CaringBoost | Everyday Care | Moving Safely: Introduction

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 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.

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 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.

Points of skin where pressure ulcers can easily form

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.

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.

Do not let a person lean forward out of a wheelchair beyond the length of the armrests.
When a person leans forward, be sure the wheels are pointing forward for more stability.
With power wheelchairs, always turn the power off before transferring the person.
Always lock the brakes on a manual wheelchair before transferring the person (see above photo).
Do not let a person pick up objects from the floor by reaching down. There are special assistive devices that allow people in wheelchairs to pick up things without leaning over. These devices can be bought at some department or medical supply stores.
Do not let the person lean back over the top of the chair or put excess weight on the back of a wheelchair, as this can cause tipping.
Avoid riding over bumps, curves or obstacles.
Avoid riding over steep grades.

Know how to safely help a person move from bed to a wheelchair (see photo). See the lesson Moving Safely in the Home.
Have the person use a flag if he or she rides on streets and have headlights and taillights for riding at night. Check with your local authorities about rules regarding lights and wheelchair use on sidewalks and roadways.
Use caution and keep the person’s hands away from wheel spokes.
Do not move up or down an incline covered with water, oil film or ice and avoid riding in the rain as wheelchairs (especially the electronics) are generally not waterproof.
Have a wheelchair alarm for a person who may try to get up alone without help or who has fallen in the past. Battery-powered alarms have a pin connection, which clips onto a person’s shirt or blouse. When the pin connector pulls out of the alarm unit, this activates a signal so you can respond.
Keep the wheelchair in good working order, read the operating manual, and observe all manufacturer precautions.
Don’t let children play with the wheelchair.

What to Do and Safety

Keep A Wheelchair in Good Repair

Home Design

Pressure Ulcer Prevention

Learn how to properly use a wheelchair