A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall New Wheels For Merme!

Today I went all the way to Portland to be seen in Wheel Chair clinic. The physical therapist and the vendor rep were both there to analyze what is going on with my back, my posture and how I move myself around. They decided I need a power chair after all.

I was there a long time because as it turns out, these chairs have component parts and they had to decide on which seat, which back, which set of arm rests or if they should be different and what is the best joystick arrangement, etc.

Now I will have an appointment with the rehab doc who will decide if the team did the best by me and will either sign off on it, or make suggestions otherwise.

Meantime, I have to contact my landlord about getting a ramp installed.

The vendor rep is from a huge medical supply company up here and they of course also do modular ramps which can be installed and uninstalled. Then I have to contact charitable organizations to help defray the cost of the ramp.

The chair can't be delivered until the ramp is installed because the chairs weigh 200 lbs.

So I picked out a bright candy apple red base for the chair. It was much prettier than the blue or silver.

I was worried about the width of these chairs because I've seen such big ones out and about. I want to be able to get through my doorways! The one I am getting is actually more narrow than the manual chair I have now although it is longer front to back.

I'm looking on-line for a picture of it so you all can see.

It will probably take one to two months before it arrives, but oh so worth the wait!!!!


Merme

Here is a picture of a similar model. Mine will have a lower back and will not have the head rest.




Merme

sounds like it will serve you well, merme---I am so glad for you!!!

Glad to hear the appointment went well!

Great Merme!
Candy apple red huh?? Sounds like you've got a hotrod to me with a joy stick No less better get you a horn put on,, or you'll have to scream "get outta my way!"
Just teasing you :wink: ,, I'm very happy for you I Hope there are organizations that will expedite the build of the ramp ASAP

Woohooooo! A hot rod!!!

Those chairs are cool...my dad has 2 different kinds of them.

Me and my niece like to get in one of them and just keep turning in a circle...til we get dizzy and almost fall out of the chair. See...you can take a trip and never leave the farm!

Congrats Merme! I'm happy to hear that you were seen and fitted by a specialist. We have a company that comes in about once a week for wheelchair clinic and I know what all goes into that. I hope they are the type of company that if something ends up being not quite right that they'll fix right away for you. Have fun in your new wheels!

Wow and so cool Merme... maybe you can get someone to paint some racing stripes on it- so neat and sounds like it might arrive about Chirstmas time for you... with a ramp it will make life a little easier for you I hope- I bet shopping will be easier- can go in any store with it-- not just the ones with their own...
Nana

Thanks, everyone. Yup, I'll be a hotrod!

Diane it's funny you mentioned a horn. My sister Nancy said I'll need one of those tall poles w/ the flag on top so I can go all over town again!

Nana, unfortunately, I won't be able to take it useful places such as stores or church because it weighs 200 lbs and can't go inside of a trunk. It needs a van. So I'll still have to use the manual chair for outings except for medical appointments when I travel by van.

Goofiness is that I must turn my manual chair back in to the company I rent it from. Then I will have to get a loaner from a church or a castoff from a friend to have on hand for outings!

Cheryl yes, I guessed that you would know about wheel chair clinics because of your work. Aren't they amazing? The company I'm using is very accomodating and a pleasure to work with.

I am looking forward to eliminating as much of the back pain as I possibly can. The therapist was shocked when he saw the difference between how I sit in the my chair and how I sat on the padded bench. The firm surface allowed me to be very upright and eased the pain. This sling seat in my chair just crumples me down.

This is very exciting!!


Merme

Today I found out the ramp is going to cost about $5,000.

The company said it might be easier to put in a lift for the same price because the ramp is going to have to be so long.

The rule is a ramp must be 1 foot long for each inch of rise.... so to go up three inches, the ramp must be three feet long. My porch is approximately 36 inches high which would require a very long ramp or a shorter ramp with landings and turns.

The problem is, a lift is a more permanent installation and I do not plan on staying here an entire year. The removable ramp is a far better option, pricey as it is.

It isn't just an outlandish price quoted by this company, either. I got a second bid by a private contractor who would build a wood ramp of the same ratio. Same price.


Merme

Could a lift be taken with you? If so it might be more worthwhile (who's the say a removable ramp would be the same height at your new place?)

James I don't know if the lifts are considered portable. They require the pouring of a concrete slab.

The type of ramp I am looking at is called "modular". It comes in preassembled pieces. The installer looks over the needs of the home and decides which pieces are needed as they all can be rearranged however. Moving later is said to be easy. Then come and dismantle the ramp and decide which pieces of it I will need at the new place, if any. Or if I'd need another A instead of two B's, for instance.

The man who will do the assessment of my needs here is scheduled to come this morning. It will be interesting to hear what he has to say!


Merme

Hmm, the ramp sounds pretty cool; I like the idea of it being modular like that :)

Because my porch is high and the sidewalk was not poured parallel to the building, either ramp arrangement I need will be between $5,000 and $7,000 PLUS an additional 30% because the landlord insists I must have spindles on it because a little boy lives next door and they don't want him climbing up the sides! But whats to prevent him from running up it anyway?



Merme

Who pays for that ? Landlord?

Ya know Merme, I have to say--
I think these estimates are a bit out of line--are you sure that they are not trying to take you to the cleaners, because they know you have to have it.

Actually, Carol Jean, these estimates are on par for this area.

I had two independent companies make bids. One, a private contractor/architect; the other, the wheel chair ramp company. They both were within a few dollars of each other.

Merme

Thanks merme, I am glad to hear that.

UPDATE!

I found out today that my landlord does NOT want a ramp put on the front of my apartment, so he negotiated with the ramp company to install a lift instead.

The deal is...

my landlord will have the concrete slab poured and the electrical installed. I will arrange the $5200 cost of the lift from the Rotary and/or elsewhere.

Because of the special features my ramp had to have, along with its overall length, the price was reaching over $7,000....


I made my son & his buddies promise not to fall off the end of the porch! Well, that is questionable because I remember when Maxi fell out of his chair at the dining table and landed in our Christmas Tree!


Merme

sounds like things are moving along, merme---does the new chair have to wait until you have the ramp/lift in place ??

Carol Jean ~

Medicare guidelines state that accessibility must be in place before the power chairs can be delivered. However, Medicare does not help with those accessibility features.



Merme

That hardley seems right, Merme--but then what else is new.......