Manual or Electric Wheelchair: How to Choose

When a wheelchair comes into the picture, the first decision is usually this: manual or electric? It depends on the strength of the person using it, whether there will be someone pushing, the type of home and how often it has to be transported.

Manual wheelchairs: light, simple, no batteries

Propelled by the arms or pushed by a companion. Lighter, cheaper, easy to fold and not dependent on any battery being charged.

• A good fit if: there is enough arm strength, or someone usually pushes; it is used for part of the day and goes in and out of a car often.
• Falls short if: it will be used for many hours a day, there are hills, or self-propelling is too tiring.

Power chairs: independence without physical effort

A motor and a joystick replace the effort of the arms. They give real independence to someone who cannot self-propel, and cover distances that would be unthinkable in a manual chair.

• A good fit if: the goal is independence without relying on anyone, it will be used for many hours, or there are hills and longer trips.
• Bear in mind: considerably heavier, the battery needs charging and the price is higher. For carrying in a car, look at folding or ultralight models.

Indoors and outdoors are not the same

Indoors, overall width and turning circle are what matter: measure the doors, especially the bathroom, and the corridors before deciding. Outdoors, wheels, suspension and range weigh more heavily.

Questions worth asking first

• Who will be handling it most of the time, the user or a companion?
• Does it have to go into a car every day? Who would lift it?
• Does the home have a lift, steps or ramps?
• Will it be used for a few hours a day or continuously?

An option in between

There are ultralight folding power chairs designed for exactly the person who wants independence but needs to fit the chair in a boot. They answer the most common complaint about traditional power chairs: that they are too heavy.

You can compare models in manual wheelchairs and power chairs.

This article is for general guidance. For questions about a specific person, speak to their doctor or physiotherapist.

Want a hand deciding? Senior World has been based in Fuengirola since 2008 and covers the whole Costa del Sol. Call us on +34 952 66 31 31.