About Power Chairs

What are the different types of power chairs?
There are 3 distinct styles of power chair, all of which are categorized by the location of the wheels driving them. They are:

• Rear-wheel drive - the driving wheels are located to the rear of the seated position.
• Mid-wheel drive - the driving wheels are located underneath, or towards the middle of the seated position.
• Front-wheel drive - the driving wheels are located towards the front of the seated position.

Each style of power chair offers a very different driving sensation, and different advantages/disadvantages to match in relation to the space that it requires to maneuver.
Over and above the range of bases with different wheel positions, there is also a wide range of seating options available on power chairs, to cover a wide range of potential needs. These range from simple slung canvas upholstery to complex motorized seating units, allowing independent positioning of one's body while seated in the chair.
As there is no one-size-fits-all solution, power chairs should be viewed on a case-by-case basis. If you have any further questions regarding a power chair, or would like to look at the power chairs available through Allied Medical click here.

What ability do I need to operate a power chair?
Thanks to huge developments in the electronics arena, power chairs are now more accessible than they have ever been, and the methods of controlling power chairs expand from year-to-year. The standard method of control is through a joystick, working on a pushing motion, where the joystick is pushed in the desired direction of movement.
If joystick operation is not a feasible means of control, we are able to harness almost any location on the body, even where movement is very minimal, to offer access to, and total control of, a power chair, any seating functions the power chair offers, and access to control of the surrounding environment.

Where can I take a power chair?
We have people using power chairs everywhere from mountain bike tracks to farmland, supermarket isles to footpaths, and of course everywhere in an around the home!!!
Power chairs are designed to cope with covering a wide range of terrain, with different models being more appropriate to traversing different surfaces and conditions, depending on your intended use for the chair.

You can assume that any power chair will be able to cover the majority of surfaces found within your home and community, be it carpet, concrete or grass etc. Obviously, more challenging surfaces i.e. mud, require more competent chairs, of which an appropriate style chair is able to be supplied.

How frequently can a power chair be used?
As often as you like!!! A power chair is designed to be there for your assistance as little or much as you need. Charging of the batteries (view separate FAQ on this page) is advisable if the chair is left for long periods unused, but beyond that, no damage is done if the chair is not used frequently, nor will daily use be of detriment to the chair.

How long do the batteries last?
The power chairs are supplied with batteries matched to the performance required from the chair, and as such the batteries will allow the chair to be used for the duration of the day, before needing to be recharged. In terms of the life of the batteries, one should expect upwards of 12 months from a new set of batteries, depending on their usage and the regularity of their recharging.

How do I recharge it?
A power chair is supplied with a specific battery charger designed to plug into a socket, usually located on the power chair remote (joystick/controller). This charger is then plugged into a regular 3-pin 230V wall socket. The amount of time required to charge the chair will vary, but it is recommended that the chair be charged nightly to ensure a full charge each time use of the chair is required.

Can it be transported easily?
Depending on the means by which you intend to transport a power chair, it is certainly possible to transport any power chair easily. There are some power chairs designed to easily fold/disassemble to allow simple transportation in a regular sedan or hatchback. More complex power chairs tend to involve seating components that make it undesirable to dismantle the power chair for transport, but these chairs are able to be safely transported in station wagons/people-movers/vans thanks to sturdy tie-down points mounted to their frames, to allow securing to the floor of a vehicle without fear of moving while in transit.

What sort of ongoing maintenance do power chairs need?
Charging is the most essential maintenance task required of any power chair, as without this occurring on an ongoing basis the chair will lack the power to perform at its optimum.  Correct tyre inflation is also an important maintenance task, to ensure that the chair is operating in the most efficient manner without having increased resistance to battle with. This task can be carried out anywhere with access to compressed air e.g. a petrol station, bike shop etc.

Beyond that, it is important that all bearings and points requiring lubrication are checked and replenished on a frequent basis.
The seating component of a power chair is unlikely to have any parts requiring ongoing maintenance, though if this were case, it would be expected that advice on these tasks would be provided by the therapist/supplier at the time of delivery of such an item.

Who can carry out maintenance on a power chair?
There are a number of wheelchair technicians located through New Zealand, some operating independently, and some operating as a function of a bike shop or the like. They cover all of the major centre's, but the majority of maintenance tasks on a power chair can easily be performed by a range of people from bike mechanics to auto electricians to mechanics.

What is the life expectancy of a power chair?
It is expected that a power chair would offer a life in the region of 5 years, where it is being used fairly frequently (read: daily), but this is greatly dependent on the life that it is subjected to, and the maintenance that is carried out on the power chair over its life. On the flip side, it is not uncommon for a power chair to be continuing active duty well beyond 10 years if well maintained and stored in an appropriate environment.

For more information on the funding of power chairs click here.