Power Assist – Helping You Make The Choice (Kids & Teen)
Sometimes it would make each day at school, home and everywhere in between a little easier if your manual wheelchair could have a power boost. This is possible in the form of a power assist device added to your existing or new fixed or folding frame wheelchair - and it can make all the difference for you and your family.
At Astris PME, we enjoy improving lives by providing a broad range of power assist options for you and your family to choose from. Understanding the unique needs of you and your family will assist in deciding on the most suitable options to explore further. Some factors to consider are:
• Your needs and physical capacity.
• Your family dynamics and needs.
• Environments you would like to access.
• Activities you typically participate in.
• What help you have available to physically manage a power assist device.
Managing a power assist option independently on your wheelchair also requires skills relating to memory, perceptual abilities and cognitive skills. Goals for providing a device can be diverse and may include independent or assisted use of power assist. Having a discussion with your prescribing Therapist about whether a power assist option would be suitable is the best place to start. They’re also great at guiding you though the process of trialling appropriate options.
There are numerous benefits to using power assist devices, including:
• Reducing stress and strain on the upper limbs – shoulders and wrists – for both you and your family.
• Making participation and access easier every day.
• Permitting access to challenging environments.
• Enabling storage into a standard car boot without the need for the family to invest in the purchase of larger vehicles and additional costs associated with vehicle modifications.
• Reducing the need for home modifications to accommodate larger power chairs.
Make an appointment with one of our Specialist Consultants to find out which power assist option is right for you and your family.
