People in motorized wheelchairs
Kathsgrdn
9 years ago
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pudgeder
9 years agocathyid
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Optimal height for wheelchair accessible bed
Comments (3)My beds are 2' high, and are perfect for me. Most wheelchairs are the same height (the seat is 19" off the ground), so this will probably work for most people. The width is more individualized because it depends on how far over you can lean without falling over. My trunk muslces aren't all that rigorous, and I have to work at working the back of my beds, 2' away. I could lean an elbow in the bed for support, but then I'm compressing my soil. (I've been thinking of getting a piece of wood to lay across the bed to lean on when I'm working the back.) Needless to say, you want to use the thinnest material you can find to make the beds (untreated wood, probably)so you don't waste that small area that's within reach. If you're in an area where people have horses or other large animals, you can get their leaky old stock watering tanks. They are a perfect height, and sizeable enough for theme beds. I've got 2 herb beds in stock tanks and also 3 for tomatoes and peppers. The added benefit is that the voles can't get at the goodies inside. Good luck!...See Morewheelchair accesssible organic garden
Comments (4)Well, if you want to get technical, petroleum IS organic... Seriously, though, even if those shingles did leach, the effect would be extremely localized. You might get some contamination of the soil directly below them if there's no underbed, but unless they're IN your plot, I don't see any way that you could suffer any health effects. Gravel isn't a workable alternative (think about how hard it is to ride a bicycle in loose or newly-laid gravel) and woodchips are probably worse. You need something that's smooth, firm, doesn't move, and can handle getting wet repeatedly. About the only good alternative I can think of would be a well-built wooden or masonry pathway. However, you might get more practical suggestions in the Accessible Gardening forum, if you haven't already asked there. So I would say that the social benefits of making the garden accessible outweigh the "un-organic" nature of the shingles. If they really bother you, volunteer to replace them with a wooden pathway, but that would cost you lots of money. Definitely avoid complaining about the shingles if you haven't offered an excellent alternative (preferably one for which you're willing to do all the work personally), or you'll come off looking like you're against equal opportunities for people with disabilities. It's a matter of weighing the benefits against a very tiny potential risk....See MoreWalker w/seat vs. lite wheelchair for mall trips?
Comments (6)Asolo, I wish I had seen that walker years ago. I think rolling walkers should serve two customers -- the people who actually use them for walking and also the people who have to fold them up and get them in & out of automobiles. From the description, it sounds like your suggestion fits the bill. I'm going to save that info for the next time my mom needs a new walker. Erica, although I think Asolo's suggested walker is great, you might find a trip to a nearby medical equipment store informative. Look in the Yellow Pages to find a couple. Then you can go see some samples of what's available and give them a test ride. And you could practice folding them up. Maybe even measure some and get their weights to help you understand what you'll be dealing with. You could ask all kinds of questions too and get a lot more information. You'd get a better sense of the kind of products available and what would and would not work in your particular situation. You might even find the walker Asolo referred to. Call around to see if a local store carries it. My mom has had three such walkers. The first one we bought did not have hand brakes because my mom was afraid she would never learn how to use them. It braked when she sat down in it. The benefit was that it never rolled out from under her as she was attempting to sit down. That sometimes can be a problem for some people. The disadvantage was that once she sat down, the walker wouldn't move, so I couldn't wheel her at all nor could she scoot herself with her feet. The second walker she had was similar to the rollator you referred to. She somehow managed to figure out how to use the brakes. The advantage to me was that she could sit down and I could roll her a short distance. I usually did that when we couldn't find a handicapped parking space near the entrance to one of her doctors. I'd roll her from the parked car to the entrance and then she'd use her walker on her own to get to the actual office. That walker eventually developed a weird squeak that wouldn't go away no matter how many times the wheels, bearings, etc. were adjusted. I didn't think it was a big deal, but it really embarrassed my mom, so I got her another rollator about a year ago. The ability to easily fold up a walker is important to the one who does most of the transporting. That's why it might be a good idea to see some of these walkers in person and try them out. If you go to a really helpful store, you should be able to test run folding the walker up and getting it into your trunk. You also need to consider how much it weighs. Combine the walker's awkward shape with too much weight and you're looking at back problems for yourself. For what it's worth, I've also got a transport chair for my mom. These chairs do not have the gigantic front wheels of a traditional wheelchair so they're much lighter in weight. The user cannot propel herself by rotating the front wheels with her hands. It's either someone else pushing the chair or the user just scooting herself along with her feet. I only use the transport chair after a visit to the ER or when I know we're going somewhere that would require extensive walking (like a festival). But the thing to note, is that because of its weight and awkward shape, it's even harder for me to deal with. The lifting up and into the trunk and then up and out of the trunk plus pushing my mom around does me in for several days. I much prefer the rolling walker because it's lighter. By the way, I'd take that advice about working with a PT with a grain of salt. Who's to say a PT has all the information on the latest brands and models of walkers out there? The biggest danger is someone not using them correctly. Like forgetting to set the brakes before trying to sit down. Or just using one hand to hang onto them. Or moving way too fast. Good luck with your search....See MoreI just got back from Walmart
Comments (103)Elmer, I think the relation between the aisle walkways and parking space size relates to land availability. Where land is cheap and abundant, parking lots can afford to be generously sized, including the driving lanes and individual parking spaces. Where land is expensive, parking lots need to squeeze in as many spaces as possible. So seeing a walkway is a clue -- but not a guarantee, of course -- that the rest of the parking lot will be nicely sized. That's how I took it. Elizabeth, I agree walkways are nice. But I think the safest thing for small children is to have an attentive adult with them, teaching them how to walk safely, no matter where they walk....See MoreElmer J Fudd
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