People in motorized wheelchairs
Kathsgrdn
9 years ago
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pudgeder
9 years agocathyid
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Building Flowerboxes for Wheelchair-bound Seniors
Comments (3)When people first think of wheelchairs and planter boxes, they visualize something like a raised box that a person in a wheelchair can 'drive' under, so they are facing the box. While not impossible, it does complicate the design and increase the expense. The boxes themselves would need to be at least 8" deep (10" would be better), about 3 ft wide, and as long as practical, depending on where they would be placed. The boxes would have to sit on a frame, and I think that's where the problems would come in with this design. Most wheelchair seats are about 19" from the ground. Allowing 6" clearance, that would put the bottom of the box about 25" from the ground. If the box is 8" deep, the top edge of the box would be 33" from the ground. This is about chest-high to the person in a wheelchair. If you used 2" lumber for the box (for strength and rigidity), the top of the box would be 34.5" from the ground. This is getting pretty high for a smaller person in the chair. Even using a lightweight soilless potting soil, with water added, you would have a pretty heavy box. And it would need drainage. You would need some kind of specific drainage, not just perforations, so the water wouldn't drip into the laps of the person in the wheelchair. It would have to gather in the center or something, and drain down via a tube or something, probably into a bucket. Then you would need the supports under the box. Two-by-fours would be the smallest you would want to use. To allow for rolling the wheelchair under the table, you couldn't have any crosspieces that would brace and stabilize the legs, and I suspect the weight of the moist soil would tend to make the legs want to spread outwards. After some period of time, this could be a danger if the legs spread out enough to allow the box to collapse on top of someone sitting under the box. Personally, I would make the boxes so they almost sat right on the ground. 'Almost' because I think they should be elevated on 2x4s for good drainage. These boxes could be 24" high, which would be a good height for most people in wheelchairs. (Actually, it would be about 25.5" high with the 2x4s underneath. The person in the wheelchair would have to park alongside the box, but I think the lower cost and higher degree of safety would offset any small inconvenience. Even this wouldn't be cheap. If you used something like that Trex deck material (composite boards of wood & plastic), one box would cost about $280 for the side boards alone (for a box 12'x3'x2'), never mind the braces, screws, etc. More if a bottom was built in (maybe about another $250). You could use cedar or some other water-resistant wood if it was available in your area, or you could use pine or fir, and line it with heavy sheet plastic. Then you would get to fill it. The box with the above dimensions would hold 72 cubic feet of potting soil (or a little less, since you wouldn't want it right up to the very top). Sixty-six cubic feet (2.5 cubic yards) would be 33 bags of potting soil of the large size (2 cubic feet). That's about $400 worth of MiracleGro potting soil. If you could find some good soil mix in bulk (by the cubic yard) at a landscape materials source, it would probably cost closer to $65 to fill the box. Unless you're getting some really good donations of materials, you're looking at a lot of money. Still with me? Why not consider livestock water tanks? They come in plastic or galvanized steel, and while they're not as big, they're decently good-looking, long-lasting, and are designed to take a lot of abuse. One useful size is 6ft long x 2ft wide x 2ft tall (about 20 cu ft or .75cu yard) (see link below) for $135. The plastic ones go up to about 300 gallons (40 cu ft or 1.5 cubic yards) for $210. These already have drainage built in. I would raise them off the ground by setting them on 2x4s. The problem with the stock tanks is that there is nothing for the Eagle Scouts to build, unless you got the ones that are only one foot tall, and set them on sturdy stands. The advantage is that you could provide several tanks in different locations. Whichever way you go, try to solicit donations of materials or tanks. Tractor Supply Co. has bought out many smaller feed stores all over the country. You could offer to install a sign on the tank or box a company donates to your project: "Materials generously supplied by Lowe's" or "Containers generously supplied by Tractor Supply Co." Some free advertising can't hurt. Sue Here is a link that might be useful: Six foot galvanized stock tank...See Morecloset planning for wheelchair access
Comments (5)IMO, day-to-day life in a wheelie is frustrating. Mum was always grateful that she wasn't confined to bed, but I saw the effort it took to do so many things. Take that bureau: assume you want to get a sweater from a lower drawer. Let's also assume you can do this *facing* the drawer (that means you are capable of bending over your lap to reach something ankle-height but several inches away). Roll up to reach the knob, pull open. If you want something that's to the back of the drawer, roll away while pulling drawer open. Roll closer so that you can actually reach the back of the drawer. Remember that rolling either requires two hands for a straight back or forth, or one hand which will cause the chair to turn angled. Remove sweater and put it someplace (not your lap 'cause stuff slides off + you can't bend over) so that you can close the drawer -- remember that many drawers do not close smoothly with a one-handed push, so you'll have to lock the wheels and then push. Unlock to proceed with your agenda. Now you can try the same thing while sitting sideways to the drawer! It's a far more complicated process. None of us have a crystal ball to find out which infirmities will be our lot in the future. We may never need a wheelchair; or we might become lopsided and only able to use one hand in a motorized chair. We may need a walker or we may never need any sort of aid. There's no way to know in advance. My rough rule of thumb while designing my new house is that eveything must be wheelchair accessible, and that if it can't be reached/used while sitting down it won't be useful when in a wheelie. It's amazing how that last limitation affects the kitchen design even more than the bath. BTW, if possible, do design all sinks so that they can be open underneath... it's darned awkward to use a sink while sitting sideways. I really do recommend to borrow or rent a wheelchair and use it for a while (stay sat -- no fair standing over the sink to brush your teeth). First person action is far more enlightening than any other's words....See MoreDoes anyone have experience with electric wheelchairs, buying/using?
Comments (10)Can't imagine why she could not "try on" a chair that is being used in the facility. Maybe you could check with someone other than the PT person. For purchase, check out wwwspinife.com We have purchased 3 scooters and know of many other folks that have used this company. Have had two batteries replaced(under warranty) by a local person and know of another friend who had a repair while traveling somewhere. Seems like a good company. They will send a catalog too....See MoreComfy durable low-cost wheelchair cushion for heavy person in trauma?
Comments (10)Thanks so very much everyone - the thing is: Would Roho be suitable for size 3x 230-lb. Petite-height? i don't know for sure if what she has is called "pressure-sores" or more like "trauma" from having fallen. I also suspect that her brain-tumor (along with the subpar environment) has been magnifying her already-fiery personality, which is akin to a revved-up zillion-words-per-minute Trump. Secondly, this is a bit like a "watching the watchmen" situation (is that the term?) I.E. the doctor is one of those deadpan mannikin types. I also remember when someone else at the facility reported something to the ombudsman, she saw him emerging from the Admin.office with a strange look on his face, and was soon thereafter kicked out, and on her own, taken in by a friend. I recently heard she's in a hospital. Prior to landing at the facility where i met her, she had been involved in two car accidents. She used to be a top-level doctor, and is only middle-aged, but confined to a wheelchair. Both these women are brilliant, yet wound up near-penniless for similar reasons....See MoreElmer J Fudd
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