Electric Wheel Chair:
Purchase Considerations

An electric wheel chair, also called a power or motorized chair, may be an attractive mobility solution for individuals who do not have the upper body strength or arm functionality to operate a manual chair. Power chairs may also ease the burden of a caregiver or eliminate the need for a companion to push a manual wheel chair.

Motorized wheelchairs come in a variety of models that enable you to match the type of seating, features, power, and controls to your specific needs.

Most electric wheelchair models come in one of three types of wheel drives: front, mid and rear wheel drive.

For good maneuverability, consider a front wheel drive. These are excellent for indoors, but use caution at higher speeds because overall turning radius can be less than other chairs. These chairs are able to traverse tougher terrain thanks to large wheels mounted in front of the seating.

These come in small models that are useful in apartments and other living facilities. Larger models may serve dual indoor and outdoor use.

For stability and all around use, consider a rear-wheel drive power chair. These chairs move at the highest speeds and have the largest turning radius of all the chairs. Additionally, they are able to handle more weight and can more easily go up inclines.

Another important consideration is power controls. Unlike a manual wheelchair, which is pushed or propelled by arm muscle power, an electric wheel chair is controlled with the fingers or other body part.

The controls may be a standard joystick or a specialty switch such as a sip and puff device. Ask your healthcare provider which control is right for you.

The health and condition of the user is an important consideration prior to chair purchase. The user should have adequate vision and depth perception for proper operation of the chair. This is important for judging distances and widths.

The residence should have doorways, thresholds, rooms and hallways that can adequately accommodate a power chair. Access ramps for the residence and vehicle as well as storage are also considerations.

Aside from the chair itself, consider the type of warranty offered, available maintenance, delivery and related fees, assembly (a pre-assembled chair is recommended), in-home training, insurance and paperwork, and the battery.

Used power chairs are available, but secondhand chairs generally do not have transferable warranties. Have a power chair specialist evaluate any used models you are considering before you make your purchase.

Always take a full test-drive before purchasing and check out several different electric wheel chairs for comparison. Evaluate the ease of use, comfort level, features, power, speed, and controls before making a final decision.

For information on attaining a no-cost power chair, click here.

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