want

If you have been active all your life and suddenly have fallen prey to an illness that has reduced your ability to get around as you once did, the all terrain power wheelchair will help you get back your freedom by allowing you to pursue activities indoors and outdoors. The all terrain power wheelchair has special wheels that can be used with ease on gravel, pebbles, rough terrain, steep slope, ditches and even rough patches.

The all terrain power wheelchair is especially recommended for those who have a house with a courtyard and need to get around rough terrain but also for those who are active and simply enjoy going outdoors as often as possible.

Some Helpful Features of the All Terrain Power Wheelchair

All terrain power wheelchairs are fully motorized and can be operated without any effort on the part of the user. Power wheelchairs are electric and can be plugged over night for an entire day normal usage; they can be maneuvered conveniently from a remote control or a control located at hand reach.

The only disadvantage of an all terrain power wheelchair is that it is expensive but if you need it due to a medical condition your insurance may be able to finance part or even the entire amount depending on your type of policy and physical condition. Many power wheelchairs companies will help you find financing as well because usually the people needing the wheelchairs are not in great financial shape due to loss of income or hig medical bills.

Helpful Tip

All terrain power wheelchairs are heavy and cannot be moved easily; many people have special lifts built for them in houses that have more than one floor. Alternatively, they could have a ramp made which is probably less expensive. Contact an all terrain power wheelchair dealer today and see how you too can get back to nature and be your self again.

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Wheelchairs are the best thing that can ever happen to those who for any reason cannot make use of their legs. You can find any type of wheelchair you desire in order to suit your requirements and provide you with mobility and independence. There are power wheelchairs for all types of terrain, standing wheelchairs for those who need to stand in order to perform some activities and there are custom made wheelchairs that will be designed with your specific needs in mind.

All these wheelchairs have one thing in common and that is the fact that they are very expensive and often those who have already suffered a tragedy have already spent considerably on medical bills to have little or no resources left for investing in what will provide them their freedom or mobility. Here are some tips and suggestion on how you can get affordable medical wheelchairs.

Funding Affordable Medical Wheelchair

The first place you need to consider is your insurance company who usually will cover an affordable medical wheelchair when it is required in order for you to function on a daily basis. Medicaid is the next place to consider for financing an affordable medical wheelchair as they work together with the Federal State to help those with low income and/or limited resources.

Medicare is yet another great source where you may be able to find financing for an affordable medical wheelchair as they too work together with different manufacturers in order to get the wheelchair to those in need for little or no cost at all. Because medical wheelchairs are only required by those in dire need, many manufacturers help you with financing and/or will work out a payment plan that will suit your income.

Other Helpful Tips and Suggestions

Ask your doctor and insurance company to suggest other possibilities if you can not afford a wheelchair on your own. Often times, doctor’s offices can speak to the insurance company and explain the situation. You may not be eligible for the high-end premium wheelchair, but chances are a regular type will be made available to you. Consulting a wheelchair store may also be a great way to get the process started of owning a medical wheelchair.

People who are faced with a personal tragedy that has cost them their legs and mobility usually give up on life and its beauty. However, an affordable medical wheelchair can usually work wonders for them and their entire family giving back hope along with the lost freedom and love for life.

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