Guidelines for Receiving and Maintaining Your New Power Wheelchair
Upon receiving your new power wheelchair, follow these steps to ensure proper setup, safe operation, and ongoing maintenance:
Initial Setup:
- Carefully read the Owner’s Manual provided with your power wheelchair.
- With assistance or supervision, transfer into the wheelchair and ensure your comfortable positioning.
- Verify that you can access and operate the driver controls (joystick, head array, etc.), powered seating functions, environmental controls, and any augmentative communication devices if applicable.
- With the help of an assistant, take the wheelchair for a test drive:
- Familiarize yourself with basic operations and navigation.
- Practice navigating thresholds, inclines, declines, tight spaces, turning, stopping, and reversing.
- If needed, have your medical equipment supplier or therapist adjust wheelchair parameters (speed, response, etc.) through programming.
Powered Seating Functions:
If your wheelchair includes powered seating functions (tilt, recline, elevate, power elevating legs), perform a positioning cycle to ensure smooth and appropriate operation.
Daily Maintenance:
- Before transferring in or out of the wheelchair, always turn it OFF.
- Pay attention to the sounds your wheelchair’s motor makes; familiarize yourself with normal sounds.
- Regularly charge your batteries; avoid completely depleting them.
- Wipe down the seat and frame with a dry or slightly damp, soft cloth to minimize dust and grime.
- Immediately clean up any moisture or spills to prevent damage to electronic components.
- Keep protective plastic covers (“shrouds”) in place to shield electronics from moisture or fluid spills. Replace damaged shrouds.
Monthly/Periodic Inspection and Adjustment:
Perform these checks on a regular basis:
- Examine the wheelchair for signs of corrosion due to exposure to fluids; replace corroded electrical components immediately.
- Check wheels for cracks and wear; replace if necessary.
- Inspect seat-positioning straps for wear, ensure secure buckles, and verify that hardware attaching the strap to the frame is undamaged.
- Inspect electrical components for corrosion or damage; replace as needed.
Additional Information:
- Avoid exposing your power wheelchair to moisture or fluids, such as rain, showers, or car washes.
- Regularly inspect upholstery for rips.
- Make sure headrests, armrests, and footrests are properly adjusted.
- Be vigilant about keeping the wheelchair clean and well-maintained to ensure safe and reliable operation.
Following these guidelines will help you enjoy a smooth and trouble-free experience with your new power wheelchair. For any specific maintenance procedures or troubleshooting, refer to the Owner’s Manual provided. For replacement parts or professional servicing, consult your medical equipment supplier or service provider.
Note: This information is based on a 2006 document by Invacare Corporation. Always refer to the latest manufacturer’s recommendations and guidelines for your specific power wheelchair model.
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