What are some good recommendations for a tray for mom's portable wheelchair?

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windytown Asked June 2013

What are some good recommendations for a tray for mom's portable wheelchair?

I've done the online research at Walgreen's, Amazon, etc. in looking up a tray for her. Just hoping to hear of some real-life experiences of which product has worked for you.

My main concerns are that the curvature of the tray in the photos looks very small to fit around a person. My mother is all of 88 pounds, but it looks very confining. Also wondering if the velcro straps that keep the tray in place are dependably sturdy and a stable surface.

She would mainly use the tray for doing her puzzle books and to hold a cup of coffee in place without spilling. It would also be helpful in that she could be comfortable eating a bowl of soup and other like foods again without the fear of dumping them on her lap. :( Her portable wheelchair doesn't allow her to get as close to the table as she would like considering arthritic hands and the problems that accompany the affliction.

I really feel like she would eat more (and needs to!) if she didn't feel so compromised while dining.

Mobility

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I highly recommend AbleData for any assistive devices, from simple reachers and grabbers to adaptive furniture and clothing to complex control systems. Their database has more than 30,000 products listed, including Do It Yourself solutions.

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score 0 · Answer 2

i split my moms rolling walker the other day and narrowed it by 2 inches. all that meanmugging im getting from her is still better than her tripping it up thru a narrow doorway. sometimes i enjoy being the bad guy probably more than i should.
if i had a point idda done made it by now. im just making racket. its a diversion technique..

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score 0 · Answer 3

Thanks everyone for your kind responses. I think I'll go the Walgreens route and see how it works for her. She very resistant to anything new or different. At times she reminds me of Goldilocks and the three bears. :)

I guess I wasn't very clear about the puzzle books. They're actually Word Seek books that are quite small.

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score 0 · Answer 4

Why don't you buy one of the trays one has in a hospital room that rolls up to the bed/chair/wheelchair raises up and down and has only one enclosed side? The other option is a fold-up wooden t.v. tray (the metal ones tend to be less stable). We use ours all the time. Best wishes to your mother!

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score 0 · Answer 5

Windy, I ended up buying a tall table so her wheelchair could go under it. It has adjustable legs and can get close to her. I paid almost $300 for it but its super heavy and sturdy and my husband put wheels on it. I have since seen tall small tables (usually called pub height tables) that a wheelchair can fit under also. I think a tray might be too low and small to do a puzzle dont you? Send me a note if you want to know where I got it and I will look it up, good luck!

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score 0 · Answer 6

I purchased that tray at Walgreens. I didn't have a problem with it. Walgreens will let you return it, if you want.

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score 1 · Answer 7

We have used a bed side table pushed up to the dinner table, that elongates the table making more room for their feet and lets them enjoy the meal with the family. It also eliminates having to clear the tray off before removing it if there is an emergency (potty break) and so forth.

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score 0 · Answer 8

I have found that my local Council on Aging is a great source of information. All communities have one. Mine is the Lake County Council on Aging. The council also has a warehouse of equipment on loan, such as wheelchairs, walkers, lift chairs etc. You just return the item when you no longer need it. You can also look into a medical or hospital supply store.
Good luck

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What are some good recommendations for a tray for mom's portable wheelchair?

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