Advice on getting a wheelchair — Scope | Disability forum
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Advice on getting a wheelchair

Alice1968
Alice1968 Community member Posts: 1 Listener
Hi I'm so desperate I need so much help & advise I have a disability that's changed my life I'm on lots of meds also under a neuro specialist a rheumatoid specialist physio also a very good GP I'm awaiting to see occupational therapist I have a disability scooter to get to my GP but it's too big for the bus so I'm stuck in with these four walls I can't afford a wheelchair I feel I'm stuck & need a kind hand to guid me in the right direction to help me get a wheelchair so I can get out I so grateful for any advice

Comments

  • Sam_Alumni
    Sam_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,671 Disability Gamechanger
    edited January 2017
    Hi @Alice1968

    I found this information that the helpline staff gave on an older but similar post that might help.

    "There are a couple of organisations listed on the Mobility Bureau's website that might be able to offer some funding: 
    Margaret’s Fund – Gives grants for women in ill health for Mobility Scooters, wheelchairs, holidays, clothing etc. (All applications for money from Margaret’s Fund must be made through a caring professional such as a Social Worker, a Registered Charity Worker or a Doctor or other Health Care worker.)
    http://www.margaretsfund.org/about-us

    Mobility Trust – Raises funds to provide powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters to people, regardless of age or disability, who cannot obtain them through other means.
    http://mobilitytrust.org.uk/index.html

    You could also try a grant finding organisation, such as http://www.turn2us.org.uk/ tel: 0808 802 2000
    or http://www.disability-grants.org/ (web based only). 
    They do not actually give funds themselves but if you key in your details and state what you want the funding for, this should produce a list of the most likely organisations that might fund for this type of equipment, which should give you some other options. You would then have to contact each organsisation separately. 

    Sometimes local charitable organisations such as the Rotary Club may offer some funding."

    Hope this helps!
    Scope
    Senior online community officer
  • Sam_Alumni
    Sam_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,671 Disability Gamechanger
    @mossycow Am I right in thinking you use a wheelchair? Do you have any advice that might help?
    Scope
    Senior online community officer
  • Les
    Les Community member Posts: 41 Courageous
    Hi @Alice1968 About 3 years ago, I tried loads of wheelchairs in the private sector, but never found one that suited my disabilities. So I went to my GP and asked if he could help. He sent me to a company that deals with bespoke aids, that was in my area. They checked me out from top to toe and I got a bespoke wheelchair, through the NHS. So it didn't cost me anything. Is there any reason, you can't do the same.?
  • mossycow
    mossycow Scope Member Posts: 500 Pioneering
    Hi there! Yes,  I've had about 3 or 4 years needing a wheelchair.  

    I am certain with all the stuff you have going on you can get access to what you need (and it not out you out of pocket). 

    I'm not an expert...  But below is what I wish someone had said to me 4 years ago... 

    Make 3 calls

    *British red cross
    *wheelchair services
    *PIP (and if you have higher PIP call motobility) 

    Google 'wheelchair services and <where you live>'.  This will lead you to your NHS help.  They are stretched... But you are entitled to help so go for it.  They will assess you for the right wheelchair.  If you will need wheelchair inside you can have a power chair.  If not needed in your house NHS will fund a manual chair.  You will be offered a chair to borrow till they have bought your perfect chair for you to borrow.  Takes time.. 
    But the difference between a heavy chair that didn't fit and one made for me made a massive difference! 

    We found British red cross have a wheelchair borrowing service.  It is free for small deposit of £30. Just Google Red Cross and where you live.  Many people let them keep deposit as a donation.  They were life savers! They delivered,  repaired and collected chair when we were done. 



    If you haven't already,  Google the PIP application number and call as soon as physically possible.  It's a little money available to all disabled people how ever much they earn that will help with extras non disabled people don't need.  

    Do it straight away because how ever much of a faff,  wait and annoyance it is...  When you receive it you get it back dated from when you call. 

    Also,  it's a bit of a gateway benefit. As in,  if you receive any PIP it will help with a blue badge,  free bus pass,  disabled rail card for example.  Even if you don't drive,  you can use it blur badge when you get a lift and car you've had a lift in can park nearer often at less cost. 


    If you already receive the higher mobility PIP you can join the motobility scheme.  After 3 years of using a manual and waiting to for my higher PIP application there came a glorious day when it came...  

    I called motobility scheme (Google them and call,  they were lovely).  Abput £40 of my benefit money each week doesn't come to me but goes to motobility.  They pay it to a local mobility place who came out to see what I needed.  It was miraculous.... And I know you will understand that....  Because less that 6 weeks later I was leaving my house on my own for the first time in years and whizzing round places I'd not been in a decade. 

    I don't miss the money as before I didn't get it. And my chair is amazing....  There are much cheaper chairs for less money. 

    It's much less pain, independence,  my life back frankly.  

    So be hopeful! I know the change is terrifying,  tragic and you will grieve.  But honest to God... I'm having times recently where I forget I'm less mobile. 


    What do you think? Does any of that help? 

  • mossycow
    mossycow Scope Member Posts: 500 Pioneering
    Oh,  just to add,  my power chair does go on bus and train.  Mention to people that that's what you need.  We're finding it currently won't fit in our car... But public transport and a disabled user taxi has helped.  We might get a trailor.... 
  • mossycow
    mossycow Scope Member Posts: 500 Pioneering
    Also mine goes up and down....  Big help for shopping,  and hopefully when I may get back to work
  • Fundamentalist
    Fundamentalist Community member Posts: 133 Courageous
    Hi from Fm. In my area, I don't know about where you live there is a charity that sells recycled disability equipment at quite cheap prices. Perhaps you should look into it, ask someone at your local town hall if there is such a place in your area. Last year (2016) I suffered severe muscle pain in my right leg so bad I couldn't walk on it and the NHS wouldn't let me have any crutches which I needed and instead insisted that I make do with a lousy stick that was hopelessly inadequate but they wouldn't be told. So I went along to the local charity shop that has disability aids and I got some recycled crutches for only £8. So perhaps you could get a recycled wheelchair at somewhere similar. Also while on the subject of wheelchairs I can't help noticing that far too many of them don't have any kind of guarding over the tops of the wheels so the users must get really filthy from using them, surely this is a serious health risk and I think it should be sorted out. Surely it only needs something similar to the mudguards that are fitted on bicycles to protect wheelchair users from the filth that the wheels pick up and surely it shouldn't cost much extra to fit something so essential. So try and find a chair that has some kind of guard over the wheels if you're going to use a manual chair. Fm.
  • Lynne53
    Lynne53 Community member Posts: 52 Courageous
    I've just got to the stage where I bought a mobility scooter so that I don't feel trapped.  It's quite challenge to accept that's what you need and to be honest I haven't used it much yet, but come Spring or maybe Summer as I'm due an op,  i will be out and about on my own 
  • nanof6
    nanof6 Community member Posts: 200 Pioneering
    hi Alice , my OT  got the wheelchair service to come to me, they mesured me, i now have electric wheelchair, well most important to me some independance back.good luck, hope you get sorted.
  • nanof6
    nanof6 Community member Posts: 200 Pioneering
    oh Alice i for got to add, from the wheelchair service there chairs are serviced every year, any break down they will fix all free.
  • Sam_Alumni
    Sam_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,671 Disability Gamechanger
    You lot are awesome! Hope this helps @Alice1968
    Scope
    Senior online community officer

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