There are instances where wheel chair rental will make more sense than buying
a wheel chair or even when you have your own chair you might need to rent one
occasionally.
People, who are not confined to a wheel chair, but have
difficulty walking and usually use a cane or walker, would find
that a wheel chair is more convenient for going out. Travelling
or visiting a resort such as Disney World would be much easier
in a wheel chair. Some resorts have wheel chairs available that
can be rented for a day or for as long as you would need it.
Rental companies are available where you can rent wheel chairs
for specific periods of time. The longer the rental period the
more affordable the price will be.
Even people with their own
wheel chairs might occasionally find it necessary to rent a
wheel chair. Many times when travelling to another country it
will be easier to travel without your own wheel chair and just
rent one on arrival.
There are good reasons for this:
• A
wheel chair can be damaged by the airport workers who handle the
baggage. Airline or airport damage liability might be much less
than what your wheel chair is worth.
• Your wheel chair might
be too wide to easily fit through door openings. In Europe, for
instance, wheel chairs are shorter and narrower than those in
the USA, for this reason.
• Plugs and power sockets vary
considerably from country to country and there is a good chance
that you will need an adapter for your power operated wheel
chair. In the USA 110 volts is standard, but in most other
countries it is 220 volts.
• Finding parts for your specific
wheel chair can be a problem in another country which will
result in you having to rent a wheel chair if yours breaks down
while you are travelling.
• You will have the convenience of a
wheel chair that is adapted to the needs of the country you are
in, without having to worry about transporting your own wheel
chair or arriving with your own wheel chair just to find out you
won’t be able to use it and have to rent one in any case.
When
renting a wheel chair there are a few things you need to
consider:
• Make sure you rent from a reputable company. Cheap
rentals might end in frustration and work out more expensive in
the end.
• Find out about the company’s policy regarding
break-downs and delivery.
• Make sure you understand how to
operate the wheel chair and check that all the parts are intact
and working.
• Have everything on paper and take the time to
read instructions and policies carefully or you might end up
being liable for damages or other costs.
• If you need
accessories such as cushions or trays find out if that is
included in the rental or what the additional costs will be.
Renting wheel chairs can be a convenient option in many
situation to make your travelling and life in general more
comfortable.
