Archive for February, 2017

Technical Aids Tips and Tricks LVIII

Thursday, February 23rd, 2017

Frontpage

Each person in a wheelchair knows that feeling when faced with a steep staircase in a single family home and don’t 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 .

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, 2017

Sorry, this entry is only available in 中文 and Deutsch.

Not planned and ever so reluctant!

Thursday, February 16th, 2017

Frontpage 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 – 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, 2017

Frontpage

As 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 – couldn’t 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 “enlightenment” is going to happen this year 

To read all the articles of the “Just great series” . click here.

Translator BW