What Is It Like to Own an Elevating Power Wheelchair?

You May Use the Elevation More Than You Expect

Before owning an elevating chair, it's easy to imagine using the feature only occasionally.

In reality, there are many situations where additional seat height can be useful.

Around the home, you might elevate to reach a kitchen counter or cabinet. At a store, additional height may help when looking at merchandise or interacting at a counter. During a conversation, you may simply prefer being closer to eye level with someone who's standing.

Once elevation becomes part of the chair, it can become another everyday adjustment rather than a feature reserved for special occasions.

The Kitchen Is Where Elevation Really Makes Sense

Kitchens are largely designed around standing adults.

Countertops, cabinets, microwaves, refrigerators, and storage areas can all present challenges from a traditional seated position.

An elevating wheelchair can bring the user closer to countertop height and improve access to some everyday areas.

It won't make every cabinet or appliance accessible, and the wheelchair still needs enough space to approach the work area, but this is one environment where the practical value of adjustable seat height becomes very easy to understand.

Being Closer to Eye Level Feels Different

One of the less technical benefits is social interaction.

Wheelchair users frequently communicate with people who are standing. That can mean spending a lot of time looking upward.

Power seat elevation allows the user to move closer to the height of the people around them.

That can be useful when talking with family, shopping, attending events, working with coworkers, or simply having a conversation with someone who's standing.

It's difficult to measure this benefit on a specification sheet, but it can be an important part of the ownership experience.

Driving While Elevated Can Be Very Useful

Some elevating power wheelchairs allow you to continue driving with the seat raised.

This can make the elevation feature considerably more practical.

Imagine working along a kitchen counter. If the chair couldn't move while elevated, you might have to raise the seat, complete one task, lower the seat, move several feet, and raise it again.

A chair designed to drive while elevated can eliminate some of that repetition.

However, elevated driving capabilities vary considerably between models.

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding speed, slopes, terrain, and where the wheelchair can safely be operated while elevated.

The Chair Is Still a Full Size Power Wheelchair

This is something buyers should understand from the beginning.

An elevating power wheelchair is generally very different from a lightweight folding power chair or portable travel scooter.

You're getting a substantial power base, motors, batteries, seating, suspension, electronics, and the mechanism required to raise the seating system.

That provides stability, comfort, and functionality, but it also means you're dealing with a larger and heavier mobility device.

Before purchasing, think about your:

Doorways
Hallways
Bedroom
Bathroom
Kitchen
Storage area
Vehicle

Measure the spaces you expect to use regularly. A wheelchair that looks compact in a showroom or photograph can feel very different in a narrow hallway at home.

Transportation Is One of the Biggest Considerations

This may be the most overlooked part of owning an elevating power wheelchair.

Most full size elevating power chairs aren't designed to be disassembled and placed into the trunk of an ordinary passenger car.

Transportation may require:

A vehicle mounted power lift
A platform lift
A wheelchair accessible van
A ramp equipped vehicle
Accessible public transportation

If you frequently travel by vehicle, figure out how you'll transport the wheelchair before purchasing it. Don't wait until the chair arrives to discover that your vehicle can't accommodate it.

For some buyers, transportation becomes just as important as range, speed, or seat elevation.

Charging Becomes Part of Your Routine

Like any power wheelchair, an elevating chair depends on its batteries.

Charging should become a normal part of ownership.

Follow the charging instructions provided by the wheelchair manufacturer. Battery care can have a significant effect on driving range and overall battery life.

If the chair isn't used regularly, don't simply park it for months and forget about the batteries. Long periods without proper charging can damage batteries and eventually leave the wheelchair unable to operate reliably.

There's More to Maintain Than on a Manual Wheelchair

An elevating power wheelchair is a sophisticated mobility device.

In addition to the normal components found on a power chair, it has a powered elevation mechanism and the electronics necessary to control it.

Routine ownership may involve checking:

Tires
Batteries
Electrical connections
Joystick operation
Brakes
Seating components
Armrests
Positioning equipment
Elevation operation

Most owners won't be performing major repairs themselves. The important thing is noticing changes in how the chair operates and addressing them before a small problem becomes a larger one.

What Happens if the Elevation System Needs Service?

This is a good question to ask before purchasing.

Power seat elevation adds another powered system to the wheelchair. Like any mechanical or electrical component, it may eventually require adjustment or repair.

That's one reason parts availability and service support matter when choosing a power wheelchair.

Ask who services the chair, how replacement parts are obtained, and what warranty coverage applies to the seating and elevation components.

A power wheelchair is something you may depend on every day. Serviceability matters.

Outdoor Use Requires Realistic Expectations

Many full size power wheelchairs can handle sidewalks, parking lots, paved paths, and other everyday outdoor surfaces.

That doesn't mean every elevating power wheelchair is designed for rough terrain.

Grass, gravel, steep inclines, mud, uneven trails, and large surface transitions can present very different challenges.

Also remember that a wheelchair's capabilities while the seat is lowered may be different from its capabilities while elevated. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for elevated operation.

Range Numbers Aren't Guarantees

Manufacturers publish estimated driving ranges, but real world range can vary.

Factors that affect range include:

User weight
Terrain
Hills
Temperature
Battery condition
Tire condition
Driving style
Frequent starts and stops

It's usually better to think of published range as a comparison tool rather than a promise of exactly how many miles you'll travel every day.

Comfort Matters More Than You Might Think

When shopping for a power wheelchair, people naturally focus on technology.

But if you're going to spend hours sitting in the chair, seating comfort can be just as important as the elevation system.

Pay attention to:

Seat width
Seat depth
Cushioning
Backrest support
Armrest adjustment
Headrest
Footplate position
Seat to floor height

A fantastic elevation system doesn't make up for a seat that doesn't fit the user properly.

The Best Feature May Be Having Choices

One of the biggest advantages of power seat elevation is that it gives the user another way to adapt the wheelchair to the situation.

Need to reach something? Raise the seat. Want to speak with someone closer to eye level? Raise the seat. Need normal driving height? Lower it again.

Instead of remaining at one fixed seated height throughout the day, the wheelchair can adapt to different environments. That's really the heart of power seat elevation.

Things to Think About Before Buying

Before purchasing an elevating power wheelchair, ask yourself:

Will it fit comfortably inside my home?
Can I maneuver through my most frequently used rooms?
How will I transport it?
Where will I charge it?
Who can service it?
Can it drive while elevated?
How fast can it drive while elevated?
What surfaces will I use it on?
Is the seat comfortable for extended use?
How much elevation do I actually need?

The answers can tell you much more than simply comparing top speed and driving range.

Final Thoughts

Owning an elevating power wheelchair can provide a level of flexibility that a fixed height power chair simply can't offer.

The ability to raise your seated position can improve access to everyday surfaces, change how you interact with other people, and make certain activities easier.

But elevation is only one part of the ownership experience.

Size, weight, transportation, charging, comfort, maintenance, serviceability, maneuverability, and everyday driving all matter too.

The best elevating power wheelchair isn't necessarily the one that raises the highest or has the longest list of features. It's the chair that fits your home, your transportation, your daily routine, and the way you want to use it.

Ready to find the right elevating power wheelchair? Browse our full selection of elevating power wheelchairs or contact us for a personalized recommendation.