If you are thinking of buying a power wheelchair for an 80 year old in your family, in addition to making a list of your needs and budget, that list of models that are not recommended needs to be made. Because some power wheelchairs are of poor quality and risky, making a list ahead of time will help avoid these models. I summarized 7 models of electric wheelchairs not recommended to buy, in terms of quality, safety and other aspects of the problem, 80-year-old legged elderly people may be a safety risk for long time use, so everyone in the purchase of these 7 models of wheelchairs to choose carefully, can not buy don’t buy!
1.Not recommended for those equipped with electronic brakes
E-brake is usually configured together with the handbrake on the power wheelchair so that it can be manually braked when the wheelchair runs out of power and the e-brake cannot be used.
However, in case of emergency, the elderly may not be able to operate it quickly and accurately with slow reaction, especially those aged 80 years old, which is a potential safety hazard.
Compared with electronic brakes, electromagnetic brakes do not rely on electricity to operate, even if the power is cut off, you can also let go of the hand that is the brake, relying on magnetic force to realize the brake. For the elderly, electromagnetic brakes are safer. Not recommended for those equipped with electronic brakes
2.Motorized wheelchairs with low-power motors are not recommended
Electric wheelchair motor power is small, and weak power, on the flat road is okay, but if the elderly driving environment more slopes, the wheelchair may appear to be struggling to climb the slope, or even be unable to complete the climb. This will cause inconvenience to the elderly traveling.
It is recommended to choose the electric wheelchair with enough motor: lightweight wheelchair can choose 300W and above; heavyweight electric wheelchair motor can not be less than 500W.
3.Wheelchair frames that are simple are not recommended
A lot of thin structure, a net weight of less than 12 kilograms, and a price of as little as $300 at the beginning of the electric wheelchair will simplify the structure of the wheelchair by reducing the use of materials, more plastic products and other means to reduce the weight of the wheelchair and to ensure that the profit.
In this way, this type of lightweight wheelchair’s load-bearing and stability will be relatively poor, 140 pounds of the elderly sitting up, it is likely that the wheelchair deformation problems, if you drive faster, turn, there may be overturned. Choose with caution!
My suggestion is that if you have a big budget, you can consider the electric wheelchair made of carbon fiber. If you have a budget of about $400, you can consider the lightweight fram with a solid structure, and the load bearing will be better.
4.Power wheelchairs without shock absorption are not recommended
The shock-absorbing device on the power wheelchair is mainly to improve the comfort and safety of the elderly when they ride. On the other hand, it can protect the wheelchair frame from impact damage to a certain extent.
If there is no shock absorption on the power wheelchair, the elderly will have a strong bumpy feeling when they cross the barrier, which is uncomfortable, while the frame may also be damaged.
So if you want to buy a power wheelchair for an 80-year-old man, it is recommended to choose a model with a shock-absorbing device, preferably a six-fold shock absorber. The shock-absorbing effect will be better.
5.Power wheelchairs that are too cheap are not recommended
The cost of a good basic electric wheelchair is about 200 dollars, plus other packaging costs.Unless you have a large order.Selling you 240 dollars is not enough to cover the cost, it may be a “jerry-built” product.
Therefore, if the elderly are planning to use electric wheelchairs for a long time, it is recommended to choose a wheelchair brand with sales volume and reputation of $300 and above, such as WENRY wheelchair, which is more reliable than small brands in terms of quality and after-sales service.
6.Don't buy a wheelchair with an inappropriate seat width
Wheelchairs are not sofas or massage chairs, and an unsuitable seat width may have an impact on the health of the elderly.
If the seat of the electric wheelchair is too wide, the elderly may need to adjust the sitting position to maintain stability, which may lead to scoliosis or other bad posture; if the seat is too narrow, the elderly are not comfortable sitting, and if the long-term pressure on the nerves in the legs, it may also make the elderly feel pain.
Therefore, it is recommended to measure the body size of the elderly when they are sitting in advance, and then look for the electric wheelchair model with the right dimensions such as sitting width, sitting height, and sitting depth.
7.Electric wheelchairs with complicated operation are not recommended
Many 80-year-olds have weaker learning abilities and slower reaction time, they cannot master complex operations, and there is also the possibility of fall or collision accidents due to incorrect operation.
For example, a simple movement of a power wheelchair requires multiple buttons to complete, the elderly may confuse or forget the correct sequence, resulting in sudden acceleration or braking of the wheelchair, which can lead to safety accidents.
Therefore, it is recommended to choose a controller with a simple design for seniors, like this one, the function is simple and clear, and the control is simple, so it will be easier for the elderly to get started.
Power Wheelchair Recommendation
Reason for Recommendation：
1.Excellent price/performance ratio.
2.Various functions available as options.
3.Inexpensive, wholesale price of three hundred dollars.
Reason for Recommendation：
1.Light weight, simple folding, easy to carry.
2.Various functions available as options.
3.Inexpensive.