Husband (in AFH) is using the wheelchair that the AFH has on site....too small for long periods. PT sent an 'ATP ' from a wheelchair company to measure and advise. The chair will cost $4500 (80% will be paid by insurance). When asked why it's so expensive, the rep looked through her paperwork but said she couldn't give me specifics on the extras that it was determined he needs. The 'ATP' was the one who decided what he needs. I called the AFH and asked my trusted manager there about it (hoping he would tell me to just get a bigger chair...not something made custom), but he thinks I should go ahead with the order...I did find out it tilts so he will be able to nap in it...He is not ambulatory and needs 2 people to assist in transfers.
Does anyone have experience/advice on this? It just seems like he might be pushing features that husband doesn't need...I like the tilt feature, but the rep would not give me even that tidbit...(Afraid that I am paying for sunroof, heated seats, autopilot...!)
I will say that the less able-bodied a person is, the better it is to have the chair with the bells and whistles. My mother's tilting chair is great, because she pretty much sleeps all the time whether she's upright or in bed, and it keep her from having her head fall over when she goes to sleep. The leg supports are much better than what she had, as they aren't just foot holders, but they support her legs as well. She can't do anything with her legs any longer, so this chair has been a huge help for her caregivers who have to get her in and out of it with a Hoyer lift.
My Husband was using a Broda Chair when he was on Hospice. The chair back would tilt and when it tilted the seat also tilted back a bit so it was a bit more comfortable.
The sides or wings as I called them helped prevent him from slumping to one side or the other.
The padding could be adjusted so areas of pressure were more protected.
The chair was also very easy to clean. Once cushions and padding were removed the chair was almost like a plastic strips like on old fashioned lawn furniture (but thicker and sturdier). I could roll it into the shower and wash it off. And the padding could easily be rinsed off as well.
The only draw back to this particular chair, at least the one we had, was not an easy chair to push around outside. The wheels are smaller than a typical wheelchair. But indoors there was no problem.
So there are advantages to getting a chair with more “bells and whistles” just like going from a low end car to a high end luxury car.
It sits idle and we have only used it a couple times because my dad is totally bedridden, has developed pressure sores, he’s extremely sleepy sedated a lot, basically he’s dying.
Your question about bells and whistles, though, would be mine too especially if the chair is not going to get much use. In our case, the AFH’s main caretaker/owner asked dad’s hospice nurse to facilitate getting this tilting chair for my dad and one day it showed up. I’m not sure what make/model it is but I can check next time I’m there and I’ll post if you want. The chair isn’t new but it’s definitely not in poor condition either. I do know it’s not something we paid for, though. Anyway I’ll try to get more info about this.