The Right Equipment, Right Now – Episode: “Choosing the Right Wheelchair: It’s More Than Just a Seat” - Episode 106
Is Your Loved One in the Wrong Wheelchair? A Guide to Comfort, Safety, and the Right Fit
Many people think a wheelchair is a simple, one-size-fits-all solution. But as host Diane Carbo and Durable Medical Equipment (DME) expert Tara Slaughter discuss in our latest podcast episode, that couldn't be further from the truth.
The wrong wheelchair isn't just uncomfortable; it can lead to poor posture, chronic pain, an increased risk of falls, and even serious medical complications like pressure sores. While it's tempting to accept the standard, insurance-approved model without question, this can be a costly mistake for your loved one's health and well-being.
In this episode, Tara shares her 30+ years of experience to help you navigate the complex world of wheelchairs. Learn how to advocate for your loved one, what questions to ask, and how to choose a chair that meets their needs not just for today, but for the future.
✨ Episode Highlights
- Not All Chairs Are Created Equal! ♿ Tara explains that the "basic standard wheelchair" covered by insurance is only meant for short-term transport, like for two hours or less. It is not designed for someone sitting all day, which can be unhealthy for the spine and lead to pressure sores.
- The Shocking Statistics 📊 One study showed that a staggering 58.6% of people in long-term care had inappropriate seating. Another found that over 82% of users required additional positioning systems (like hip belts or support backrests) that standard chairs don't include.
- Beyond Basic Mobility 🤔 Choosing the right chair involves considering a person's specific diagnosis (like Parkinson's or ALS), their posture, and even how a chair's position can affect their breathing. A simple tilt can open up the lungs and improve breathing.
- Don't Forget the Caregiver! 💪 A standard wheelchair can weigh around 38 pounds, which is a heavy load for a caregiver to lift repeatedly. Tara discusses lightweight options that can weigh as little as 13-16 pounds, preventing caregiver injury and burnout.
- "Future-Proofing" Your Choice foresight 🔮 It's crucial to think about a loved one's future needs. If a condition is progressive, selecting a chair with features like removable arms for easier transfers can save you from having to buy another chair down the road.
- A Call for Kindness & Respect ❤️ The episode concludes with an important discussion on wheelchair etiquette. Treat users with respect, ask permission before moving them, and make eye contact. Remember, "Any of us can be in a chair".
Don't let your loved one suffer in silence. Listen to this essential episode to become an empowered and informed advocate, ensuring they get the comfort, safety, and mobility they deserve.
Podcast Episode Transcript
Diane: Welcome to another episode of the Right Equipment. Right now a caregiver's guide to DME and Assistive Devices. I'm your host, Diane Carbo, rn, and
Diane: I'm joined today by our trusted DM e expert and regular contributor.
Tara Slaughter, A BOC certified. Durable medical equipment specialist with over 30 years of experience. In today's episode, we'll be talking about wheelchairs, one of the most commonly prescribed pieces of equipment, but also one of the most misunderstood. Many people believe in a wheelchair, is a one size fits all solution, but the truth is far from it.
The wrong chair can lead to poor posture, increased falls, injuries, and even serious medical complications. And while it's tempting to choose the cheapest OP option or rely solely on what insurance covers doing so can be a costly mistake in the long run. Tara and I are here to guide you through what re you really need to consider when selecting a wheelchair, not just.
For today, but for your loved one's future needs. And remember, if you have questions about any DME or assistive devices, visit caregiver relief.com and submit those questions to our ask the expert section. Tara is here to help. You can also learn more or schedule a consultation directly with Tara at CFS solutions.
So let's get started. Hey Tara, thank you so much for being with us today. I'm so excited about this topic. I'm a weird rehab nurse and I know the challenges, so I'm glad you've joined us today to help take the mystery out of wheelchairs.
Tara: you know what, Diane, thank you for having me, and it's always exciting to be on with you.
I tell you, I take something away every single time. And, the wheelchairs, oh my gosh, that's a discussion that I love to have because we do find that you see so many patients and this standard basic wheelchairs, that the insurance covers and unfortunately they're not for everyone. And yeah.
Yeah, so I'm glad that we're having that topic today.
Diane: So can you talk a little bit about the different types of wheelchairs available today and how do you begin to choose the right one for someone's needs?
Tara: first there you have your basic standard ones that you see that most, that you mostly see people in.
I would say about what. 80 some percent of people are using the basic standard wheelchair, and that's because that's normally what the insurance pays for and that's normally what the doctor will write for. And but unfortunately it's not always the best one because a standard wheelchair is used to, first trick,taking someone from one A to B, maybe two hours or something like that.
But when you see, I have a patient that's gonna be sitting in that particular chair all day. You are talking about a vertical sitting up in vertical position all day, that not be comfortable. And unfortunately that's what they get. And they don't know any difference because no one's told them.
And the crazy part about that is, is that you have patience is in pain. Yes. They, some can't even tell you they're in pain. Some don't understand why they're in pain, but because you're sitting there and, it's not healthy for your spine or for, your back. And also for pressure sores,
Diane: I can tell you right now, and every nursing home in the country, there's a little old lady or little old man begging to go back to bed because they hurt sitting in their wheelchair.
Exactly. And one thing I that makes me absolutely crazy is when somebody has a de cube, a pressure sore on their bottom that they shouldn't be sitting on, and then they, because the rules say that they have to get up, which, somebody should have intelligence and say, no, this is not a good thing to do.
They'll put them while they're trying to heal this pressure sore that they have put him in the same damn. Forgive me, but put them in the same wheelchair over and for hours and they wonder why the pressure sore isn't healing. And it's because people aren't using their heads. they need to have something different.
And I, I always bring that up when I see people and when I see people, and I, especially when I'm like. What are you doing getting a person with that size of a pressure sore or any size? 'cause even if it starts healing, quadriplegics have a really hard time with pressure sores and once you get it started healing, they can break down easier again.
And if they slide back into those bad habits of not changing their position, which a quadriplegic can't do, then we really have. Issues and stroke patients have so many different issues as well. So I'm really excited about, educating our listeners on what they need to do so that they get the best possible solution for them or their loved one at the right time with the right, equipment.
Tara, what's the biggest mistake people make when accepting a wheelchair from a hospital rehab or home health provider?
Tara: the mistake is not knowing if it's really gonna be for you or your loved one. That's the first thing, right? So I think that one of the conversations need to be had that you may can try to see if you can talk to a physical therapist or occupational therapist or someone who specialized in wheelchairs just to see if you're getting the proper chair.
Now, insurance does pay for chairs outside of the standard wheelchairs. And so they have the complex chairs, you have other chairs that you may have to come out of pocket on your strong backs, your broadus. Those are all more customized chairs. They're also good for, down to, you may have a certain diagnoses, but then depending on your breathing and things of that nature, if you're sitting up vertical, just a different chair, that gives you a little bit of a tilt, maybe even for the lumbar part of the back.
Will open up your lungs and you're even breathing better. So we've had clients that happened to just a simple change of a. Chair, Yeah. And so people don't realize that. And the crazy part about that is that 70% of nursing homes, unfortunately, they close standard wheelchairs, and they're not even really conducive to.
to, for that they're not, because they're not designed for that. And so you have patients that's sitting in chairs for, what, nine and 10? 11? Nine, 11 hours a day. And unfortunately,I said, one study shows that 80, 58 0.6% of people in long-term care had inappropriate seating leading to discomfort, skin integrity issues, and poor positioning.
Diane: Yeah.
Tara: It is very critical that you as a, as your, as an advocate for your loved one or yourself ask questions about the chair you're getting, right? if is, if there is something else that I can get, can I get evaluated? Can you look at my diagnosis, my report to see if I qualify for something else a little bit more comfortable?
Then that's gonna prevent you from having low back pains or bed sores and things of that nature, And if you can't and you don't qualify for something else better than a standard wheelchair, then you can always get, try to think about a cushion, a certain type of seat cushion, not just any cushion.
But one is conducive to what you are dealing with. And that'll be a topic we'll talk about on another. Oh,
Diane: absolutely. Absolutely. Because a cushion makes all the difference in the world, but even those all created equal and have to be specific. So why is it dangerous to assume that all wheat, wheelchairs are created equal or that insurance approved models are always the best fit?
I think we covered some of that already with The I there, the pain that people go through sitting in the wrong wheelchair. Yes. Have chronic pain. I have my lumbar area, my neck, my shoulder. I mean it's all from years of nursing and pulling and t tugging on people and lifting them, I've tried to sit in wheelchairs of my clients over the years.
And I just, I, when they're screaming to be, please let me lay down. And that's the thing. You want people to get up, you want them to be able to get out and socialize, but if they're uncomfortable or, and they're hurting or it is just, it doesn't feel right to them and it's not helping them or it's limiting their activities or, start over.
It's limiting their activities. then it's not the right wheelchair for them, but it's the most neglected, piece of equipment that, nursing homes. They're all doctors and discharge planners take for granted is they all fit one size.
Tara: I think it's because it's the easiest thing to write for, right?
Yeah. I think because there's not enough conversation about it. And so when you think about patients. Sometimes people just say, oh, let's just write this standard for a wheel. Standard wheelchair. Yeah. And not realizing when someone's sitting that long period of time that how uncomfortable it could be.
And I think it's because it's the easiest thing that you can just write a prescription and you can qualify for it most of the time, depending on your medical necessity of it. What's going on with the patient and just, it is just the easy thing because when you talk about going into other type of chairs, there is a process.
You got a patient therapist involved, or PT involved an a TP involved, so there's so many different layers that go into it. I, we even know of people waiting six months to a year to get a complex rehab chair. Wow. Wow. Go into it. And of course there's a lot of documentation that's needed.
There's a lot of things that's required. But I tell people if you're, when it comes to you may have to pay out of pocket for a better chair. Yeah. Yeah. because at that point you, you want your loved one to be comfortable. Yes,
Diane: Medicare right now is, we are, Medicare has gone to a cost sharing platform and that's why we have the high copays and the high deductibles, to deter the use of benefits.
So we are going to a, if you have the money and you want comfort, you're going to have to pay for it. It's just the nature of the insurance right now. Industry right now.
Tara: Yeah. Diane, and that is so true. I tell you about five, I think of the study shows about of 2024, 500 billion with a B. Billion dollars was spent out of pocket for products at better qualify. Yeah. Yeah. Because. Certain things you're getting. If you look, I tell you, I'll give you an example. I had a client and they mother was in a facility and she was using a particular, chair inside of the facility and she absolutely loved it, but she was in that rehab.
It was the, it was what she would be definitely needing at home. It was. She was great. It was that type of tilt and recline and all of that. And when she got home, they tried to get her, they're like, okay, we have this standard wheelchair. They weren't gonna, because she didn't qualify for the tilt and recline and all that stuff, right?
Yeah. She looked at the other chair, she was like, I'm not gonna sit in that. I'm just not, and she was in it. She said, I want exactly what I was sitting in that rehab. Exactly. Really had a discussion about it. We did an assessment with them and they end up having to get their mother, that chair that she was in, in the rehab.
And I know it wasn't cheap, but they were okay for anything for our mom. And our mom is gonna be comfortable. And you know what's so awesome about this particular one They got, you can actually sleep in it. You can,
Diane: I'm familiar with some of those. Yes, I am. Yeah.
Tara: Yes. Prefer a patient in it. You can, sleep in the chair.
it's so much that you can do in the chair that like, it, it's unbelievable. mean you can transport it. Just an example of the patient has to go to some dialysis or a doctor's appointment, what have you, and they're using a transportation, van or what have you. You can actually get the brackets on it where it can be transported, where that loved one doesn't even have to get out the chair.
It's so comfortable. And so there's different padding and different features of course, 'cause it's customized to the patient. But those are the type of things, those are investments. And when you have a loved one, then that's just what sometimes we have to do. And then, of course there's financing available in most cases.
But there are things out there that's better than the standard chair that you know, that patient that we see patients in all the time, as I mentioned, 70% are in, or 80% over, of patients that get received those standard chairs and they are really not conducive. Actually over 80, give you another study, 82% require additional seating positioning systems.
Did you hear that? Wow. Wow. That are in chairs, 80% require a different seating and positioning systems like hip belts and support back rest, which standard chairs don't include. And that's research gate. So that just goes to show you how and so what do we do about it? We educate people on platforms like
Diane: this.
Yes. So the people. I, that's why we're doing this whole series because we want to help people make the right choices for themselves or their loved ones. Tara, you're talking about me taking a person's needs when recommending a wheelchair. What factors go beyond basic mobility that you would consider?
Tara: your diagnoses. So if you have a pain. Parkinson's patient, a LS, Huntington's patients, things like that. People with those type of diagnoses, you wanna pick chairs that's conducive to those conditions because they are designed and engineered to know, oh, this patient has this particular condition, this particular chair would be a great option for them.
We do consultations with families to determine, of course, going to a OT and a PT ideally, but normally what we do, even with them, when we work with OTs and PTs and ap, we have a conversation and we go over the different options together to determine based on that patient's condition, what will be conducive for them.
Diane: Tara, I as an old rehab nurse, I'm well aware of all the bells and whistles that are necessary for a good wheelchair and getting, there's things like transferring and helping them get out of the chair. There's safety issues involved. What are some of the bells and whistles, the fancy stuff that is so important for comfort and safety that, that are needed that most people need, but aren't given?
Like I thing I think of is like arms being able to be removed or,
Tara: exactly. So basically an example. If you get a standard wheelchair from insurance, or you just decide that your loved one needs one and you just go purchase one, then you wanna make sure you get one. That arms can either flip back or arms can be removed.
Okay, so wanna look at the desk arms, because sometimes people get the fixed arms, the long arms, right? Yep. And if you have someone and you would like them to be engaged with the family to sit up at the table to have dinner, or you guys are out having dinner somewhere, you wanna be able to allow them to slide under to get under the table too.
You can't do that with a full arm rest chair. You can exactly. Desk arm, right? So those are the things you wanna look for. Again, going back to the arms, removing for easy transferring, right? So that way if you're having to lift the patient up, you don't have to lift them up and put them inside something or pick them up from the bed to just, put them in a chair.
You can actually use a sliding board and a lot of 'em slide over because those arms remove. So things like that. Another thing, depending on what's going on with your loved one, the tilt and recline, right? Yep. That's huge. Supply, and that's very huge because, and when you are tilting back and reclining more so the tilt.
Yeah, the tilt. A lot of chairs, standard chair, they don't have A tilt feature. Some more. Your advanced ones, the chairs that I was just talking about have those advanced features. But those features are very important because it allows, when you're sitting in a chair for a long period of time or for, depending on if you have any bed sores or lower back pains or things like that, it's taking the, that tilt, it's taking the pressure off the hip bones.
Yep. Where you're not burning in the hip. Yep. Those are the things you wanna look for. And if you have a Huntington's patient who has a lot of movement or a patient that have, movement, you wanna make sure that you get the appropriate seat, the cushion inside of that chair so they don't hurt themselves.
So all of those things to be looked at. And we do that when you deal with a company who specializes in those type of things, like us or another company in your local area that specializes in complex rehab or is customized chairs and or an occupational therapist, that you can, reach out to, with your doctor and hopefully they would do that.
Now, again, if they don't, depending on your condition or your diagnoses, they might not think you should qualified for that. So at that point, you're like advocating for yourself. And you're gonna go out on your own to be able to get that for your, get, clinical assessment with a provider like myself or someone in your area to be able to make sure you get the appropriate, chair.
Now, let me say this to Diane, even though we're not, we may not be in your area. We do, we offer, delivery and set up all across the country for certain products, right? Have you ever felt the need that you don't know where, which way to turn? You're like, oh my God, I don't even know how to figure this out.
We do have a consultation side of CCFs medical supplies and equipment called CFS Solutions, DBS, and that's the consulting side. So we consult with families, no matter where you are, to give you information on how to navigate, how to go about even when you go to your local area, what questions to ask the doctor.
so that you can try to get what you need. Okay. So just know that service is available and you can get that one-on-one consultation. I love
Diane: that because there are, like, if somebody has a stroke They have right or left sided neglect, they can't move that arm and get it in a wheelchair.
There's swelling that occur can occur. There's so many things that can happen. They need special fitting fittings that can be added to the wheelchair so that their arms aren't hanging down and, developing edema and stuff. There's things that they need and can have added to a chair. Those are things as well.
I know, for me, and I know you know this stuff, I'm just pulling stuff out that I remember having to deal with. There are people that need neck support.
Tara: Yes, exactly. Yeah, exactly. And that goes back to the type of chair you would need for that.
Diane: Yeah.
Tara: So that's why that's where your occupational therapist and your physical therapist come in at with those evaluations, right?
To determine, based on your diagnoses, based on your condition, what you can be, what can benefit you, right? And that's where that comes in at. And if you feel like you have a family member out there. And that's not being done. You definitely wanna talk to the doctor and see like how, how can I get an occupational therapist or a physical therapist to evaluate my loved one because I really feel that they would benefit for something else outside of the standard chair that was written for, right?
And so I think that's a, a way to definitely advocate for your loved one. And I'll go back to this too, depending on, again, even if you got a standard chair, if you have edema, you wanna make sure that your loved one get elevating leg rest. Yep. Yep. You got patients. Now granted, they may just be able to qualify for a standard chair, but if they have certain conditions, even though they're getting a standard chair, you can, they can, they may qualify for even elevating leg rest on that standard chair.
Okay. They can elevate right? Yes. And things of that nature and the heart. So all those things would be considered, but you won't know that if you just go online and order that stuff alone. You definitely want to go to your local provider, or again, if you don't have someone in your area or if they don't specialize in certain things, you, we have that, that, division where you definitely can get that one-on-one consultation.
Awesome.
Diane: Now, what role does body size, strength, posture, and endurance play in choosing the right wheelchair?
Tara: Oh my God, that's critical. That's where measurements come in at, so right, so you are measuring patients, you need the measurements. They're girth, and so what is the girth? When you sit down, we spread, right?
Because sometimes I have clients where they're like, oh, the doctor wrote for a wheelchair, or they're just looking for something out of pocket, right? So I says, need a wheelchair, I think a 18 inch. And then we start asking questions, what is the girth and what is that?
when their loved ones sit down, how far are they from hip to hip, right? Yes. And so by the time we get through doing our assessment with them, they may need a 20 inch or a 22 inch wide. Now, even though they're under 300 pounds. That weight capacity is gonna be there for them. The width of the chair could be so critical.
Again, it depends on what they have going on with them too. They may be, have some sensitive skin issues on the side of their hip bones, all those type of things. You want to get a clinical assessment so you understand the appropriate chair that you, even if you were paying out of pocket, you want to get a clinical assessment because at that point, you know what type of chair you want to get.
Yeah. The material of the chair, Also too. those are things that you wanna look at. The type of material the chair is it giving, the seat cushion you're gonna be getting, your loved one, all those type of things that you wanna definitely look at.
Diane: So here's one something that I think everybody neglects to discuss.
I know you don't because we've talked, but how do caregiver needs factor into the decision, especially if someone else will be pushing or lifting that chair.
Tara: Oh, that's so critical. So now we go back to your basic standard versus your lightweight chairs and all of that. So now the standard wheel chairs.
Now I have to say this, depending on who the caretaker is, some of the chairs that's provided. Now, I can't speak for everyone, but I know for some of our chairs, the standard one weight is about 38 pounds.
38 pounds is, it can be quite heavy for some.
Diane: Yeah,
Tara: for me, or maybe someone else that may be easy to lift up and down, but when you're taking someone in and out of the, out of a car and you're lifting the chair like that every day or every other day, it can be, it could be very,it could eventually hurt you as a caregiver.
Diane: yeah,I just wanna say I used to be very strong at 72 with all my aches and pains. If I had a spouse that had a wheelchair, I couldn't do a, he even 38 pounds. And I used to weight lift. But my body's broken. And there are so many spouses out there caring for a loved one, and, the expectation that they can do it all is overwhelming.
So I really thought it was important that you address that. 'cause I know that, people don't think about that when they're looking for a
Tara: wheelchair. the weight of a standard wheelchair is an example. So if the wheelchair is coming from the insurance, you're gonna, get your basic standard one, what have you, and then it could be around 38 pounds.
And then you have what's called the lightweight. So you can get some lightweights depending on the medical necessity and qualifications. But if you don't qualify for any of that. Because one thing about the insurance, they're not looking at it like, okay, Diane, okay, your pa, your loved one qualifies for this particular standard chair.
But 'cause you can't lift this chair doesn't mean they're gonna give you a lightweight. So it's not based on, oh, because someone can't lift it. It has to be medical and necessity for the patient. Yeah. So that is, is that's where you as an advocate or your loved one, you wanna make sure that you get them something that you feel you can lift.
