The market for used second hand disability aids is a thriving one that is open to just about every conceivable contraption that had been used by patients with mobility impairment. They either passed away or moved on to use newer more sophisticated mobility equipment. The most common among them are used wheelchairs, either manual or electric powered.
People often have the mistaken notion that second hand medical equipment exudes some kind of negative aura especially if they came from patients who have passed away using them.
For those who are squeamish about this, second disability aid may not be for them. Otherwise, a thorough disinfecting and reconditioning have been known to restore many used wheelchairs to top condition with only a fraction of the cost of new units. They provide the best value for you money.
Admittedly, not all second hand wheelchairs can fit your requirement. If they came from quadriplegics with special chin or mouth controls for control movement, they may not address the more generic needs of paraplegics who just need joysticks to navigate, and vice versa.
Shopping for one is no different from shopping for a used car or appliance and can bring you to a used wheelchair dealer, a private home of friends or from classified ads. Online merchants that offer used wheelchairs for sale abound. Once you’ve found the right wheelchair for your needs, be sure to check the often-used parts, like the wheels and the seat upholstery or fabric, and folding mechanism.
If they are electric powered, then you need to check for the motor condition, brakes, and the batteries. These 4-5 ampere deep cycle rechargeable batteries do not last long with repeated recharging and use. 2-3 years of use is often tops and you’d need to replace them. You can check how well conditioned the motor is by its responsiveness to the controls. A quick response often indicates good motor condition. You also need to look into the condition of the seats as well as the restraining harnesses or seat belts if still working. They are necessary if the wheelchair is for kids or those with difficulty controlling body movement that may case them to slip and fall sideways or forwards.
Lastly, check with your health insurance to get the maximum coverage. They are known to shoulder as much as 80% of the cost of wheelchairs if medically prescribed, whether new or used. Check as well with friends and relatives who have had a household member outgrown the need for one and you may end with a free used wheelchair as a hand-me-down.
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