Thinking of Purchasing a New Accessible Vehicle? Read this First.

As the number of people with disabilities keeps accelerating, so do the number of new companies that cater to them with newly engineered equipment and vehicles.

Normally a wider selection of products is good news for the consumer. However, be cautious, as new products don’t have a history of quality, reliability, durability and service. And if that product or vehicle is sold only over the Internet, a red flag should go up. The Internet is awash in marketing claims that you can’t test before paying.

Savvy consumers do not feel comfortable forking out thousands of dollars on an untried concept that is just entering the market – and rightly so.

Aside from the obvious considerations of safety, comfort and satisfaction of your unique needs, there is vital information to know before signing on the dotted line.

Getting it repaired

Are service places conveniently located everywhere?

If you purchase the vehicle and equipment online, where do you take it to be repaired without voiding the warranties? Hopefully in the same town, but that’s not always so.

Ask the company for a list of repair sites for that particular vehicle and adaptive equipment before getting to the purchasing process.

Fuel and space

• How’s the fuel economy? Compare it to others on the market. Fuel prices aren’t going down any time soon.
• How much real space is there? Options and add-ons may reduce the amount of space for seating or wheelchair maneuverability.

Get help from professionals

To feel more confident about any accessible or adaptive purchase, make sure the new vehicle company works with or is a member of the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) and/or the Association of Driver Rehabilitation Specialists (ADED), whose members typically work with a wheelchair user and a prospective vehicle for the best fit.

After all, you want your vehicle to fit your needs perfectly.

This mobility safety update has been brought to you by NMEDA – the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association. Need some information on how to make your vehicle wheelchair accessible or upgraded with the latest and most convenient features? Contact a NMEDA dealer in your local area. Your local NMEDA member is a mobility equipment and accessibility expert!

Caregivers: Taking Care of the Aging Adult

It is sometimes enriching and sometimes challenging to be the caregiver of elderly parents. It takes love and patience – plus many available resources.

Once you know how to physically care for your loved one, it is time to prepare for other possible needs, including your own.

PREPARATION

• Make sure you know your parents’ date of birth and Social Security number and have a copy of their Medicare cards.
• Know your parents’ insurance details plus their physicians’ names and phone numbers.
• Have a list of all medications (prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, nutritional supplements, vitamins), dosage amounts and what time they take them. Take this list to every medical appointment.
• Know the health history of major illness and medical conditions for your parents and their siblings.
• If transporting them is a problem, you may need to make your vehicle more accessible to the elderly. Having the proper equipment can help prevent injury to you and the person you are transporting. Lifts, ramps and wheelchair carriers are just a few.

RESPITE FOR YOU

As a caregiver, it is easy to become overwhelmed, caregiver stress and burnout are common. As hard as we try, we can’t always do everything ourselves.

If family members can’t help, call Eldercare Locator, a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging. It finds local agencies in every U.S. community that can help seniors and their family’s access home and community-based services like transportation, meals, home care, and caregiver support services. Call 800-677-1116 or visit www.eldercare.gov.

Consider hiring a care manager. These professionals are trained to quickly assess the overall situation, make recommendations about needed services and, if necessary, coordinate community resources and hire and manage paid caregivers. Start with the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers. The website www.caremanagers.org (phone 520-881-8008) includes a locator to find care managers near your loved one, plus great tips on hiring an in-home caregiver.

You want the best care possible for your loved ones. And that starts with taking care of yourself.

This mobility safety update has been brought to you by NMEDA – the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association. Need some information on how to make your vehicle wheelchair accessible or upgraded with the latest and most convenient features? Contact a NMEDA dealer in your local area. Your local NMEDA member is a mobility equipment and accessibility expert!