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.
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: