power chair
 

I had my eval today for a power chair.

The rep recommended either the Permobil C300 Corpus or the Quickie Freestyle Full.

He is coming back on Thursday with both for me to see, test out in home and thru yard to car.

Wondering if anyone has any insight on either of these?

I require truncal support so need more a rehab type seat rather than standard captains seat.

on another note, i am also trying to find a minivan conversion to purchase so that I can transport the power chair. can't with my current vehicle. fingers crossed i can find a van soon. fingers crossed whichever powerchair decide on insurance will approve first time and not deny just to prolong the process.

I really would love to have the powerchair and van by Mid January so I can take the powerchair on the cruise I am going on Jan 27. <G> a girl can dream right that everything will happen quickly, and no problems and have both by then right? LOL

thanks

***I am posting this in several forums hoping someone somewhere will see it and know something about either of these chairs.

Marfla, I used Ride-away to have the hand controls installed on my car. They are experts in van conversions etc. www.ride-away.com They have many locations on the east coast. Give them a call, I'm sure they can direct you to a local vendor.

You can always rent a scooter from www.scootaround.com. I usually rent a scooter when we fly so I don't have to worry about transporting the scooter and/or having it damaged by the airlines. I've also rented from scootaround for a cruise.

Hope this is helpful. Betty

I have already made contact with the local ride a way in Tampa. Actually he called me yesterday he has a van for me to come check out. Now to figure out how to get over there between work.

If I don't get the power chair and/or van before the cruise I will just take my scooter I have already. It's just bulky for inside buildings, elevators, etc.... so hoping for the powerchair to take.

again thanks and glad to hear someone else has used ride a way before.

thanks

I recently purchased this caddy scooter. http://www.evrider.com/caddy.htm

It is absoluetly wonderful for traveling. Very light weight, folds up easily, and can be transported with minimal problems. I keep mine in the back of my station wagon. It's so easy to handle I have no problems asking a total stranger to help me get it in or out of my car. I've been told the airlines love it since it folds so compactly.

Good luck with your adventure. If your interested in a Caddy, PM me and I'll send you the web site I bought it from. Mine was $1,050 with free delivery.
Best thing I've ever bought to maintain my independence.

Good luck with your decisions. Betty



http://www.evrider.com/caddy.htm

thats a nice scooter. glad you are able to use it and get around for more independence.

i am now in need of something more esp in seating i.e. truncal support.

I have a revo scooter and its great for open places like disney world, etc.. but too bulky inside buildings, offices, shops, restaurants, elevators etc.....

and for me to continue being able to work i need something i can use on daily basis and in home. the scooter just won't meet that.

the power chair will have some form of rehab seating esp for truncal support.

i wish you the best and keep on trucking in your caddy.

best wishes.

Betty, that is a cool scooter. Can you lift it into your trunk, yourself?

Good luck to you, Marfla. I hope all turns out to your delight and comfort. Will you be able to try each of those out for awhile before purchasing?

Best,

thanks sally. the rep is bringing some over for me to test drive here at home, thru my yard etc... on Thursday. Originally he was bringing the permobil c300 corpus and quickie freestyle f11. but i emailed him today about not bringing the permobil, still bring freestyle but if possible bring the quantum 600 by pride. i don't know if he can or has one to bring. i just feel the permobil is too big, too large turning raduis (40in),

from talking to a friend that is also a DME provider he said the permobils are usually for more involved consumer's. and cautioned me that because they are rather big/tall it may not fit into a minivan. from ppl he knows that have a permobil they have full size vans. he recommended the Q300 or freestyle over the permobil more due to size, manuevability, and better turning radius with mid wheeled drive rather frontwheel drive as permobil has.

guess will see what the rep brings thursday. if i feel good about one he brings he will complete the sizing, options, etc.... in preparing to submit order to insurance for approval. if i don't like what he brings then i ask to see more i guess.

my insurance has a limited formulary for power chairs so really choices are the permobil c300 corpus, Q600, Freestyle, Pride 1121, two by sunrise that are rear wheeled drives. so not a large selection to choose from in the group I fall into which is Group 2. Group 3 is for more specialized options that i don't need at least at this point. <G>

i am just praying that the insurance approves the first submitted order/request and don't have to go thru more justification process if they deny. and imo if they deny first go around its more for them to prolong the process as its clear to my PCP, neuro, PT, rep and me there is no reason to deny what is being requested. I am not going to ask for options or stuff I don't need. just what i do need to continue independence at home, to continue working, etc....

gentle hugs
marfla

Sal, I could probably lift the caddy into my car if I had more balance. If I remove the batteries first it's really easy for most able bodied persons to put into my station wagon. I have no pride and always seem to find someone that will give me a hand getting the scooter in or out of my car.

I tell myself that I'm making someone happy by allowing them to help a disabled person have a good day at the mall etc.

I looked at many scooters, thought I would by the Pride GO Go. However it just didn't have enough leg room for me. Betty

I have a Hoveround Technique at home. Actually, I really like it; it's very sturdy, has a small turning radius for inside, and handles inclines and outside surfaces like grass and gravel really well. However, it's a tank (250 lbs). Transportable? :eek: So I was using the manual chair in stores etc., and last year it just got to be too much.

I ended up buying a Pride Go Chair. It's a travel power chair. It's very easy to break down and put back together (no more time consuming or difficult than the manual chair), and the heaviest part is 25 lbs. It has an extremely small turning radius, and is very nippy. It's perfect for what I use it for, in stores, resteraunts and so on. I use the Hoveround at home, and the Pride chair lives in the car -- which it fits into easily.

