Sorry, this entry is only available in Deutsch.
Archive for the ‘General’ Category
(Deutsch) Haushalts Tipp
Monday, March 6th, 2017Technical Aids Tips and Tricks LVIII
Thursday, February 23rd, 2017Each person in a wheelchair knows that feeling when faced with a steep staircase in a single family home and donât know how to get up to the first floor or down to the basement, because rarely is there an elevator.
The installation of a wheelchair monorail is even possible in narrow stairwells.
Have you seen this in action?
You attach two straps of the rail on the front of the wheelchair (Rolli); at the rear you hang the rods over the two sliding handles of the Rolli.
You are pulled up by motor and float like a little angel through the stairwell ï.
The reel or track of the cable can be easily mounted in any stairwell..
You will be able to get up and down on your own by remote control.
This device is build by the Högg Company, Högglift.ch from Switzerland.
I have learned that the company LeOba in Reutlingen www.leoba.de, also builds such lifts.
He has his monorail now 8 years in use.
Translator BW
Technical Aids Tips and Tricks LVII
Tuesday, February 21st, 2017Not planned and ever so reluctant!
Thursday, February 16th, 2017Frontpage eigude wheelchair blog
WHAT A WAY TO START THE NEW YEAR 2017!
In October 2016 I had to be transported to the hospital on a stretcher, my wheelchair in tow.
For days I had been lying in that hospital bed when my wife visited and tried to take a seat in my wheelchair. It was placed as usual at the head of the bed. Strangely, it would not move despite the released brakes.
It appeared that a nurse had placed the hospital bed by accident on one of the wheelchair brakes. The brake lever extension reached about 5 cm beyond the wheelchair and must have been in the way. When we learned that the frame had been damaged and there were no more spare parts available for this old wheelchair, I was close to tears. All the special parts and modifications: Speedy Electra/Bike, Stricker Bike, Mini-Trac, Free-Wheel, mountain bike wheels and – most importantly it fit on to the loading system of my car! Not to mention all the other special equipment (see older posts). What we have been through together⊠500 blogs on the www.eigude.de by now!
There I was â dwelling on my total economic loss! After eight years we had built quite a relationship (sniff)!
Damage report was written, lots of phone calls were made. I spare you the details.
About three weeks later the clinic insurance asked to see invoices. Well, I had none because the wheelchair had been issued by my health insurance. They could not produce any papers either and since it was so old simply suggested to get a prescription for a new wheelchair. It would be handled between the insurances, nothing more required on my part.
On December 24th my first Christmas present arrived in form of a reimbursement confirmation for my supposedly new wheelchair. I was pleased!
Two weeks ago it was ready for pick-up at the sanitary supply store. We immediately switched a few parts over from the old one to the new Rolli (took 2.5 hours). The next day I already had to fill air in the tires and the day after I finally had a flat. The first flat tire in nine years!
Now look at what I have to get around with (click here).
Translator BW
Simply Great Part VIII
Tuesday, February 14th, 2017As previously reported, in October a new front door got installed (see older blog.) The new door now has a 3 cm high sill, even though it was known that I am a wheelchair user. I ordered and paid for a power remote control to open the door, but still was not able to make it to the entrance by myself. The floor at the entrance used to be leveled.
OK, this was totally my fault! How could I order an electric door opener without mentioning that I would like to leave the house once in a while, duh Contract properly fulfilled. Set six!
After only seven weeks the electrical door opener eventually started working – just in time for Christmas, yay!
Such quality work I have experienced quite often in recent years. Are there really no more professionals? Have they become an extinct species? I maintain that our former service team still consisted of highly professional people!
Since the manufacturer of the door did not provide anything to overcome the threshold (this would be unthinkable in the USA), I had to order a fitting aluminum plate on the Internet.
My former colleagues immediately agreed to prepare and drill for installation. It looks so simple, but it really isn’t. The difficulty lies in the detail. During the briefing I already felt like being back at work – before the accident in 2007; we certainly spoke the same language.
