Case study
Case Study: A Recent Powered Wheelchair Assessment
At The Wheelchair OTs, no two customer enquiries are ever the same — which makes our job both interesting and rewarding. For this month’s blog, I wanted to share a recent case we’ve been involved with.
We were contacted by a client living in the South East who asked to be assessed for a powered wheelchair, as he had outgrown his current setup. He had a specific model in mind and wanted an OT assessment to ensure it would meet his long-term needs.
I visited the client to understand his current posture, mobility needs and mobility aims. He had not been able to use his powered wheelchair for several months due to weight gain and the seat size being too small, which had become uncomfortable.
During the visit, I explained that his current wheelchair was adaptable and modular, meaning the size could be increased to support his seat size requirements. I widened the seating and created a short list of accessories needed to make the wheelchair suitable for the long term.
Due to expanding the seat size, a correctly fitted cushion was required. We also needed alternative leg rests, as the client’s feet were no longer well supported on the centre-mounted footplates.
Outcome
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Agreed recommendations
The client agreed to the recommendations and the identified parts were ordered on his behalf.
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Handover & fitting
A handover visit was booked and the accessories were mounted onto his powered wheelchair.
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Improved seating & comfort
The client trialled the wheelchair and sat well within it, which he was pleased about.
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Meaningful daily impact
He can now access his garden and get out of bed daily — both important personal goals.
There are times when a new wheelchair is the right way to go. However, at The Wheelchair OTs we always act with the client’s best interests at heart and seek solutions that are cost-effective and suitable for the individual’s long-term mobility needs.
Thank you for reading!
Matt
If you have any queries or think you or a loved one would benefit from our services, please contact us at The Wheelchair OTs — we would love to hear from you.