Anyone have advice or experience on a power wheelchair for home use that will fit through standard doorways in a home not modified for handicapped use? My dad has been barely hanging on to walking with his rollator for a long time now, and that window may be closing. Our whole family is well aware of all of his safety concerns, living alone, fall risk, etc. and we’ve put every precaution possible in place. He’s adamant not to move and legally can’t be forced. So I’d like to learn about the possibly of a wheelchair that he could get around in his home.
Sorry to cast more gloom into your life, but do consider his willingness to move on. If he is not willing to acknowledge his needs you may be wasting time and money. Perhaps it might need to be HIS idea rather than yours. I hope your father is more reasonable than my Mom, but from your description, I doubt it.
My mother got a Jazzy for Daddy. (Parkinson's) He could go down a 15' hallway and eat meals then back to the doorway of his room. They are not small and dad's didn't fit inside the door of his room. And then his room was smallish and even if he could maneuver the chair into his room, someone had to come in and 'flip it' around.
Their place was very small and the chair ate up a lot of room. If he had used it to go outside for a 'stroll' or something--it would have been wonderful. Sadly, daddy used it for about a week and put it in storage.
Mother is making noises about pulling it out of storage for her use. It's a non-starter as the apartment is far more cluttered now and she will not let us make any changes to her living space to accommodate it. She NEEDS to keep walking, she is almost ready for a wheelchair now--in 6 months I'm sure she will have graduated to that. She refuses to exercise and so is weaker each day.
I do see a few folks in my neighborhood riding their powered chairs around, sometimes with a grandkid hanging on, for fun. I do wish daddy had used his to its full capability.
But that does not address the fact that there is more here than that.
IF he is going to stay there some modifications might have to be made. Roll in shower also known as a Zero Entry or Zero Threshold). Opening under bathroom cabinet so that a wheelchair can be brought up to the sink. As well as other modifications that might have to be made. (actually they don't HAVE to be made, the modifications just make life a little easier for the caregiver as well as the recipient)
I agree with the ones that mentioned a PT eval.
Are there cameras in place so you can monitor him if necessary?
Does he have one of the "emergency alert" units? If so would he be able to use it?
She really enjoyed her Jazzy.
When my LO went to a wheelchair, she was provided a regular one that you use your own arms to propel yourself and even your feet, with the foot rests removed, to keep as active as possible. This worked well for her.