Within a week they had those plates properly installed â couldnât go/roll any better!
Never was I put off or did have to call after them – they just did it!
During the installation in record time I almost cried tears for joy! Everybody knew exactly what they were doing and they also brought the right tools along.
Thanks again, you guys are great!
You see, they are still around, those professionals! Only to find them is harder than a scavenger hunt at jungle camp.
Also many thanks to all my neighbors for their approval to allow me to do all these necessary modifications – in particular the installation of the stair lift and the rail at the house in 2008 (see older blog.)
Now I am only waiting, actually since May 2016, for a light to be installed next to the ramp at the front door. Meanwhile I have changed electricians. Maybe the âenlightenmentâ is going to happen this year ï
To read all the articles of the “Just great series” . click here.
Translator BW
Technical Aids Tips and Tricks LVI
Thursday, January 5th, 2017Wie HOW DO I (WITHOUT FINGER FUNCTION) PREVENT MY SMART PHONE FROM FALLING DOWN?
I never go anywhere without my smart phone, not even in my own apartment.
What could really happen there?
t happened a few years ago in my office that I rolled over a 220 Volt extension cord and got caught in it. The cable got wrapped around the wheels and I could not move forth or back. I was only a few centimeters away from both my phones, mobile and landline. I felt like a ship that ran aground! It took me about 2 hours to free myself. Waiting for the âfloodâ might have helped I.
Since I am not able to pick up a phone from the floor I should certainly avoid letting it fall.
When sitting in my wheelchair I always have a smart phone on a key chain around my neck. A few times I did have to dial 911.
We punched two holes in the cell phone case, one to attach the key chain and the other one to insert my index finger for support because I cannot entirely hold the phone on my own.
You all know those smart phone pockets, the ones that joggers wrap around their upper arms.
Take such a pouch and shorten the sling so it fits around your forearm.
Now you can operate your smart phone with the other hand without the risk of it falling to the floor.
Translator BW
Sunday, January 1st, 2017
Itâs all a question of hardware…!!!
Today I was on tour with my Minitrac (see older blogposts) for the first time in the snow.
With its tractor tyres it is a perfect technical aid.
Translator BL
Technical Aids Tips and Tricks LV
Tuesday, December 13th, 2016Sorry, this entry is only available in Deutsch.
Technical Aids Tips and Tricks LIX
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2016Empty detergent bottle to be used as âOne-Hand Salt Shakerâ
The topic of how to get through winter in a Rolli has been on my mind for quite a while (see earlier articles).
In one of these former articles, I advised putting salt in front of your car before the snow arrives, so that the wheelchair would not slip away while getting in and out.
I always salt my wheelchairramp (ski slope) at the front door at the same time.
One can easily imagine how “professional” it looks when a wheelchairdriver balances a bucket full of salt on his knees and tries to spread it on the driveway. This really does not work well!
One thingâs for sure, the seat cushion on the chair as well as other âsensitive partsâ will no longer freeze.;-)
After years of research the Rollinator team finally found a solution.
One-Hand Salt Shaker
(special wheelchairdriver)
The One-Hand Salt Shaker stands out with its ergonomic form, which allows the user to aim more accurately when spreading the salt using only one arm.
You can pretty much modify any empty liquid detergent bottle. However, I advise against those XXL-supersize bottles because of the excessive weight. During laboratory trials wheels burst and users got thrown out of their vehicles (just kidding).
To fill the salt shaker, a proven method is simply rolling a newspaper, advertisement, brochure etc. to make a quick funnel.
To prevent the salt shaker from dropping you could attach a key chain to the handle and hang the bottle around your neck as some sort of a trophy â but donât get strangled… !!!
The special One-Handed Salt Shaker is also 98.74 % pedestrian and walking frame user friendly.
Translator BW
Â