Insurance companies (including Medicare) won't pay for a travel power chair, so it's an out of pocket expense. Mine cost $1500. I thought, hmmm. Let's see. Handicap Van, $30,000 or more. Pride Chair, $1500. Lemme think, now. :rolleyes: Tough decision. What you might call a no-brainer.

Chris

Medicare has now approved to purchase travel chair the Pride Z which is really the GO Chair with a small modification on the battery box. They are also covering a new travel chair Melody by Sunrise/Quickie. edited to add that medicare covers travel chairs for ppl fall in catergory 1 which is also for scooters.

I found on Sunrise/quickie website the allogrithum sp? it goes thru each step/question. if you say yes to first group of question they recommend a scooter. if say no continue on into group 2. which are basic or a few rehab power chairs. then group 3 is shown what is recommended. they even highligted in yellow Medicare Picks. its amazing how difficult its going to be for ppl to get devices they need in a timely manner. and the rules seem very strict and "controlled" on what will be provided.

if i could get by with the travel scooter or even the revo scooter i have now which already have lift on SUV for, I would. unfortunately i need more support and better manueverability, i.e. tight turning radius.

gentle hugs to you all
marfla

Yeah, I could never use the travel chair full time -- not enough support. Will Medicare pay for it if they've already bought you another chair? Because the rule used to be one chair per crip, end of story, full stop. Can't get that bulky power chair around? Too bad, it's your responsibility to solve that problem. Can't afford the solution? Tough. In fact, it used to be that if they bought you one chair (for instance, a manual chair) and they approve a new chair (say a power chair), when the new chair is delivered Medicare would come and take the old chair away.:eek: I'm not making this up. I found all this out because I talked directly to a person at Medicare. Don't ask me what they do with all the used chairs. Fortunately, I had bought my manual chair myself, so I still had a chair I could use when I went to the store.

Chris

Is this the same Government that was reported, in an investigation of Gov't Contracts, paying 500.00 for toilet seats? Of course, that was for government buildings.

What are we??? Just the People!!! And, less than perfect, sick people, at that !!!:( :rolleyes: :mad:

The rule is still same one chair per 5 years. they may make or approve adjustments to the chair within those 5 years. but rean't going to buy you another mobility device for 5 years. get this one: my mother had a stroke, she was given a cane paid my medicare of course. well she started falling more and more, even fall broke her arm. so doc ordered her a quad cane. medicare denied covering due to them already providing the standard cane within the 5 years.

and before the cane, she had a manual wheelchair but medicare did that on renting it for her. so once she rec'd the cane the wheelchair went back. of course it would have been nice to keep wheelchair to take her out and about where she couldn't manage to walk very far.

I totally agree. the amount of money the gov't spends on their stuff is amazing. yet ppl that require a device to maintain a quality of life good luck.

I have never understood this one either. Medicare will not cover anything for the bathroom like shower seats. Of course private insurance follows M-care's policies. I asked my insurance company why they would prefer to pay thousands of dollars when I fall in the shower, break a hip, need hip replacement, rehab etc... than just buying me a 50.00 shower seat. I got no answer <G>

The guys comes this morning to let me test a chair. not sure what or how many he is bringing. i am hoping he can bring the freestyle and q600.

later
marfla

Unbelievable, about your Mother, Marfla.:mad:

Let us know how it goes today. I hope they bring what you want and need.

Hugs,

Well the rep came and went. I am requesting/ordering a Pride Quantum 600 with rehab seating, tilt/recline, special cushioning/seating, programmable control (insurance may deny that part), etc...

Boy i was a nervous wreck trying these out today. Amazed that it only takes a minute amount of pressure on joystick for the chair to move.

Was scared coming up the ramp to front door. almost went on one side on first try.

definitely now have to talk with landlord about making some modifications. Whoever put the door on they put it on backwards. So it opens to the right which are the stairs. so to get chair into house, right now would have to go up ramp, open door, hold door pulling it open while i go back down the ramp. then once door is open fully, back up ramp.

my ramp is 30 inches wide, the chair is 26.5 too close for my comfort. So must get a wider ramp. hoping landlord will allow me to extend the platform part at door level about two feet out that is if doesn't cross property line. then get a wider longer ramp. if can then could go up ramp, and be able to face the door, open and in house. not sure what landlord will allow as when I signed the lease i signed as is. i had no idea at the time i would be needing a power chair. my revo scooter i can get up the ramp no problem but still have the door issue. but that is been workable until now.

will talk with landlord. the gentlemen across the street saw me in the yard and said to he could do the ramp/extension or what i need. so if landlord says ok, can get him to give quote see how much will cost.

I don't feel the landlord should have to pay because when I moved in and signed the lease I agreed i could manage with how things were already. my only clause i put into lease was that if my medical condition worsen and I couldn't manage living here, or need more care I would be released out of the lease. But I don't want to move. I love this little two room space. and its CHEAP!!!!!!! I only pay rent, electric, cable, yard, trash, etc... is included in rent.

Oh rep said it could take up to 8 weeks before I even get the chair. that is if insurance approves.

Guy I have been talking with about a conversion van called me this morning. he will have a van with low miles, power doors/hatch, power ramp, transfer seat in about 4-5 weeks. so that may work out too.

now just more of the waiting game to see what insurance does, and how long this process will actually be.

gentle hugs
marfla

All that red tape and waiting. What a pain in the pants.

I hope the time flys, Marfla.:)

it is a pain. and i feel even worse for those that have to wait months to get a chair and they have no other way to mobilize until they receive that chair. at least i can still walk briefly with crutches, and have a scooter if go to open spaces like disney.

just can't imagine having to wait so many months to get a chair that would get me out of bed, around my house, more independence. the system imo needs improvement. just shouldn't take months for someone to get a device they need. not talking about wanting but needing.