Manual Wheelchair

[Bobbi]

A couple weeks ago, my doc gave me a Rx for a new lightweight wheelchair.

While in the grocery store, I asked a woman about her chair. She had told me that it was a Quickie and weighs 17 lbs., that it folds into one piece, and that she hasn't problems transporting it by herself.

I've looked and can't seem to find the chair she has. Maybe someone might know which "model" it is?

This is my current one, which I love, only it's too heavy for me to transport (maneuver) by myself in-and-out of my car(s) (a Civic and an Accord):

http://www.pridemobility.com/quantum/Manual/Stylus/stylus.html

When broken down (foot-rests removed), it's still too heavy and cumbersome to move about.

I'm hestitant to order online - since it won't provide for an opportunity to "get a feel" for how it feels - and, too, I'm afraid of being ripped off. My insurance covered 90 percent of my first chair and 100 percent on the pad; the manager of the med. supplier filled out and processed the paperwork through insurance for me. That worked out beautifully, only the same supplier doesn't carry Quickie chairs :(.

[Bobbi]

Thank you very much, Lara :).

The style of the woman's chair is very similar to two of the ones you found :D: the Quickie GP Ultra Lightweight Wheelchair and the Quickie 2HP.


This is not going to be easy, that's for sure ;). It seems that, in order to attain a lighter weight, I'll probably have to be willing to give up one or two things I like so much about mine - such as flip-back arm-rests and somewhere to hang a backpack.

Too, I was hoping that with a chair that transports more compact, I won't have to consider what luggage to leave behind when travelling, only I can't always roll myself around.


What you've found has given me a good idea of what to look for and also accessories - like for toting stuff about - to contemplate.

[Bobbi]

Yeah, Lara, Quickie chairs have the "build it" feature :D. I'm so glad you found the pages! If you think of the other brand, I'm also open-minded about looking at it. Nothing is set in stone, at this point.

The only way I can get my current chair in-and-out of vehicles right now is someone has to do it for me. I've tried and tried and I can't lift it - with foot-rests and with wheels removed. One of my friends, when I travelled by train to see her, thought that she might be able to lift it, and, it ended up we had to wait for her son to do it :(. Therein is the prob.: Its weight isn't independence-friendly (for me).

It's a nice chair, wheels and rides smoothly (even through gravel and grass) and my spine doesn't get all jarred about; it also holds a pretty good-size backpack ;). I love the chair, only... I'm stuck when it comes to lifting it.

[Bobbi]

You've found a lot of excellent info., Lara! :D.

I visited the newer site you shared, and was impressed: Delivery in 3 days. How cool is that! I imagine that that time-frame is probably within the U.K. Still, that's not bad, at all.

I'm leaning toward one of the Quickie chairs you found :). I am not sure how my insurance would or wouldn't work going trans-Atlantic. I've a strong feeling it would send back a "decline" notice.

What's nice about the med. suppliers - to be visited off-line - is that some tend to carry a range of chairs, and it gives the chance to "test" them for how they work and feel. It also allows for comparison.

I was planning to spend the weekend looking, but my dog was really sick with pancreatitis and had an appointment on Saturday; her doctor called Sunday with the lab work. She's feeling much better now, so I'm hopeful this weekend will be the one I can devote to looking offline.

[Bobbi]

Lara, you know, with the sites and information you located and posted: You may be helping more people than we know (for sure). It could be that either someone else has or could (in the future) read your messages here and leave with some great ideas of where to look also!

Many thanks! :D.

[bluesky63]

I've been going through this decision myself. I've been waiting since February to get a new chair through my insurance company. (Yes, since February -- the wait is agonizingly slow and really inexcusable, but there it is.)

The new chair that I'm waiting for through the insurance is a Quickie XT with power extender wheels -- the manual wheelchair itself is very lightweight, but the most important detail is that it will come with power-assist wheels, so I won't have to ask other people to help on hills, etc., which I currently can't do by myself.

About a month ago I became so incredibly frustrated waiting for the insurance company that I began haunting ebay for an interim solution. I wanted a chair that would be ultralightweight (at any rate, much better than my current clunker) and would also be compatible with the power-assist wheels whenever they were approved.

After watching the chairs come and go and seeing the prices that they got, I felt like I had a pretty good feel for what was going on and for the different sellers. I had strict requirements for what I wanted, and I was able to successfully get a Quickie 2HP with just about every one of my requirements very quickly and at a great price.

I compromised on the seat width -- I wanted something more narrow (I would have gone down to 16 inches and the one I got is 19 inches), but that's minor compared to everything else.

I am so, so happy with the Quickie 2HP. There are some elements of its design that I would change (the annoying casters!) but it is so light and easy to propel -- it has changed everything for me. :-)

Please check out www.wheelchairjunkie.com and look at all his articles on manual wheelchairs. It's a great education.

If you are seriously going to order something new from an online vendor, also look at www.kuschallna.com as a possibility -- those look awesome.

[Bobbi]

Thank you, Bluesky63 ... though, I gotta admit, I am sorry to see the duration you've been waiting for your insurance to make a determination :(.

I'm going to read closely: wheelchairjunkie.com

[oesbrenda]

i have a friend who has tried for two years to get insurance to pay for lightweight wheelchair for her m.s. always refused, even appeal refused. then she fell this summer at home and could not get up into her motorized scooter, which is quite high, even with her husband's help. they had to call an ambulance. after this they resubmitted to insurance saying ambulance cost could have been avoided if they had had a lightweight wheelchair to help her into, and voila, insurance approved. seems insur. doesn't care about leaving house, only about inside house. and saving money of course!

maybe this story will help some people get their insurance to pay!

[frogga]

Heya

I have had Kuschall champions - and have been VERY happy with both of them - they are incredibly light weight, I can get them into the back seat of my car (well, used to be before my arms stopped working), they can make loads of adjustments to them and they come in awesome colours.

I would seriously suggest this chair - admittedly I get through 1 every 2 years - but I am 21 and my friends do treat my wheelchair more as a dodgem car - and carry it up and down flights of stairs.

On the Kushall you can get arm rests etc - they even managed to fit my headrest to it!

Take Care and feel free to ask if you have any Qs

Rosie xxxxxxx

[DiMarie]

Bobbie did you ever think of getting a trunk lift for your chair. Similar to the kind that folks use to lift into a van, but instead a smaller scale and the lift takes the folded chair right into trunk.
Just a thought,

I had trouble lifting dad's chair, especially if I had kids in tow.
I was better with the scooter we rented, that was heavy too, but broke way down.Batteries off, seat and handles.Lot of work, but I didn't have to push him especially when with the stroller.
di