It is actually here!

I didn’t get around to tackling this wheelchair situation again until Monday, I just didn’t have the spoons. Over the weekend I made a plan. I decided that before I called Wheelchair Seating again, I would call my insurance company and see what if any coverage is available for the consumer grade chairs. Well, insurance said they do cover them, and their provider is National Seating and Mobility.

National Seating and Mobility has a worse reputation than Wheelchair Seating, but I called them anyway. Their phone triage recording led to voice mail that sounded like a cell phone that isn’t set up yet.

As I was making those calls, I got a text message from Wheelchair Seating that my equipment was in, and to call them.

So I called them. It was the same as ever. Yes, the computer says my chair is in. What do I do next? Wait, and Brian will call to schedule delivery. When can I expect Brian to call? They don’t know. How far out is Brian scheduling? They don’t know. Do they have a phone number for Brian? No. What is Brian’s last name? They don’t know. I said I was considering canceling, due to their terrible service, and who would I have to talk to about this? They don’t know.

It did not sound promising, but neither did National Seating and Mobility. I decided to wait a few days before escalating to Patient Relations again.

Well, on Tuesday, BRIAN CALLED! He actually called! I was stunned!

I was even more stunned when Brian asked if I was free in about an hour, for him to come.

So at 3pm Tuesday, my chair was delivered! It is here!

New wheelchair

The new wheelchair is way more comfortable than the old one, but it is also larger and heavier.

The old one had four wheels. Casters in front and driven wheels in back. The new one is what they call a mid drive or zero turn. Six wheels. The front and back wheels are casters, and the middle wheels are driven. It is sprung, such that the middle wheel maintains traction even if the casters have to bounce over something. It does really well at getting over obstacles. I took it out and drove around town, and specifically visited past trouble spots. It went over a lot of spots where the old chair had problems, and never had the slightest issue.

But there is a learning curve, to drive it! When I turn it, the pivot point is well forward from the pivot point of my old chair. The back end swings when I turn, and I keep hitting things with those rear casters. It is especially hard to back up. I will get used to it, but at this point I am slow and awkward.

I love the lifting seat and the swing away joystick. It makes a huge difference.