Where to Get a Wheelchair – Borrow, Buy & Hire

For older people who have limited or no ability to walk, wheelchairs can be life-changing. They open up a world of mobility and freedom with far fewer worries about issues like falling, which can be especially dangerous to seniors.

However, if you’re an elderly person making the decision to get a wheelchair, it can be hard to know where to obtain one. You might wonder whether they’re available through the NHS, or whether you can hire one for briefer periods.

That’s why we’re here with tips on how to get a wheelchair, including how to buy one, how to borrow one and more.

Where to get a wheelchair for free

If you’re questioning whether you can get a wheelchair, the first step should be seeking a wheelchair assessment through the NHS.

You can start the process of getting a wheelchair assessment by speaking to a medical professional like your GP or another doctor. They’ll refer you to a wheelchair service in your area. If you contact this service yourself, you could be able to get an assessment from them directly, without needing a referral. It depends on how your local service works.

The wheelchair assessment will determine what your needs are and what kind of wheelchair, if any, you need. Just as with walking aids, it’s important to get a wheelchair that suits you and fits you properly.

If you are found to be eligible, you could then get a free wheelchair through the NHS. These wheelchairs are generally given to you as a loan. In other words, you can use it as long as you need it, but it still technically belongs to the NHS. The NHS will also be responsible for maintaining the chair.

There’s also another way of getting a wheelchair with help from the NHS. That’s the personal wheelchair budget, which we’ll discuss later.

You may be able to get funding for a wheelchair through a charity, too. While there are many charities that fund wheelchairs for children, there are fewer for elderly people. It might be worth looking into funding via charities for your specific medical condition, or using the Turn2Us grant search to look for grants you’re eligible for.

Another route for getting a wheelchair could be the Access to Work scheme from the UK government. This scheme is designed to help disabled people stay in work by providing equipment or other supports needed. Unlike some other government schemes, this one doesn’t determine eligibility based on your income.

You can apply for the Access to Work scheme online or by phone.

Where to hire a wheelchair

If the NHS wheelchair services determines that you need a wheelchair, you might have to wait a few months before it arrives. You might also want to hire a wheelchair if you’re travelling and don’t want to bring your usual wheelchair, or if you just need a wheelchair for a short time.

The Red Cross is an excellent resource for hiring wheelchairs. The cost is just £22 per week in England, and you can pay £25 extra to have the chair delivered and collected.

Motability is a scheme devoted specifically to helping people access powered wheelchairs (as well as other powered resources like vans). You might be able to hire or buy a powered wheelchair through this scheme, depending on whether you meet eligibility requirements.

You can also search online to find private companies offering wheelchair hire in your area.

Where to buy a wheelchair

If you received a wheelchair assessment from the NHS and were found eligible, might then have a personal wheelchair budget, which is money for you to buy your own wheelchair. This might be useful if wheelchairs available directly through the NHS don’t meet your needs.

However, not everyone who is found eligible for a wheelchair through the assessment will also receive a personal wheelchair budget. It depends on your situation and may also depend on the policies of your local wheelchair service.

You might choose to buy a wheelchair through an NHS commissioned service, or you might buy one elsewhere. In some cases, a wheelchair purchased through the personal wheelchair budget is considered the property of the user. In other cases, it’s considered the property of the NHS.

You can also simply search online to find where to buy a wheelchair in your area. Remember, however, that it’s important to get a wheelchair that fits and suits you properly.

How SureSafe alarms help seniors who use wheelchairs

Clearly, wheelchairs can help immensely and give elderly people a greater sense of freedom. They can provide some peace of mind to seniors with serious health conditions who suffered pain when walking or worried about falling while they were walking unsteadily.

To provide even more peace of mind, a personal alarm for the elderly ensures that help will be on the way if a health crisis ever occurs. What’s more, it provides fall protection for moments when a senior is transferring from a chair to a bed or navigating tricky situations like a shower.

The key feature of many personal alarms is a one-touch button. Just as the name suggests, these buttons summon help with just one touch. That’s useful if an older person is feeling unwell and not able to navigate using a phone. Plus, an alarm that’s worn as a watch or pendant is never out of reach for an elderly person in a wheelchair.

And if a senior ever falls to the floor unconscious, an alarm with fall detection can help with that too. It senses a fall and calls for help by itself, even if the user can’t press any buttons.

SureSafe’s personal alarms provide all these functions and more. That’s just one reason why SureSafe is a UK leader in personal alarms with a 5-star rating on Trustpilot. If you use a wheelchair, or you know a senior who does, we’re here to talk about what personal alarm might be right for you or your loved one. Just give us a call on 0808 189 1671, talk to us through our live chat, or request a call back.