Also, if there is a Harbor Freight near you, they carry a few very basic wheel chair models, at a fraction of the price of going to a medical supply store/drug store.

But I must warn you of one thing with Medicare. There's a certain protocol there. If you get a wheel chair (indicating your mother is completely disabled), and then decide your mother needs something like a walker, or electric lounger to help her get up (something for a partially disabled person)--Medicare may not pay for second item. It's complicated, but for medicare to pick up the tab, you have to buy these things in a certain order, and at certain intervals. Before you make a decision, talk to the folks at your local medical supply store to see what they recommend. We just paid for mom's wheel chair, because it wasn't worth losing benefits she might need further down the line (for something more expensive).

Also, mention among your friends, at your church, etc, that you need a wheel chair--ofte people have them sitting around the house because they're too expensive to throw out when they're no longer needed. You may find someone who is willing to lend you one.

Or, if you only need it for excursions out of the house, I found that most places I wanted to take my mom had wheel chairs to borrow--and we just skipped those that didn't, until we finally got her one of her own.

Good luck.