Why Folding Electric Wheelchair Design Improves Portability for Seniors

The portability factor is common to seniors who are using electric wheelchair since it often means the difference between remaining at home and going out. The heavy and hard chair is hard to carry into a car, can never be brought up the stairs and can hardly be accommodated in small apartments. All that changes with a folding electric wheelchair. Our product at Ningbo Baichen medical devices Co.Ltd is the folding power wheelchair that is made out of aluminum, carbon fiber, steel and magnesium. There are four reasons why folding design is a dramatic improvement to the portability of seniors.

Lightweight Materials Make Lifting Effortless

Weight is the key to portability. The weight of traditional steel electric wheelchairs is 35-45 kg, which is too heavy to be moved by most seniors or their spouses. Our carbon fiber power wheelchair is as light as 60% less than our steel models, which is generally less than 18 kg with batteries. It can actually be lifted into the trunk of a car by a senior or single caregiver, using a few steps up or by navigating through a small door. Our aluminum power wheelchair (20-25 kg) is also manageable for most adults. When a wheelchair is light enough to handle easily, seniors no longer need to wait for help to go out.

Compact Folded Size Fits Any Vehicle

A light weight chair will not be portable when it is still heavy. Rigid wheelchairs are cumbersome and need a massive trunk or a special van. Our electric wheelchairs are folding, and it takes only a single movement to fold them laterally. Carbon fiber and aluminum versions can be folded to a width of only 30-40 cm, small enough to fit behind the front seats of a car, or in a corner of a trunk, or under a bed. This foldable small size allows seniors to use any family vehicle, taxi or ride share without special accommodations. Even our steel power wheelchair, which is heavier, is able to fold to an equally slender shape to fit in larger cars.

Simple One-Step Folding for Arthritic Hands

Clumsy folding schemes involving several latches or pins or other tools negate the use of a portable chair. The elderly, arthritic, and weak-handed should have a simple, user friendly design. The one step center fold design, pull a safety latch, lift the seat, and collapsing frame design of our carbon fiber and aluminum power wheelchairs. The whole procedure requires less than 10 seconds and does not involve the use of fine motor skills. To make life even easier, the elderly can opt to use a folding mobility scooter (included in our product line) that can be folded with just the touch of a button, and does not require bending, lifting, or straining.

Self-Standing Folded Position for Easy Storage

Portability considers not only the issue of transport but also what you will do with the chair once there. A wheelchair which collapses or becomes incapable of standing on its own is frustrating. The folding electric wheelchairs we have are self standing. The chair folds on itself as it has its own frames, leaning against nothing when it is folded. You can leave it in a hallway corner, behind a door or in a closet without fear of it falling over. The folded chair is also provided with locking latches to ensure that it does not unfold accidentally during lifting or transportation. This free standing design allows the seniors to keep the chair anywhere so that their living space is not cluttered and can be approached.

Summary

Folding electric wheelchairs actually improve portability for seniors through lightweight materials (carbon fiber or aluminum), compact folded sizes that fit any vehicle, simple one-step folding mechanisms for arthritic hands, as well as self-standing folded positions for easy storage. At Ningbo Baichen Medical Devices Co., Ltd., we actually manufacture carbon fiber, aluminum, magnesium, and steel folding power wheelchairs in our 20,000 m² facility. With over 120 employees and 4 assembly lines, we deliver portability you can rely on. Contact us today to find folding electric wheelchair that fits your senior lifestyle.