Two days before we were to leave for Japan with my mother and aunt about 10 years ago, mom somehow hurt her knee on the stairs. The ER visit showed nothing was broken, but muscles had been badly strained and it seemed she'd made some kind of strong impact on her knee.
Mom wanted to cancel the trip, but too many special arrangements had already been planned so we made a quick trip to pick up a transport chair.
The chair wasn't the lightest thing around, but sturdy and worked perfectly for the trip. It was lucky the store was open on a Sunday.
We were amazed at all the help we received in Japan as soon as they saw mom in a wheelchair. It was as easy as could be to travel everywhere. Mom laughed and said it was easier.
After several years the chair was stored away and not used.
When mom's other sister became immobile, we loaned the transport chair to my cousins.
However, now that mom is going to be 90, we're finding she is having more instances where she's taken a fall or somehow hurting her leg again.
We didn't want to ask my cousins to return the transport chair and besides, we decided to get an even lighter chair that would be easier to carry or load into the car.
I wondered if a walker like this would fill a double purpose. Mom could walk with it, sit on it and maybe we could even push her in it. We tried it out at the store with me sitting on it, but Art said it was too difficult to maneuver.
This Medline transport chair was very light, about 15 pounds, but quite a bit more expensive.
We liked the fact that the footrests fold in. Our other transport chair required you to remove it and store it separately.
Ummmm... and this one had a cup holder too.
I decided to look online.
The red one was $136.62, but Art felt we should pay a little more in case he has to sit in it. So yes, we paid $155 for the silver one even though I rather liked that red color. Juuust kidding.
When I checked further on Amazon, I found it was free shipping to Hawaii, BUT no free returns if we didn't like it. It's one of the problems of living in the middle of the Pacific ocean.
Fingers crossed that we like it.
POSTSCRIPT:
The transport chair arrived a week early. That was a surprise.
However, unlike other things we bought on Amazon. This was very, very lightly packed in a cardboard box that wasn't all that sturdy and thin bubble wrap.
Since there are no free returns from Hawaii and the damage wasn't quite that horrible we decided to keep it. There were scratches on the metal and scuff marks that can't be wiped out.
It wouldn't be tremendously comfortable for long periods (the seat is not soft), but it will do.
The chair wasn't the lightest thing around, but sturdy and worked perfectly for the trip. It was lucky the store was open on a Sunday.
We were amazed at all the help we received in Japan as soon as they saw mom in a wheelchair. It was as easy as could be to travel everywhere. Mom laughed and said it was easier.
After several years the chair was stored away and not used.
When mom's other sister became immobile, we loaned the transport chair to my cousins.
However, now that mom is going to be 90, we're finding she is having more instances where she's taken a fall or somehow hurting her leg again.
We didn't want to ask my cousins to return the transport chair and besides, we decided to get an even lighter chair that would be easier to carry or load into the car.
I wondered if a walker like this would fill a double purpose. Mom could walk with it, sit on it and maybe we could even push her in it. We tried it out at the store with me sitting on it, but Art said it was too difficult to maneuver.
This Medline transport chair was very light, about 15 pounds, but quite a bit more expensive.
We liked the fact that the footrests fold in. Our other transport chair required you to remove it and store it separately.
Ummmm... and this one had a cup holder too.
I decided to look online.
The red one was $136.62, but Art felt we should pay a little more in case he has to sit in it. So yes, we paid $155 for the silver one even though I rather liked that red color. Juuust kidding.
When I checked further on Amazon, I found it was free shipping to Hawaii, BUT no free returns if we didn't like it. It's one of the problems of living in the middle of the Pacific ocean.
Fingers crossed that we like it.
POSTSCRIPT:
The transport chair arrived a week early. That was a surprise.
However, unlike other things we bought on Amazon. This was very, very lightly packed in a cardboard box that wasn't all that sturdy and thin bubble wrap.
Since there are no free returns from Hawaii and the damage wasn't quite that horrible we decided to keep it. There were scratches on the metal and scuff marks that can't be wiped out.
It wouldn't be tremendously comfortable for long periods (the seat is not soft), but it will do.
I think the chair will do fine but if I were you I would notify Amazon about the packing problem and the scratches. They need to know.
ReplyDeleteThat business about returns must not be easy for you.
ReplyDeleteIt looks perfect and serves the purpose!
ReplyDeleteLike Margie said, I would definitely let Amazon know about the damage.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you found a good deal. A little disarming to see Art in a wheelchair.....
ReplyDeleteThe footrests are good. I've seem folks in "lightweight" wheelchairs with no footrests, so the patient risks hurting themselves when they get tired of holding their legs up. You could always put colorful duct tape on the metal to mark it as your's. (Yep, the walker with a seat isn't a good wheelchair substitute; and they're only good as seats if the patient remembers to lock the handlegrips before sitting down, IF they're agile at turning around before sitting down. When they're tired and want to sit quickly, brakes and turning aren't a good thing. Most use the seat to carry their cafeteria tray of food to the table, or to carry their daily mail.....
Cheers, Linda in Kansas
you can always add a cushion to make it more comfortable...lol!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about a cushion also. It seems to hold Art quite nicely and yes, report it to Amazon.
ReplyDeleteCushion!!!
ReplyDeleteI have the walker, which I am going to go out in front and watch the cement trucks with this morning. They are giving us a good show. It's that wonderful red.
What a great idea! It would have been ideal to have one around when we needed this kind of transport for elderly friends who visited back in my father-in-law's navy reunion days. Though most of them had their own 'wheels' thankfully.
ReplyDeleteI was also thinking maybe you could make a nice comfortable cushion to fit.
ReplyDeleteA few scratched are minor, just as long as it holds up and does the job.
ReplyDeleteGood thing you found one of those.
ReplyDeleteI have one of those. A red one.
ReplyDeleteLooks perfect to me. Just add a cushion to make it more comfy, and it's all good. You are such an experienced online shopper, Kay! :-)
ReplyDeleteIn the last photo it looks like somebody has taken ownership of it.
ReplyDeleteIf you add a cushion, make sure it has a rubber backing so it won's slip, better yet, attach ties to the back corners. Had one patient who used this type of wheelchair for too many hours of sitting, but don't let the cushion be too thick. The egg-crate or gel type cushions are the best for preventing skin breakdown....Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteI like the ties idea. Hmmm... another project.
DeleteYou have really created an interesting and informative post, Kay. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It is so helpful because you explained it so well. Thank you for sharing such an informative post. This is good to know.
ReplyDeleteThe chair looks very light and nice, you just need a cushion, Ms kay.
ReplyDeleteIt must be tricky ordering. I'm glad you found one that works.
ReplyDeleteI bet they would replace it because of the damage and the bad packaging. It might be worth a try!
ReplyDelete