The State of Illinois has put 83 year old Felice Dworkin in a fine fix. The state’s budget ailments and slow paying habits have cut her pipeline to repairs on her wheelchair and has ended her independence.
Since her power wheelchair broke in June, Dworkin has relied on nursing home employees to push her around in a manual chair.
She has asked the repair company repeatedly to fix her chair, but the company, Mobility Systems in Hickory Hills, has refused. The reason? Her insurer, the state of Illinois, still owes Mobility Systems $2,291.12 for her previous two repairs — in November 2008 and in March.
A sad situation but not as uncommon a one as we might think. This situation is doing repeat performances in many states all over the country. It is certainly a troubling sign and likely a peek at things to come. It is made even more upsetting since these situations will likely affect vulnerable seniors more than any other population.
Why are seniors more vulnerable than the rest of us? For several reasons- As a group they have a high dependency on assistive technology for purposes of mobility, activities of daily living, and socialization. The elderly with disabilities are one of the poorest segments of society and usually are unable to self fund their way out of a tight corner. And yes, many seniors are afraid to speak out or to engage in self-advocacy.
These are tough times and all signs indicate that they will be getting tougher.
Permobil, a leading wheelchair manufacturer recently announced that they will be building a 120,000 sq ft facility in the USA. 80,000 sq feet will be dedicated to wheelchair manufacturing.
Permobil, Inc., is an international wheelchair manufacturer best known for it’s complex powered wheelchairs with such features as front wheel drive and systems that allow wheelchair users to recline, elevate, tilt, and stand while in the wheelchair.
The new facility will be a $12 million project and will be located on a 17 acre site in Lebanon Tennessee. This project is the single largest capital investment that Permobil has made in its 40 year history. The project is slated for completion sometime during the summer of 2010.
Watch the Permobil video on this topic.
This comes at a time when the wheelchair industry in the USA is fighting off National Competitive Bidding, getting ready to be hit with a medical equipment tax, anticipating more Medicare cuts, and looking over their shoulders at more and more wheelchair products from China.
I hope that Permobil has a strong game plan in place. They may just need it.
Suzuki’s new green MIO wheelchair uses fuel cell technology to provide power and has a range of 25 miles.
Fuel cells are powered by methanol, while a back-up battery provides electricity for those times when the tank goes dry. The generated electricity is stored in a large capacity Li-ion secondary battery, acting as a back up source of power.
The MIO chair features armrests that double as safety barriers to prevent its occupant from falling out, while the handlebars have been designed for greater comfort and to give full steering lock with minimal effort. A mesh fabric is used for the seat to give greater comfort.
The MIO has been built to help determine customer reaction to these new wheelchair technologies, though Suzuki says it could be in production in the near future if the prototype gets a positive response.
Well, there’s some information on the powerhouse that MIO is packing but very little on features that would make or break any wheelchair. Swiveling seat for access and egress and ground clearance for obstacles. How about stability and turning radius? Can this wheelchair cut indoor space as well as the outdoors.
OK, now the big one- What is the anticipated cost if and when it goes to market. Will it be within reach of wheelchair users or just a wish for under the Christmas tree? Let’s see where it goes.
I really don’ know what became of these rather unique wheelchair prototypes.
I’m hoping someone can shed some light on their fate. If nothing else they make for some interesting and cool eye candy.
The Transformable Wheelchair
The Transformable Wheelchair is a concept that transcends the functionality of wheelchairs. Designed by Caspar Schmitz, the wheelchair is made completely from durable polyurethane which is a strong plastic elastic in nature. The most special feature of the wheelchair is the transformation capability of the wheels. The circular structure of the wheels in traditional wheelchairs makes navigation of stairs impossible for wheelchair users. However, the wheels of this concept wheelchair can convert to an ellipsoid structure by applying pressure vertically on the handlebar. This allows the user to wheel himself up the stairs on his own.
Elevating Wheelchair
Jake Eddie has designed the Elevating Wheelchair which can help the person either sit or stand independently.
Wheelchair is adjustable in 2 modes, sitting and standing. Challenges perceptions of wheelchair users.
Convaid Inc. successfully crash-tested & built a WC19 compliant transit wheelchair with an integrated five-point safety harness.
The new improved wheelchair harness is designed to replace the current three-point vehicle mounted lap/shoulder belt and improve safety for small children. Selected new Convaid transit wheelchairs models EZ Rider®, Cruiser®, Convertible® have the five-point harness (as standard) and have been tested and approved for children less than 65 lbs.
According to research published by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), “A wheelchair-anchored five-point restraint harness will offer improved restraint and safety to small children by improving belt fit and encouraging better distribution of restraint forces to the strongest skeletal regions of the body.”
The Convaid five-point wheelchair harness system was developed in collaboration with the SafeGuard division of IMMI, manufacturers of occupant protection products. UMTRI Transportation Research Institute assisted in prototype testing of this five-point wheelchair harness.
Exmovere Holdings Inc. is developing a Segway-based upright mobility device that surrounds the user’s thighs, hips and legs in a kind of cocoon, called the Chariot.
The users hands, arms and chest remain free. Exmore states that this would position the vehicle as a direct competitor to existing sit-down mobility scooters marketed to obese, elderly and limited mobility persons.
