Ron, Try contacting Wheels for the World which is Joni Erickson Tada's organization that refurbishes donated chairs and usually takes them overseas. It would be interesting to see if they would donate a chair locally for someone that needs one. the chair you can get as a loaner from a DME is probably classified as lightweight but most likely isn't a true rehab chair. In insurance lingo, lightweight is anything under 50-60 pounds. For a patient with SCI, you typically want something in the ultra lightweight category which is under 30 pounds, with something under 24 pounds being the best!
If you want names of specific chairs to look for, let me know. Has your client ever had any skin issues, even just redness in sacral or ischial areas? Any circulation problems at all? Any problems with edema after sitting for a while? All of those are important to know when thinking about seating if you get a choice of cushions. Mary Alice On Jun 5, 2007, at 5:08 PM, Ron Carson wrote: > The patient and I have concluded that she will not be able to > transfer > without the use of a board. Perhaps at some point in the distant > future, > but for the moment, a transfer board is our only option. > > I stopped by a local DME to discuss light-weight wheelchairs. They > have > a couple 'loaners' that I can take to the patients house. This > will be > invaluable for both the patient and myself. I have some concerns > about > the patient's trunk strength and her ability to transfer to a w/c > using > a slide board. > > It is VERY difficult figuring out the best time to fit her for > a new > manual chair. She really wants a chair, which is an > important > consideration, but she will probably locate in the future so > there are > some concerns about environmental fit. Of course, I don't think a > manual > chair is going to fit into her current bedroom doorway. So > much to > consider!! > > Back to the slide board. I do not think it is possible to slide > board > transfer onto a tub bench. Does anyone have a different > opinion and > suggestions? I think the hard plastic board will slide on the > bench. It > may be possible to place a piece of dycem under the board to > reduce > slipping. What do you think? > > Thanks, > > Ron > > > -- > Options? > www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com > > Archive? > www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > > ********************************************************************** > **************** > Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science > for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. > www.otdegree.com/otn > ********************************************************************** > **************** -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] ************************************************************************************** Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. www.otdegree.com/otn **************************************************************************************