You may have to come out of pocket for it. So I'll give you like an example for a strong back chair. Those chairs are like 15 what? 16 pounds? 15. 16 pounds. And if you take those little wheels off of the side, that even is down to 13 pounds. Oh wow. Yes. So they're very light and they'll wheelchair. The person can still propel themselves if they need to.
But you as a caregiver, you now don't have to keep lifting it. And that's one of the things we get a lot the time. They're like, oh my gosh, Tara, we got this. We got this wheelchair from the insurance. But I just can't do it any longer. I just can't take it anymore. And then I'm like, what? let's go over this.
And that's when we do the assessment. And then they may even transfer over to a transport chair because it's lighter in them. But they still can push the patient and do what they need to do. But it's still much lighter for them because that's a lot to try to lift something like that. It really is.
Diane: I listen, I know because I struggle and I am short.
I'm five two and I was always strong because of the type of nursing that I did. I lifted weights and stuff and, at 72, I can't lift heavy anymore and I can't even lift weights anymore. I have to do, resistance bands and yoga and tai chi because my body can't handle the heaviness of the weight.
and. I can tell you right now, caregivers get injured and suffer so much because nobody addressed their issues as well. So they have to learn to advocate for themselves.
Tara: Exactly. Exactly. And they see a chair. It's too heavy. You need to address it immediately. Yeah. if you are a caregiver or caretaker and you're taking care of someone and the insurance has provided a particular chair or a loved one has provided a particular chair for the client, you're the patient you're taking care of.
You have to have that conversation because if not, you're not gonna be there long. Yeah. Because you're gonna be broken down. I think the conversation, if you can just talk to someone, communication is so key. hey, is there a possibility we can get something maybe lighter? You can look into it and then, you'd be surprised.
Families, you won't, you, they say closed mouths don't get fed, right? So you have to be able to advocate for yourself. Yes, as a caregiver and even take, if it's your loved one or if it's someone outside of your family that you're taking care of, you need to be able to have that conversation.
'cause it's so critical that you get the, you'll be able to lift something that is gonna be helpful to you as well.
Diane: And Medicare only allows for a 15 minute visit in the doctor's office, so you have to, I encourage everybody when you're dealing in the hospital with a doctor or a therapist or whatever, physical therapist or ot, write those questions down and think about them or.
Call, contact Terrace to say, what should I be asking? Because you really wanna be prepared to, to get your answer, your questions answered in a timely fashion, and,and feel confident that you're asking the right questions as well.
Tara: exactly. And what I did, to Diane, is I felt the need to be able to give people some information that could just be helpful to them.
Prescription under CFS solutions, DBS. Where that subscription, you can go on there and it gives you about an hour of information about what to ask the doctor, what to ask, the insurance, what to say, what questions. What to look for if you get a prescription. What the, and it says this, what to ask for.
Does it have the diagnoses on there? Does it have the length of need and all the things that you would need to see if the insurance would cover it, but also just things that you, that may be missing that you didn't even think of to ask. Yes. It's like you talked about making sure they have things written down so you know what to ask the doctor that's on there.
Also, there is a video modules that show you chairs. And the different type of chairs and the type that, what they would do and what they won't do. And so those are things that I think that we definitely have to have accessible to families. Yes. So they even down to the billing codes. Now that's really important.
I can tell you right now.
Diane: Yeah, I know, and families don't understand that and that's why I love that what you're offering is priceless. You can't get that information from just anybody. 'cause nobody takes the time to communicate or to educate, like they need to anymore. It is just so frustrating and, that's why I'm so glad we're partnering because I want.
My listeners and your listeners to know that we have solutions for you for every problem. There's a solution and we can help you find the right one for you. Exactly.
Tara: and the thing of it is that every, there's not, like you would always say, one size does not fit all. Let me tell you that right now, one size does not fit all because what one person.
It is using and it's working for them, it may not work for you. Yeah. And I get, we get, I, clients, oh, I saw miss so-and-so using a wheelchair or a particular chair or a walker or whatever, and I wanted to try to get the same thing. let's talk about that thing because what Ms. or Mr.
may be using it may not work for you. Yes, you may need something less advanced. You may need something more advanced depending on what's going on with you and what, based on your particular diagnosis and condition. It's known statistically with data to show it may be an increase of something, right?
Yep. So are you seeing Ms. Jones using a fixed arm? You like the chair they had, you may want to get an arm that has removable arms because your diagnosis may be different from that person's.
Diane: Yes.
Tara: Yes. And we call that what future proofing. So go ahead and get you something that's gonna work for you. you won't know that unless you speak to someone who can do a clinical assessment with you.
Find out what you have going on and your caregiver have going on, and then you guys make that determination based on what you have going on. Don't go wasting your money buying something 'cause you see someone else using it. Because it may not work for you.
Diane: Tara, when you were, you just mentioned what my next question was gonna be about why is it important to consider future needs, such as declining strength or progressive conditions when choosing a wheelchair now?
Tara: it goes back to what we talked about earlier versus the fixed arm versus the removal or flip back arms. and someone using a fixed arm, it could be perfectly fine for them 'cause they're maybe able to get up out the chair good and all this good and well. But you don't know in a couple of months if you'll be able to do the same thing.
