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Finally Something Good to Share


SandyCaregiver

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It certainly seems like we've all been getting our butts kicked lately, whether things in general going wrong or pet loss, or even family lost. It's been terrible here too, I've felt like I was barely keeping my head above water while treading as fast as I could. Things just kept breaking here, and things going wrong - nerves shot.

 

Well, we've lived thru those so far, and so will skip right ahead to show you Bob's new toy, Lite Rider PTC:

 

IMG_0156.jpg?t=1405479435

 

We did not go thru insurance, as his current is up in 2 weeks, and this is not medicare billable. It cost us $1600, but I see Amazon has it cheaper, but I only see the one with the solid 67lb base. I didn't apply for it sooner, for fear they'd cut his therapy if he was going to get something to ride on. Also, he can walk into a doc's office or therapy, so probably that is exactly the 50 ft requirement to not be able to get one. It's just that, he's done then, so you can't go anywhere or do anything. I got to the point where I hurt myself everytime I tried to push him in his wheelchair, so it was get it or never go anywhere. We've been doing the not going anywhere for 2 1/2 years now, and it is really old. I hope to be able to take him to flea markets and inside conventions, maybe a football game. I don't care, we had the money. and I want to do things with him while we are both still alive, tired of waiting. I do not feel he will get MORE walking ability, as each step is just too hard and unbalanced to built up to regular walking & distance of any kind. He will not use it inside, as I don't want him to lose his ability to walk from room to room with me spotting him. It is mostly to help us get out there and do things together, before we lose any more time.

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Wow, that looks pretty neat. It looks like Bob enjoys it also.

 

Larry can walk with his cane but long walks are too much. Even yesterday I had him walk from door to the Drs. office and it was a long walk for him.

 

Are you able to get this in the trunk of a car or do you have a van? It looks small enough.

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

Julie

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Sandy! I love this. And Bob sure seems to be having a good time. Gives him such freedom, Sandy. This is going to be great fun for both of you and yes - the ability to go somewhere, do something!

 

Yes, when you have time explain how you load it into a vehicle and the price was awesome.

 

I am going to have to make those same exact decisions for Bruce. Medicare will pay for some new stuff next year - the five year mark. So be sure to keep us posted.

 

Pack the suitcases, baby!

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Well, we looked into those attachements for the back of the car and it cost more than most scooters. We did look at scooters, but it was slow to get his foot around the steering pole and more cumbersome. This one he just sits straight down in it like a wheelchair. There 2 very similar models, the difference is the GP162 breaks the base apart, while the other doesn't. The heaviest part is 35lb. At first I thought I couldn't lift it the wheel base, but I was trying to lift it like a weight bar. Once I stood it on end, I lifted it easy.

 

This model has front wheels that are a little too wobbly, and can kinda start going the wrong way a little if you are on an incline and stop(probably something you get good at controlling with practice). But these are the same wheels that let you do a complete turn around with barely moving out of place, compared to trying to turn around like parking a car (back and forth, back and forth!)

 

Here's a link:

http://www.goldentec.../literider-ptc/

 

This is a video of the one that does NOT break apart into 2 sections. So in mine, the back wheels with the motor/drive thing comes off:

 

I also kept in mind that more things could and will go wrong over time, and this is so small it could easily work inside, too. I mean chairs are mostly for inside, scooters mostly for outside/doors. But scooters don't work well inside. And most places we will go will be indoors once we get there. We will do some outdoors, but he is not going to be in the seat all day traveling everywhere in it. I hope we can get out once a week, when weather is good.

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Looks great Sandy. I did consider one for Ray but the wheelchair worked fine for us.There is a lighter one I see around the shops here but don't know what the comparison is. Whatever gets you out to see the neighborhood, experience the flavours or taste the differences as one of our ads for outdoor markets says.

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Sandy, we were forced to get a power chair for Gary when it became impossible to push him around in a manual wc on carpets in our home, even though we had gone to lower carpets with no padding underneath. After 10 years, he is now on his 4th Jazzy power chair, all of them paid for out of pocket as medicare would not cover one for him with his poor vision and inability to control his good hand - it would be like putting a blind drunk behind the wheel of a car. But we use it around the house mostly to get him from room to room and to get him out to the car to load him, or take a walk around the park where he has lots of room to practice operating it. The first two I found on craigslist for $1100 each, after that I shopped longer and found brand new ones, never used or very little use for $100 and the last one $400. We use a $200 foldup ramp to get it in or out of the van, so no taking it apart, just fold down to fit and off we go. I'm so happy for you that you are now able to get out and about and enjoy life again. Sarah

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I had seen a Jazzy in the paper in a nearby city. I looked it up online and saw there was more than one version. Seems the person selling this one had no idea which it was, same as with a liftchair that was 'new'. So I didn't pursue either, since I'd have to go pretty far to see them, and I'm really stupid at driving.

 

We don't have a van, so that option was out. When we were looking at scooters, I thought of the expense for a ramp and it occurred to me if we got a different car, we'd have to pay it all over again! We have a suv, which is easier for us both to get in and out of. I had a hip problem before his stroke and found it really hard to get up and down out of my car, so enter the SUV. I can just sit my butt on the seat while standing and swing my legs in. Getting out, once my legs are out, I'm nearly standing already. So it solved a horrible problem of my own.

 

It's not idea that it is in the back and might be seen, but I have a lot of big cardboard pieces in there that I shuffle around to make it less apparent, and maybe just look like junk. The first night, Bob had trouble sleeping, because he was afraid someone would steal it and he kept asking if I was sure I locked the car. We actually live on a small lane like drive and have no crime, but it only takes one stranger to change that.

 

I wish this had a key instead of an on button. That way it would be a little more secure, maybe. You would not want to put a chair on a lift because someone could just remove it and drive it away.

 

I hope the weather is good this Saturday, and we will go to a cruise-in... not sure if that's what they call it, but close. Oh, I know what you mean about the blind drunk thing, I could never let Bob drive a scooter at the store because they were just too fast.

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Oh, here is some more info on my problem with wheelchairs. I can get his lighter weight one in and out with just a little problem. But, you THINK it is your arms doing the pushing. That isn't true for me, for sure. My arms are fixed, I'm just and extension of the chair. What is pushing it forward is when you make that movement when your heel comes off the ground and you go up on your toe, right before you let go the ground with that foot. The tendons under my outer ankle bones, feel like they are on fire AFTER being out. While doing it, I think I'm ok. Then later, it all goes ugly. 1 1/2 years ago I took him to a hotwheels show in his wheelchair. That's how long it took for the tendons to stop being on fire. I took him on a very short distance last week, and they began to hurt again. I knew _I_ also needed the help of something else, and you know the gov doesn't care about caregivers, not at all. I have to say it was nice to be able to walk beside him, rather than behind him, where everthing I say is "what? what? what?"

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Sandy :

 

I am glad you got new power chair, its so truth its better to start enjoying now with what you have. if we wait till everything works well enough to do things our present will be gone without enjoying it. So I am glad you made purchase & will get to enjoy outdoor with Bob.

 

Asha

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