If you have recently decided that you would find it easier to move by using a wheelchair, this can be a big transition. Perhaps you have been considering this change for a while, or your medical consultant has suggested a wheelchair would be the best option for you. Whatever your personal circumstances may be and however they may have led you to this decision, it can be daunting trying to figure out how to live life with your new wheelchair. Fortunately, they are hugely useful tools for people with mobility issues, and once you have grown accustomed to them, you will feel much freer and more independent. Here are a few tips on how to live a better life in your wheelchair.
Prepare Your Route
If you are used to walking and now require the aid of a wheelchair, you might be unpleasantly surprised to discover that some familiar routes are now much more difficult to take. There are many obstacles that wheelchair users face daily, including the terrain they must cross to perform their tasks. For example, stairs, uneven paving, and steep inclines can present unexpected challenges once you start using a wheelchair. Be prepared to adjust your routes to reach your destination using safer and more wheelchair-friendly surfaces.
Upgrade Your Chair
You may have accepted the first type of wheelchair suggested to you by the doctor, but there’s a chance you can make an upgrade that will make your life much easier and more comfortable. Depending on your reasons for transitioning to using a wheelchair, you might find that a basic manual model is sufficient. However, there are plenty of different wheelchairs available on the market that have been designed to suit a wide range of needs, including alternative access controls, improved comfort, and more aesthetically-pleasing styles.
Use an Adapted Vehicle
Starting to use a wheelchair can impact many other areas of your life, including your use of transport. If you still want to enjoy the independence you have when using a car, there are plenty of options out there. Your mobility issues might mean that you can still drive with an adapted vehicle, or if this isn’t the case, a car with wheelchair access can give you more space to safely be driven. Once you start making use of wheelchair accessible vehicles you will quickly begin to notice just how much independence you gain from them.
Adapt Your Home
Since wheelchair use impacts almost every aspect of a person’s life, you might want to consider adapting parts of your home to make it more accessible to you. This might include adjusting the height of kitchen counters and bathroom fixtures so you can safely and independently go about your day. It’s all about understanding your own unique needs and identifying ways that you can make your life simpler. It isn’t easy transitioning to using a wheelchair, but there are ways you can make the adjustment smoother.