And now you have a caregiver or a loved one or yourself who can't remove those arms to transfer over to your bed. You may be able, you may not need a caregiver per se, right? But you may be having some type of a condition that you can't even put your arms down to try to lift yourself or push yourself out of the chair.
Yeah. And if you can't do that, then SBE thing for you, especially if you by yourself, is a transfer board where you can move those arms out the way and get on that transfer board and slide yourself in your bed or to your sofa. Those are the things that you wanna look for. So that's critical for that.
That's what I would say to future proof, I would say, to look into that based on what you have going on. Now, again, if you've just had some type of basic surgery, you don't need all that. You're not even gonna be using this for a long period of time, maybe three, four months, and you'll be done. By all means, the fixed arms could be great for you, but if you have a certain type of condition that could possibly progress.
Based on the diagnoses and things that maybe you were dealing with, then that's when you wanna start doing, getting things that can be conducive to you so you don't have to worry about going to buy another chair again.
Diane: When you're, when we're talking about this, I think about the little tiny old ladies, the ones under five feet.
a hundred pounds, 110 pounds soaking wet and In a standard chair. And they look like it's, they're in a big boy chair. Compared to other people, and I've, over the decades I've seen these little old ladies with their arms up over the, on the, arms of the wheelchair holding, trying to sit there and get comfortable.
And they can't because,it's too
Tara: big because it's a loaner or it's just another part of the facilities chair. yep. On that patient. Getting, making sure what's gonna be working for them based on their size, their weight, their width, so they will be comfortable in the chair. And unfortunately that doesn't happen.
And I, and that's just, that's an unfortunate part of it. it goes back again. it's if you're in a facility or nursing home. They're, it's not, it's just not happening. And so it's upon us, it's, family members or, patient advocates to advocate for those pat for patients to say, Hey, what you thought, have you thought about trying this for them?
Diane: yes. Todd, can you,I know we addressed this earlier, but I just wanna go over it one more time for my listeners. people need to hear something six or seven times before it sinks into their brain. Me too. Yeah. Yeah. and that's true. what happens if it's not fitted correctly?
That's a big one.
Tara: Wow. and eventually you're gonna start getting, you're gonna have some lumbar problems going on, spinal problems going on. you may end up start having some sores on the buttock area because of the sitting and the, and things of that nature. And so those are the things that you start to, to see.
Yeah. pain, hip bones, people are slouching in the chair. Because the chair is not even, you can't do, it's vertical. So what else can you do? slouch eventually, right? And those are the things you look for. And just even down to your breathing, it could be, it can open up the lungs if you have the person inappropriate chair as well.
so those are the type of things that you definitely want to look for, and that's what it causes, those type of things. And and it's unfortunate.
Diane: One of the things I hate to see, and it always makes me sad. I know that's crazy, but they're sitting in this ill-fitting chair and their head's hanging down and that neck has got to hurt.
And sometimes I walk past some people I have in the past where they've got their heads ha. Holding onto their hands. Like their, yeah. Ben over with their hands to their head, resting on their knees because they can't get comfortable and it's because they're, they can't tilt back to get
Tara: comfortable.
Exactly. Because the chair is not, the chair they're in does not tilt. It doesn't even recline. I'm sorry, go ahead. Go ahead. No. Oh no. I was gonna say, even if you can't get, you have recliner chairs too, right? if you can't afford a, more expensive, like the Broda of the world, then you have regular reclining chairs.
Now they, they recline back. They don't have a tilt feature, but they do recline to give you some type of support and or they have the headrest 'cause they're high enough. The high back. They have the little thing there, so those can be really good for you. Again, it depends on what's going on with your loved one.
Now the insurance does pay for those, the reclining chairs again, but it goes back to you have to have an evaluation. From an occupational therapist or a patient, a physical therapist. you don't need an a TP for that. An occupational therapist and a physical therapist along with a doctor. You can, they can, determine what you needing that, but that documentation does have to be there in order for the insurance to approve that.
You can't be just, oh, I just wanna recline and chair. It's not as easy to get as the standard chair, but those are definitely things that you can, look for and that would help that next support. Because it's a high back at the top if you can't. Yeah. Other chairs that's out there. 'cause what you talk about what happens because of those basic chairs, you come up pressure, injuries, poor posture and discomfort and fatigue.
So you talk about people having their hand, their head bent over in their hand and they're like, oh my God, what in the world? what they're saying at that moment. Diane is, I'm in so much pain here if do, if can anybody get out this chair? But it goes back to a lot of. Our loved ones don't wanna say anything, Diane.
They'll suffer in silence and pain.
Diane: I've seen it. they feel like they're invisible and they don't have a voice. I, because they've tried so many times to get attention or need something, and it's ignored. So I've seen it. and so many seniors feel broken. yeah. When they're in, when they're sitting in the wrong chair and they like, they don't care.
They think nobody cares. So they just suck it up and it's really sad. It just makes me sad. Family.
Tara: The family. And, you, so you have family member out there, look at what they're sitting in. Yes. Yes. How comfortable, how com. Are you comfortable, mom? Are you comfortable Dad? And based on how they're sitting, if they're moving around a lot and all those type of things, or they look like they're just an agony, you as a family member have to be able to advocate and take the lead right then and there.
