Choosing between an electric and a manual wheelchair isn’t as simple as you might initially think. Both are meant to give independence to those with certain specific needs, but they work very differently in daily life. What feels ideal roaming around a park can be awkward in a hallway, or impossible on a bus – let’s delve deeper into how you might choose the right option for you.
Manual Effort
Manual wheelchairs depend on your own strength. For use indoors or on smooth, flat ground, they can do the job pretty well. They’re light, straightforward, and easy to move in short bursts. But if you have to go longer distances, and you’re not used to this kind of upper-body exercise, fatigue can show up pretty fast.
Electric chairs from places like Assurance Mobility obviously do all the work for you. An electric motor takes over, allowing you to go much further in your journeys without worrying about arms or shoulders giving out. It can make a range of new activities possible, whether that’s going shopping without worrying about getting tired, or simply moving outdoors with less strain on your arms.
There is a downside to this benefit, though. Electric wheelchairs are heavy, don’t fold easily, and need planning when it comes to using transport, whether that’s a train or a car.
Storage Space
Where you’ll keep the chair matters more than people expect. A manual chair folds down flat, and can slot into the boot of a car or behind a door at home. That makes life simpler if you live in a smaller space, and means that you don’t have to reshape your home environment quite as much.
Most electric models don’t fold. Much like a small car, they take up their spot and stay there. In a big house, that might not be a problem. In a flat with narrow halls or limited storage, it becomes a daily issue, and it might simply be too much for some people to deal with.
Cost
Manual chairs are usually affordable to buy (you might even find people giving them away) and keeping them in good condition isn’t expensive either. New tires every now and then, maybe the odd repair, and that’s about it.
Electric wheelchairs are another story. The price is higher from the start, and there are long-term costs. Batteries wear out, motors will need servicing at some point, and parts aren’t quite as cheap as with manual options. Insurance may also be required. Still, for many, the expense feels worth it if it means being able to get around without constant worry about how much energy you need to get home.
Neither option is perfect. Manual chairs keep things simple and affordable, whereas electric chairs add the ability to travel larger distances, in more comfort, but at the cost of weight, space, and money.
The best choice is the one that reduces the barriers that you personally face in everyday life. For some, that’s the folding manual model that fits neatly into a car, while for others, it will be a chair that can take them longer distances straight from their doorstep.
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