Standard wheelchair and transport chair is often misunderstood and considered the same things. Many people are unaware of some key function and design differences between regular standard wheelchairs and swing-away wheelchairs.
Wheelchairs and transport chairs help the elderly and disabled gain mobility and convenience. Hence, you need to know what separates them before making a buying or rental decision. Suppose you are confused between transport chair rentals or buying and getting a standard wheelchair. You are luckily at the right place. What exactly do you need the wheelchair to make one better than the other.
Here is a detailed guide for your information on the differences between a standard wheelchair and a transport chair and What to look for when buying or renting.
Difference Between a standard Wheelchair and a Transport Chair
As already stated, they are mistaken to be the same thing, but there are some critical differences between a standard wheelchair and a transport chair: 1. Wheel Size:
The main and most visible difference between a standard wheelchair and a transport chair is the size of their wheels. Transport chairs can easily be distinguished from normal ones due to their smaller rear wheels. The rear and front wheels of the transport chair are usually the same sizes. Meanwhile, in standard wheelchairs, the rear wheels are massive in size as they are used to manually propel the chair forward.
2. Weight:
Due to the bigger rear wheels, standard wheelchairs tend to be heavier than transport chairs, making it difficult for elderly people to move with their hands. As such bigger wheels with added rims allow patients to hold on to it and maneuver. Most standard wheelchairs can only be folded in two places by compressing from side to side. Whereas the transport chairs have smaller rear wheels and are lighter. The overall wheelchair weight depends on the material the wheelchair is made of. The same density of aluminum weighs a fraction of a similar steel size. In addition, since most transport chairs are folded into many places in sports become a breeze.
3. Propelling difference:
Standard wheelchairs allow the ability to self-propel, making the user independent. Ordinary wheelchair users can travel and move on their own. On the other hand, due to smaller wheels in transport chairs, which are out of hand-reach of the user, they have to be pushed by another person.
4. Braking system:
Wheelchairs mostly have a push-lock wheel system that secures the chair so users can enter and exit it safely. On the other hand, transport chairs have brakes on the back handles, which makes it easier for the person pushing the chair to apply the brakes. Handbrakes make handling the wheelchair on steep slopes and outdoor terrains easier.
5. Comfort:
Standard wheelchairs nor transport chairs were neither created with comfort as a priority feature in mind. Still, wheelchairs are more comfortable and thus better suited to extended periods of sitting than transport chairs. Transport chairs are usually suitable for short travel, maybe a couple of hours.
What to look for when you buy or rent a wheelchair or transport chair?
Before you rent or buy a wheelchair, there are various factors to consider, regardless of its type. You can get the standard wheelchair and transport chair permanently and on rental terms. Here are some essential factors to consider when deciding to buy or rent a standard wheelchair or a transport chair:
Quality of Life
When looking at wheelchairs, the two most significant comfort features to consider are cushioning and back support. You should check that closely, and if you are not the user and buying it for a parent or a loved one, you should get that checked beforehand.
So comfort has to be the priority before buying a wheelchair. You can also buy an extra cushion for additional back support on your wheelchair. But that should be the backup option always.
Wheelchair and Transport chair rentals –
Try before you buy when your family member needs to be transported to a hospital or discharged from one and needs to recover for a short time. Rent a wheelchair or a transport chair. Based on your need.
Let us explain. Why should you break the bank and buy a wheelchair that you might not even like a few weeks later for any reason whatsoever?
Conclusion: there are convenient transport chair rentals available, allowing you to test the unit and then make the final investment in buying the transport chair.
After using it for a few days, you feel the experience of a product, costly items where you are investing a hefty amount. Everyone would buy a wheelchair with the thought that this is a long-term purchase. Imagine learning after a few days that your wheelchair isn’t comfortable or convenient as you expected or you have liked another model.
Transport chair rentals are the ideal selection to avoid getting the wrong wheelchair while your rental. You can easily rent a wheelchair from our website. Check out our website and check for the transport chair you would like first.
Need of the user
Another factor to consider before buying or renting a standard wheelchair or transport chair is the user's need. Is it a permanent disability you want to get the wheelchair for? Or is it for something temporary or short-term? Like when you need a muscle injury recovery.
In case of a permanent or long-term need, it is reasonable to buy the wheelchair, as that will save you a lot of money that will compound over time compared to wheelchair rental.
If you have a temporary or short-term need, you should ideally go for a wheelchair rental. These fancy swing-away wheelchairs might look amazing, but it varies from person to person what is an ideal sort of transport wheelchair for their specific case. Renting a wheelchair is a great way to test compatibility and comfort. By renting from a local medical supply store, save some bucks if you only need the wheelchair for a few weeks or a few months.
Dependability
Another critical factor is dependability. Dependability means that a standard wheelchair is challenging for the elderly due to the heavyweight, and they are self-propelling by moving wheels with hands. In this case, transport chair rentals are the perfect option that another person pushes from behind to propel ahead. Lightweight wheelchairs are good for the user in almost many cases.
Medicare Wheelchair Coverage:
Medically essential wheelchairs, walkers, and other in-home medical equipment are covered to some extent by Medicare Part B. You can ask your doctor to prescribe you the wheelchair as a medical necessity. You can then buy or rent a standard wheelchair or transport chair.
Conclusion – Standard Wheelchair Vs. Transport Chair
Standard Wheelchairs and transport chairs are good solutions for giving users and caregivers more mobility and convenience. Knowing the distinctions between renting and buying a wheelchair requires considering the demands of both the user and the caregiver.
We have structured this article to make the debate of “what to look for when buying or renting a wheelchair?” easier for you. You can certainly decide for yourself now whether a standard wheelchair or transport chair will work in your case. There is no winner between wheelchairs and transport chairs; which works best for you should be the answer.
Make sure to check out our product page. Feel free to write to us in case of any inquiries or confusion.