How to choose the right Motorised Wheelchair

by Warren Chew
(Singapore)

Much of the literature published on this subject are from countries and regions where motorised wheelchairs are widely used, such as USA & Europe. Those written for Singapore are mainly copied from foreign sources, or provide only bits and pieces of information designed to help promote certain products.

Falcon Mobility has developed a useful original framework for choosing motorised mobility aids, which include both motorised wheelchairs and mobility scooters. First, you assess the user’s needs from 3 dimensions; Physiological, Lifestyle and Emotional. These are then filtered through 2 main constraints; Physical and Financial. The last step is then to find the electric wheelchair that has the features to meet most, or all of the above needs and constraints.

So before you rush off to check out all the electric wheelchairs in Singapore, make sure you ask the questions below.

Physiological Needs
How well is the user able to control the motorized wheelchair? What features do they need in the motorised wheelchair to enable mundane tasks such as going to the toilet or transferring to a bed? Make sure you understand this thoroughly before investing thousands on a electric wheelchair.


Lifestyle Needs
What does the power wheelchair user need it for? Is it for nearby neighbourhood use, or for travelling much further? Do you need more portability for transporting in a car, or more power for use in MRT and Wheelchair-Accessible Buses (WAB)?

Emotional Needs
Is the user open to the idea of using a motorised wheelchair? This is often overlooked when dealing with elderly users. If a motorised wheelchair makes the user feel like an invalid, it will be an uphill task trying to get them to use it., A mobility scooter may be more appropriate in such scenarios. Neglecting the user’s feelings can often result in the electric wheelchair becoming a white elephant.

Physical Constraints
Is there a lift landing on your floor? Is the lift big enough to fit the electric wheelchair? How wide is your door? Are there kerbs or steps outside your door which can make it difficult to get the motorized wheelchair out of the house? Has the nearby neighbourhood been upgraded to be wheelchair-accessible? This factor deals mainly with the availability of wheelchair-friendly infrastructure and the interior layout of the house and/or office.

Financial Needs
What is your budget for buying a motorised wheelchair? Are you looking for the cheapest available, or do you want to get the best value for a fixed budget? What is the cost of after-sales service and ongoing maintenance cost?

Of course, we all want the perfect product for the lowest cost. But how realistic is that? Nothing cheap can be good, and nothing good can be cheap. Very often, you will have to decide, in the long-run (because motorised wheelchairs are long-term investments), which of the 3 would rather sacrifice; Price, Service or Quality?

If you buy the cheapest power wheelchair, then be mentally prepared for a higher breakdown rate. If that is not acceptable, pay a little extra and get something that is tried-and-tested and supported by solid after-sales capabilities.

Product Features
What features, and of course price, must the motorised wheelchair come with, in order to meet the needs and constraints? Most of the time, you will find that there is no perfect solution, and that you will have to compromise make a choice. For example, if you want a portable electric wheelchair, be prepared to sacrifice some power and range.

Sometimes, there genuinely is no solution, such as users whose flats have yet to undergo lift upgrading. There is simply no feasible way for them to bring the motorised wheelchair downstairs! Or the budget they have is simply not workable.

Submit an online enquiry now to consult us on choosing the right wheelchair for you or your loved one, and arrange for a complimentary test drive!