Yes. Yes.
Diane: how can caregivers or family members get a second opinion or consultation when they're unsure about what's been prescribed? And I think that's really important to do anyway because you wanna make sure you're getting the right equipment.
Tara: I would say to,first if you have a doctor and you're talking to him, I would say first try with the doctor first.
Okay. Is not budging, or he's oh, I think you'll be good. But I think when the family really is adamant about, you have to be that advocate for your loved one. Say, you know what, Dr. my mom, she's been sitting in this chair and I know she's not comfortable. She's sitting vertical every day, and I would like for her to have something else.
Now, doesn't mean that she's gonna qualify. But then at that point, maybe you have to hire someone independently to evaluate your loved one too. There are services out there where if you feel like you're not getting what you need, you may have to, talk to see if you can find a an A TP or a physical therapist or an occupational therapist who can do it independent evaluation.
Those are things out there that you could do as well to find out, do you think my mom or my, 'cause sometimes people can't, they don't wanna say anything. Yeah. And so it's up to you to just make sure that your loved one is an appropriate, chair. And so that's what I would say.
Diane: Before we go and end this interview, I thought that we could discuss wheelchair etiquette because,I'd like to, because people don't understand, that people in the wheelchair can be normal people.
They're alert, they're oriented, and they would like interaction. And instead, I've seen so many terrible things that happen with a person in a wheelchair. I get embarrassed because, unless they're in that situation, they don't know. So I thought we'd just talk a little bit about how to be with somebody that's in a wheelchair.
Tara: first of all, I would say that you treat them just like you would treat anyone else.
Diane: Yes.
Tara: Just because someone's in a wheelchair does not make them less than any one of us.
Diane: Yes,
Tara: I say us, any of us. Because the thing of it is life. Life lifes right? Yes. And none of us know when we will be in a chair. We just don't know.
And so I think that it is upon us as individuals. It depends on what kind of person you are. Yeah. What is your character? What is your, what do you, what drives you? So if you're gonna be mean to someone who's in a chair or treat them different, then that shows a character of your within yourself.
So that's kinda tough to say, Diane, because for me, you gotta have compassion for people. Yeah. some people have compassion, some people don't. And so being in a wheelchair shouldn't change your perspective of how you treat someone. And you don't have to treat them like a handicap, like someone who's, different or handicapped or anything like that, because they just wanna be treated the same.
They're just having a moment, right? Yes.
Diane: My son was 30 years old when he developed a severe pain condition. And if we wanted to do something, he could walk with a cane, but he couldn't walk very long. And, when we, like we were down at the Smithsonian Institute in dc. Him and I went down for a few days and I got a wheelchair for him.
Oh Lord. the way that people reacted when we were going through the museum was so offensive. I just would say, excuse me. Because they would walk in front of him like they didn't see him, and like he didn't, wasn't looking at it at something. the rudeness of people was awful. And I was just, I actually, I was shocked because being a rehab nurse, I'm so used to being around wheelchairs and, you get sensitive to their needs.
Yes. And I've seen people walk in front of Jeff when he's sitting in line waiting to. Make an order for a drink or something. And it was like they, they didn't care. I don't know what they thought, that he was invisible or that he wasn't mentally capable of saying anything to him, but, and Jeff wouldn't, he was the soldier.
He was proud. and he was a big guy. He was big. He was big and he was a ginger. And, he just, and he always had good posture and he. He felt ignored and invisible. So me Mama Bear would say, excuse me, right as you should.
You know what else people do that, people in wheelchairs. Don't, don't,is you have to ask them if you can move them. Yeah. Don't think just because they're in a chair that you can just take them wherever you want them to go. This is their way of getting around and it has to, it's so important that you ask for permission to take them, to move them to another location or ask them, do you wanna go somewhere else?
Tara: exactly. That is a great, that's a great point you made, Diane, because it's just, it goes back to treating people the right way, but with respect and the same token.
Diane: yes.
Tara: I treated different, but respectfully
Diane: and I can't tell you how many times, and I just, it makes me giggle now, but at the time I was just angry.
People look at somebody in a wheelchair and they. Talk down to them, or they don't make eye contact with them. my first thing when I'm someone in a wheelchair is I'm bending down or I'm grabbing a chair and sitting next to them so that I can make eye contact and have a conversation with them.
And I speak normally. I'm not yelling. It's not their hearing as affected.
Tara: Exactly. And and I think that, I think too,people just don't know. And I think sometimes people afraid they don't even know what to say. They don't know. And so I think that's why it's good to have these conversations that we're having so that people can hear it and they can know, oh, I didn't even know that.
And, and we are human, right? And it happens. It doesn't make a bad person. And some people are rude and they're just rude to be rude. But I think most. A lot of people they just don't know and they don't know what to say or how to act or gotta go about it. And so that's why it's good to have these conversations so that when someone hears this and they know someone or see someone in a wheelchair, they can say, oh, you know what?
I know how to handle that. You know what I'm saying? Like just respectfully and being kind to people and I don't care if you're in a wheelchair or you're wherever you're in or in nothing, it's just okay to be kind to people.
Diane: Yes. Yeah. and that's exactly it. and my, the biggest thing I can tell people is if you are interacting with someone in a wheelchair, feel free to ask them, is there anything I can do with you, for you?
is there anything, you can tell me that about? Your situation in the wheelchair. there's things you can ask, to see if they need assistance or help, but also to have them have a better experience. And it's a learning experience for the able bodied person as well.
