mobility wheelchairs and scooters

jennyanydots

I wonder how many of you have gone down the road of getting a wheelchair or maybe a mobility scooter and how you found the whole experience ... what help was available and so on .. was it hard to get one on the nhs or did you have to buy it yourself .. ..

I did buy a mobility scooter last year after fighting aginst it for nearly two years and it has helped me to extend my boundries and sustain some activity ... i need to use a wheelchair in the shops and I am in the process of looking at powerchairs for use indoors .. does anyone have any experience and has it helped to use one indoors ... was it hard to get one through the nhs :?:

jenny

sharmaine

Hi Jenny
I have OA in both knees. First TKR is next month. I have to use a wheelchair when out shopping. OH has to push it. I have OA in right shoulder too which is becoming more troublesome. I've got this on loan until February from the Red Cross. I think you can borrow one on a long term basis from Social Services...not sure if you can have a mobility scooter on loan or not.

Sorry I can't comment on the mobility wheelchairs and scooters.

I'm sure someone will come along soon to help you out.

Sharmaine

jennyanydots wrote:

I wonder how many of you have gone down the road of getting a wheelchair or maybe a mobility scooter and how you found the whole experience ... what help was available and so on .. was it hard to get one on the nhs or did you have to buy it yourself .. ..

I did buy a mobility scooter last year after fighting aginst it for nearly two years and it has helped me to extend my boundries and sustain some activity ... i need to use a wheelchair in the shops and I am in the process of looking at powerchairs for use indoors .. does anyone have any experience and has it helped to use one indoors ... was it hard to get one through the nhs :?:

jenny

countessheather

Hi Jenny its Heather again.
I have only knowen scooters and powered wheelchairs through Motorbility Finance - the NHS gives a grant to those under 18 such as PMLD children and young adults. I scanned the local papers and bought 2 fold-up wheel chairs that way. Then I discovered that the local branch of the Red Cross in Abingdon, Oxon sells all sorts of second-hand equiptment including wheelchairs. I bought walking frames, toilet rail, kettel tippers, commodes ect for my mother and I am going back for my self. So I would enquire first at the Red Cross nearest to you - we saved a small fortune in the process Also try Able World disabled equiptment suppliers - they will often sell reconditioned power scooters and wheelchairs and be able to help maintain them. But a word of warning friends, its worth investing in solid tyers for a scooter as a friend of mine from Bicester just has. Twice he ended up with punctures due to broken glass throwen by louts and his scooter had to be taken back to Northampton - leaving him without transport. He is sight impaired and this has had a real impact on him. He told me that the solid tyers are costing him £200! :shock:

woodbon

Hi, I don't have to use one of these chairs, but my neice, who has a neuro condition has just had her first one, before chirstmas and she loves it, as she can be independant and get around the house without risik of falls. She'd given up sitting at the dining table as it was too much trouble, moving things around and walking through, but the electric chair fits under the table, no problem. The occupational Therapist arranged it for her, she had one on lone for a short while to see if she could manage it and now she has her own!

Love Sue