Wheelchair Safety Tips

As a caregiver, you will find yourself responsible for many tasks and situations that you may not have encountered in your life before, requiring skills that you may not possess already. When you find yourself in these moments, you may be wondering what is the best way to accomplish certain tasks. If your loved one requires a wheelchair as a mobility aid, assisting them with the use of it and caring for the wheelchair may be one such task.

Oftentimes we find ourselves learning about wheelchairs, and their care and operation, alongside our loved one, which means they will be unable to provide any guidance or insight as to the proper use of them. This means that ensuring their wellbeing and safety will require outside education.

Before each use, check over the wheelchair to make sure no parts are loose or damaged, particularly the tires. Ensure they aren’t loose or flat, which can impair the braking ability. Examine all the spokes to make sure none are broken, and take measures to keep objects like lap blankets from obstructing them.

One of the most common sources of wheelchair accidents is brake failure. Always test the operation of the brakes, making sure they can still lock tightly to prevent unintended movement. And always make sure to lock the brakes whenever you’re transferring a senior in or out of the chair.

For motorized wheelchairs, regularly inspect the system for proper function according to manufacturer’s instructions, and keep it out of the rain and stored away from direct sunlight. Test the speed of the unit and reprogram it for lower speeds if needed.