As opposed to conventional wheelchairs and mobility scooters, the Chariot maintains the user in a standing position. Pretty handy for getting in faces, bellying up to the bar, or reaching those hard to get at items up there on the shelf.
“The Chariot is Exmovere Holdings Inc.’s starting point for further development for people who have a hard time standing or walking and for those people who must stand or walk long distances.”
Future Chariots will offer unique features such as: smart battery management and inductive charging, core body temperature monitoring, heating and cooling, dynamic stabilization on rough, sandy, uneven and wet terrain, wireless connectivity and GPS, and sonar and radar systems for visually impaired riders.
Quite the ambitious endeavor fueled by Exomore’s analysis of the number of wheelchair users, disabled veterans, and no doubt the tremendous amount of elbow room in the niche wheelchair markets.
It should be interesting to see where this goes. Regardless, it is nice to see new products that shoot for greater technological reach than what the existing industry players have to offer. The Chariot may make it as a marvel of wheelchair technology, but can it survive the funding issues, or rather, the lack of third party funding in a market that is heavily dependent on third party payers such as Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Administration, or the bevy of insurers.
On a personal level- I’m cheering for the Chariot. New technology is always a good thing and challenges the entire industry to reach for new heights. As for usefulness? I guess we will have to wait and see. As for third party funding? Except for possibly the Veterans Administration, ain’t a snowball’s chance in hell right now.
A coalition of national disability organizations and industry shirt-tailers have developed a wheelchair user survey.
The survey is aimed at helping politicos better understand the needs of wheelchair users and maybe, just maybe, get them to lighten up on some nasty restrictions that they are working on. Take the survey and you can enter a drawing for a flat-screen tv or 500 bucks (US coin of the realm).
Here’s the word:
An online survey at www.spinalcord.org/survey gives wheelchair users the chance to help consumer groups and policy makers better understand and document the wheelchair selection and purchase experience. And if you complete the full survey by November 15th, you could win a brand new flat panel TV or $500!
Your participation will help partnering consumer groups advocate most effectively on behalf of all wheelchair users so that we receive properly fitted wheelchairs, and all necessary accessories and related services to fully participate in an active, healthy, community lifestyle.
Survey responses will be strictly confidential and data from this research will be reported only in the aggregate to the partnering consumer groups. Information will be coded and will remain confidential. Participants will have the opportunity to request further contact, but names and contact information will never be shared or included with the results of the survey.
The survey is being conducted by National Spinal Cord Injury Association in partnership with United Spinal Association, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), National Multiple Sclerosis Society, United Spinal Association, United Cerebral Palsy Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), and The ALS Association. The initiative has also sought and accepted input from respected clinicians and from members of industry groups including American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) and the National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology (NCART).
The group intends to present this information to policymakers on Capitol Hill and at CMS, in an effort to address the fact that Medicare has limited or no coverage and payment for many such items impedes consumers’ abilities to fully engage in their communities and realize the highest possible quality of life.
I just couldn’t pass up posting this picture of a converted Honda Element. It’s one of my favorite vehicles and this one is done up in my favorite color.
I have actually never seen one of these on the road but it makes sense that something as cool and as boxy as the element might work for a conversion. This little beauty is called the X-WAV by Freedom Motors USA inc. X-WAV for xtreme wheelchair accessible vehicle.
So what does this runner pack? According to Freedom Motors it has some niceties like remote one button push for the doors and ramp as well as stain and tire resistant flooring.
The door opening height is 56″ and the interior height is 59″. The ramp is 42″ at the base and 29 3/4″ at the tip with a length of 50″. Total ramp length is 50″ with a 10 degree angle. The lowered floor length is 55″ with a lowered depth of 10″.
Carecots by KayserBetten are beds with special features that aid in caring for a child with a disability while offering a safe and comforting environment for the child.
Carecots allow room for therapy, daily care, general down or play time, and they even have enough room for mom or dad to lay down next to the little one.
Each bed has a height adjustable sleeping platform driven by a motor and an adjustable lying surface. Both features simplify the daily care and considerably ease the strain on the carer’s back. High safety rails are available for increasing safety with door heights of up to 170 cm and custom-made to any size required.
The bed lowers to near floor level which helps children to develop and improve their mobility skills. This enables them to climb in and out independently without endangering themselves.
Finally, some momentum on the Community Choice Act. I think that most people would agree that having the option of living at home or landing in an institution is a good thing.
Still, for wheelchair users there is more to living at home than receiving customary services outside of an institution. There is still the outstanding issue of the wheelchair and its routine repair and maintenance.
Imagine a scenario where funded (Medicare, Medicaid, insurance) wheelchairs are getting much tougher to get every year. Where lawmakers openly endorse and promote limiting access to wheelchairs and related services. Compound that with the fact that needed repairs and maintenance are also getting tighter and at times leaving wheelchair users stranded for months at a time. Well, this scenario presently exists and things may be getting even tougher down the road.
What then is the upshot for wheelchair users caught in such a scenario. It’s easy, we go from trying to keep people in their homes and communities back to square one- returning them to the dreaded status of “housebound” for lack of a wheelchair or repairs.
something as cool and as boxy as the element might work for a conversion. This little beauty is called the X-WAV by Freedom Motors USA inc. X-WAV for xtreme wheelchair accessible vehicle.
enough room for mom or dad to lay down next to the little one. 
