Chair Lifts For Stairs

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A well-functioning wheelchair is a necessity in the life, mobility, and safety of the user. Insuring that your wheelchair continues to function at peak performance requires regular maintenance, periodic adjustments, and occasional repairs. It is also important to have a familiarity with the various wheelchair parts on your chair, and their function. This article will explore some simple "do-it-yourself" repairs that you can make, and some tips and suggestions for how to do them.

First, it is important to be familiar with the wheelchair, whether manual or power, and to know about all aspects of the chair. Become familiar with each of the wheelchair parts, and learn what they do. In this way, you will know when something is not working correctly.

Always have a wheelchair repair kit available, whether at home or away. As the Boy Scouts would say, "be prepared". This simple kit can be made with items like a screwdriver, an adjustable wrench, pliers, and a tire-changing kit. In this way, whether you have wheel problems, need to tighten a bolt or screw, or possibly change a tire, you will have the tools that you need.

Now, what are some simple wheelchair repairs that you can do on your own?

* Check to see if there are any adjustable straps of the back of the wheelchair. Over time, they may become loose, and will need adjusting.

* The seat upholstery also often causes problems, as it can sag over time, affecting your posture. This can be easily fixed on some wheelchairs by removing one side from the frame, pulling the material tight, and replacing the seat once again.

* It is not unusual for there to be problems involving the caster axles. Things like hair and thread often get caught, which interfere with the regular movement of the wheelchair. Repair this easily by removing the caster using two wrenches. One is used to hold the axle bolt in place and the other to unscrew the nut. (Do not lose the 2 small spacers located on either side of the wheel.) At this point, it is fairly simple to use a damp cloth or paper towel to clean the caster, and then replace it again.

* It probably goes without saying, but: Be sure to clean your chair on a regular basis, using a microfiber cloth to clean away dust and dirt particles.

* While a number of repairs are fairly easy to do yourself, for your protection, do not try to replace any electric wheelchair part on your own.

Regular maintenance will go a long way towards keeping your wheelchair performing at it's best, and reduce the need for costly repairs. Simple repairs can be done on your own however if you don't feel you can handle preventative maintenance or repairing wheelchair parts on your own, ask a family member, friend, or neighbor to assist you.

N. Bobby was caregiver & advocate for her elderly parents for nearly ten years, and has experienced many of the challenges of adult children who care for their aging parents. She provides a learning center on caring for the elderly and disabled at Aging Parent Conversations. Before you replace any wheelchair parts, learn more about easy wheelchair parts repair.

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Tags: aging, disability, eldercare, handicapped, Health, medical equipment, mobile scooter, wheel chair stair lift, Wheelchair, wheelchair parts, wheelchair repair, wheelchair vehicle, wheelchairs

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