Tara: And you almost have to ask, 'cause I do know that you, sometimes you have,we have clients sometimes and they say, don't, you don't have to, when you ask 'em, is there anything I can help you with?
They, some people don't like that. You don't have to ask me that, don't, you don't have to treat me different. I'm like, oh, not treating you different. I was just, just asking. But, it's just you habit, you wanna help, right? Yeah. And sometimes they don't like that, so it's hard to gauge sometimes.
And you just gotta, yeah, it's one of those things where, you know, because some people don't want to treat the many, they don't want you to say, oh, can I'll get the door for you. Oh, I can get the door myself. and so I've had a lot of that sometimes. But, it's
Diane: just, you know what, that's on the person that's in the wheelchair.
If they, There are well-meaning people out there, and I've seen that too. you just,I just want people to understand that if someone in the wheelchair says to you, no, I don't need help, don't take that personally, they're feeling insecure or, embarrassed or whatever. That's their issue.
It's not yours. as long as you're respectful and, you. You are sincere in your approach. Don't feel bad if they yell at you. Maybe they're having a bad day. Maybe they're in pain. Maybe their boyfriend just woke up, broke up with them or something. You don't know. So don't take things personally, it's better to ask than to not ask.
And if they yell at you, just say, I'm sorry I offended you. I was just, I had good intentions and I've been told a million times. the road to good intentions are. or the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. I get that. But it's better to ask than to ignore. It's to at least acknowledge that they're in the room.
Tara: Exactly. That right there. That right there is so critical and so important. Yeah. I would just say, be kind and just remember it. Any of us can be in a chair. Any of us can end up in positions that we never thought we would end up at.
Diane: Yeah. We all end up somewhere sooner or later, and Exactly.
Tara: And I always say that I would wanna know if I was in any type of situation that someone would give me grace. Yep. So I think when people start realizing that life is you just never know. Like things change. And I'll give you an example. I had a gentleman and he had, he was regular. He said he worked out, he was just a regular person, like just up every day.
Very athletic, and did all this exercising and walked, I think he said he went on five, five miles a day or something. Like Really? Wow. I was like, wow. Impressed. And he was doing something as simple as get, he had, was laying on his bed and he crossed over and pushed his foot against his dresser or something like that.
any, I don't know exactly how it happened, but he got, his leg got stuck. Uhhuh side of the dress between the dresser and the bed. And Yes. And he ended up, he couldn't get it out. Yeah. He was there until his ex-wife came, oh. Days later. But at that point, he had lost all sensation of his leg. Oh. They had to amputate his leg.
Oh. Now in a wheelchair. And he's an amputee. Yep. And he's had some struggles on just trying to even get the appropriate. Literally the appropriate chair and the cushion for himself. But my point to that is, is that it could happen to any of us. And he says, I, anyone would've told me this would've happened to me.
And it's, it was a, it was just a simple accident. It wasn't even a, what I'm saying, think about that you're in your home. You, he just did a, he was trying to get, grab his keys or something. He was saying he tried to reach over on his bed over and get his key and was pushing it. Ohio already pushed off it either way.
he was a regular, doing regular things and ended up in a chair. Not that we're not regular, but my point to that is, is he ended up in a position that he never thought he would be in, and now he's in a wheelchair and he is an amputee now. So I
Diane: of 18 to 24 young adult males. They're invis invincible.
I can't tell you how many that have dove from a high spot into shallow water or did something foolish that they became a quad or a para, and their whole lives changed in an instant. But it is the same thing for a person who has a stroke or even ms. after a while you're going to, you may end up.
Highly likely you're going to end up in a wheelchair. So there's all kinds of, neurodegenerative disorders out there, and we just have to be aware that it could be us one day. So be kind, be patient and be respectful.
Tara: Exactly. Exactly. And so if nothing else, be kind. Yes. yes. Tara, thank you
Diane: so much for today.
I, I really appreciate this. I'm loving that we're doing this series. I want you to tell people how they can reach you. Please.
Tara: Yes, you can reach us by calling three one oh. 8 1 7 5 3 7 3 or you can go to our website at www dot cfs. That's charlie frank sam medical equipment.com and with further consultations or the subscription to check out some things there and get all this great information as well.
You can go to www dot cfs. That's Charlie Frank Sam Solutions. dbs.com, CFS solutions dbs.com. And as always, be kind to someone and,just try, I hope that this episode was good to someone and they could take something away from it to make sure that you pick the right chair, for your loved one.
Diane: Thanks again, Tara, and to my family caregivers out there. You are the most important part of the caregiving equation. It's so important that you practice self-care every day. Learn to be gentle with yourself because you are worth it.
Caring for a loved one can be overwhelming — but you're not alone. If you have questions, big or small, our expert team is here to help.
👉 Click here to Ask the Expert
Our Resource section can help you find the information and tools that you need. We have courses, videos, checklists, guidebooks, cheat sheets, how-to guides and more.
You can get started by clicking on the link below. We know that taking care of a loved one is hard work, but with our help you can get the support that you need.
Click here to go to Resource Section now!
You might also like this article:
Diane Carbo
Diane Carbo
