Heavy duty electric wheelchairs offer convenience, independence and security for those who need a wheelchair to get around. By offering these to your patients or residents, you can assist your patients with a wider range of needs and feel good offering them the security they need without limiting their movement.

Heavy duty wheelchairs come in a large variety of materials, styles and features including titanium, electric, additional accessories and sport style heavy duty wheelchair. When determining the right heavy duty power wheelchairs for your assisted living facility or medical rental business, you should:

1. Survey your clients and patients to learn what features and accessories they would find most useful in heavy duty powerchairs that you would make available to them.

2. Purchase motorized heavy duty wheelchairs meeting your identified specifications from reputable manufacturers and distributors.

3. Look for expansive warranties, solid return policies and flexible financing options when considering heavy duty electric wheelchairs for sale.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Decide on the features and accessories you want for the motorized heavy duty wheelchair

There are many different materials, features and accessories available for a heavy duty power wheelchair you can purchase. This includes titanium (for strength), light weight (for easier portability by the user) and baskets or bags (for carrying items, such as groceries). The heavy duty powerchair could be either electric powered or manual, so you might choose to have a couple of each to meet the different needs of your patients.

I recommend: Join the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) to talk with other members and ask about the heavy duty wheelchairs they offer and the honest truth about quality, price and ease of use. Also, consider talking with a medical professional about the types of folding wheelchairs that are best physically for the patients and residents. Whirlwind Wheelchairs offers an extensive guide for matching the patients' specific needs to the perfect heavy duty power wheelchairs.

Purchase heavy duty electric wheelchairs from reputable, proven manufacturers or distributors

When looking to buy heavy duty electric wheelchairs from a reputable company that manufactures or distributes them, find heavy duty power wheel chair suppliers that have been in business a long time, keep up with wheelchair technology and industry and have great references.

I recommend: Colours Wheelchair manufacturers offer wheelchairs designed for rugged outdoor use. These are generally custom-made for athletes, but they also offer a selection of everyday and children's chairs. Also, check out their extensive accessories area. 1800wheelchairs offers a couple of different heavy duty models that handle up to 450 pounds.

Look for expansive warranties, solid return policies and flexible financing options

When you find the wheelchair styles and accessories you want, it's time to take a look at the pricing, warranties and policies. You want a company that covers damage repairs and offers the parts needed for the repair. You also want a test time during which you can return the chair if it isn't going to work for the user. Remember, heavy duty powerchairs are not cheap, especially if you need more than one, so unless you have equipment start-up money in the bank, you will most likely need financing.

I recommend: Drive Medical Design & Manufacturing produces a large variety of motorized heavy duty wheelchairs offered through a variety of dealers, so you can find a local representative, which saves on time and shipping costs. Hoveround is one of the most well-known names in power wheelchairs and offers many financing options as well as a representative to come out and show you how the chair works. They also offer an extensive warranty and in-house service center.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider having a representative from the folding wheelchair manufacturer train your staff and patients on how to properly use and fold the wheelchair.