--- On Fri, 10/17/08, John S. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
From: John S. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Ibot To: quad-list@eskimo.com Cc: quad-list@eskimo.com Date: Friday, October 17, 2008, 2:46 PM If you have good arm and hand movement, how do you qualify for a power wheelchair? john From: Eddie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: John S. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: "quad-list@eskimo.com" <quad-list@eskimo.com> Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2008 4:14:19 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Ibot I have an IBOT it's great but u need good arm and hand movement to operate. Eddie Sent from Eddie's iPhone On Oct 16, 2008, at 1:06 PM, "John S." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Medicare is only buying Ibots for people who are close relatives of high placed bureaucrats. I only know one person who has an Ibot and he is a para that is the brother of a woman that is on the steering committee for Ohio's waiver program. They even built him a house. Depending on thew economy, they show him off or try to hide him. Since 2002 his house has privacy bushes. You need a chair that you can steer. Some chairs have a steering system that lets an aid drive it. You may want sip n puff. I don't know what you are capable of. It should have a tilt feature to shift pressure points and prevent sores. It should recline and have a padded headrest and probably a seat designed for you. Trough armrests. Footplates large enough that your toes do not hang off. A power outlet in case of need for oxygen or ventilator. (God forbid) Better to get it than to wish it was there while you turn blue. Largest batteries possible. If you do not fly, you do not need gell cell batteries. Get SLA batteries, tons more power at half the price of gells. Decide where you want to get your chair then they will walk you through the process. Be insistant about the batteries. SLA's outlast gells and provide a lot more power for longer. A Roho Quadra main seating cushion is what I recommend. I'm in the process of having an invacare tdx3 or 4 built for me. If you get the Invacare, the TDX has center wheel drive and manuvers in tight places well. The Invacare Storm is rear wheel drive and supports more weight with larger battery options, although I've only seen one size battery go in them Be sure they put in padded hip guides so your butt doesn't shift and comfortable restraint belts and foot straps, maybe arm straps. And get a MyDesc lap table. Thats all I can think of. Someone else will pick up something I missed. I find that by having my DME (wheelchair supplier) close by I usually get my chair repairs that day, but ask your local CIL, (Independant living center) which DME is best in your area and accepts Medicare/Medicaid assignments. Ask other quads or rehab places. If you get a rare and exotic chair, you will wait longer for parts. Best Wishes john ----- Original Message ---- From: Danny Espinoza <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: quad-list@eskimo.com Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2008 2:55:44 PM Subject: [QUAD-L] Ibot I need a power chair… Ive read good things about the ibot…. However all I have for insurance is medical, and recently medicare. I have doubts they would cover it just because Ive had a difficult time with them covering other basic things…. Those of you who have got one in which medical/medicare covered, could you share some pointers with along with what hoops you had to jump through? Id greatly appreciate it! Thanks in advance! I am paralyzed from the neck down for now.. Occupation before car accident - Network engineer / SR. Network security engineer Certs A+, N+, LPI, CCNA, CCNP, CCSP Broke c2,c6,c7 and doner bone at c2 TBI from blood going to central cortex from spinal cord off a vent "woohoo" however only one half of my diaphragm works right now "due to asymmetric SCI" My unfinished webpage http://spinalcordinjured.net __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
