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The earliest records of wheeled furniture are an inscription found on a stone slate in China and a child’s bed depicted in a frieze on a Greek vase, both dating to the 5th century BC. The first records of wheeled seats being used for transporting disabled people date to three centuries later in China. The invalid carriage or Bath Chair brought the technology into more common use from around 1760. In 1887, wheelchairs (“rolling chairs”) were introduced in Atlantic City so invalid tourists could rent them to enjoy the Boardwalk.

In 1933 Harry Jennings and his disabled friend, Herbert Everest, both mechanical engineers, invented the first lightweight, steel, collapsible wheelchair. Everest and Jennings saw the business potential of the invention and went on to become the first mass-market manufacturers of wheelchairs. Their “x-brace” design is still in common use, albeit with updated materials and other improvements.

Today, there are a wide variety of types of wheelchair, differing by propulsion method, mechanisms of control, and technology used. Some wheelchairs are designed for general everyday use, others for single activities, or to address specific access needs. Lately, wheelchairs have morphed more into ‘personal mobility vehicles’ for disabled people who want to do more in their lives or have particular mobility challenges.

Here are some of the latest, innovative wheelchair designs whose purpose is to take personal mobility for the disabled to the next level:

• The PUMA (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility) applies the same technology as the famous segway personal transportation vehicle, which requires the rider to stand. Two self-balancing electric motor wheels, as well as a specialized gyroscope, keep everything steady. The PUMA is powered by lithium batteries and can cover up to 35 miles on one charge.
• The CARRIER wheelchair was specially designed to achieve maximum user independence and to travel over all types of terrains, including stairs. Another advantage is that the design allows users to go to the toilet without getting off the chair, thus saving them the trouble of having to lift themselves off to move to the toilet and back each time.
• The WISB hand-bike is a concept developed as a cross between a wheelchair and a sports bike, giving the users the option of choosing between an indoor ‘low’ mode and an outdoors ‘high’ mode for longer distances.
• Japanese designer Mauricio Maeda’s wheelchair includes a computer case under the seat, a joystick for movement, a track ball, keyboard, monitor, speakers, wireless headset, a webcam, a drink holder, a stereo sound device behind the seat, a power source on back, and a remote control.
• The MOUNTAIN TRIKE is an all terrain wheelchair that allows users to venture out into the countryside.
• The ROTA mobility chair is actuality a human-powered scooter that can be moved (or ‘rowed’) by using a central lever.
• The TANK CHAIR is a specialized wheelchair for all terrains. It can cross streams, and drive on sand, snow, or mud.
• The TANDEM is perhaps the only wheelchair that was designed to give someone else a ride.This design aims to remove the stigma of a wheelchair user as someone who requires help, and instead gives the user the power of being the one giving the help.
• The CURSUM STROLLER for wheelchair users allows handicapped parents to still take their baby out for strolls.

In addition, there are some new concept, robotic wheelchairs now being developed by teams of students and researchers. They include:

• A solar-powered wheelchair that has a retractable roof with solar panels embedded on top of it has been designed by students from University of Virginia’s School of Engineering and Applied Science.
• A team led by Shuro Nakajima at the Chiba Institute of Technology has created a robotic wheelchair that can climb up or descend down the stairs, and make 360 turns for ultra-mobility in tight spaces.
• Researchers at the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne have developed a brain-controlled, robotic wheelchair that uses shared control to navigate. The rider’s brain signals are translated into commands and this moves the wheelchair in the desired direction without even moving the hands.
• Engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed an assistive technology called the Tongue Drive system. It requires the implanting of small magnets, the size of a rice grain, into the rider’s tongue. The movement of the tongue is detected by an array of magnetic field sensors mounted on a headset outside the mouth or on an orthodontic brace inside the mouth, which then directs the chair’s movements.

Wheelchair design continues to evolve, making life easier and more enjoyable for wheelchair users. At Pacific Mobility, we can give you all of the specifics and help you decide if a new wheelchair is right for you. Call us, today, or visit us, for a free consultation.

When it comes to wheel chair accessibility, something as simple as operating a door can prove to be an obstacle. Automatic door opener systems can provide independent wheelchair access for homes and public places. Indeed, for anyone with limited mobility, due to age or physical disability, an automatic door opener can make life a lot more manageable.

Away from home, automatic doors allow businesses to welcome everyone entering and exiting, regardless of their physical capabilities. Also, the Americans with Disabilities Act mandated that public places install automatic doors in order to provide access to those with mobility challenges.

The main difference between a commercial handicap door opener and a residential automatic door opener is size and functionality. A personal use opener is usually smaller and lighter in construction; automatic door openers in public applications need to stand up to a lot more use and are designed to be a lot more durable. In both applications, however, these openers are either installed on the door itself or on the jamb above the door.

When correctly installed in the home, a residential door opener turns most swinging doors into an automatic door that can be controlled by the push of a button on a wall switch, a coded key pad, or a hand held transmitter similar to a garage door remote control unit. In addition, automatic door opener devices can be customized to meet specific needs.

For example, the actuator, or on-off switch, can be installed in a variety of places for easy access. Automatic door openers allow adjustable hold-open time, and usually come with an auto-close feature. Neither the door nor the door jamb needs to be modified in order to install an automatic door opener, and they will fit in most rooms, regardless of the type and size of the room or door.

The main drawback of an automatic door is that, because it runs on electricity, if the power goes out, or if the batteries on the remote switch wear down, the automatic door becomes a manual door, again. Also, some openers require set-up which involves working with electrical wires, so a professional may need to be hired for their installation. However, these slight disadvantages are easy to address.

The good news is that automatic door openers are a great tool for creating a more independent lifestyle. For more information and expert advice, contact the pros at Pacific Mobility. We are here to assist you in the purchase, installation, and maintenance of your automatic door opener.

In the coming decades, increasing life expectancy, a declining birth rate, and the aging of the baby boom generation will dramatically increase the number and proportion of the U.S. population over the age of 65.

Most seniors indicate that they would prefer to age in place – either staying in their current home or choosing from a range of affordable, age-appropriate housing options within their community. To make these options viable, builders will increasingly have to build and adapt homes and communities to meet the changing needs of aging residents.

With this growing cohort dominating the country’s wealth, designing homes for the over-50 buyer will become more important than ever and could drive housing trends for the years to come. And, in addition to the demands of the marketplace, a combination of public policies, and public and private strategic initiatives, is seeking to meet the health and housing needs of the rising senior population with explicit support for the aging in place concept.

For example, the U.S.Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program provides capital advances to finance the construction, rehabilitation, or acquisition of structures that will serve as supportive housing for very low-income elderly persons, including the frail elderly, and provides rent subsidies for the projects to help make them affordable.Similarly, Section 231 of the National Housing Act allows HUD to insure mortgage loans for construction or rehabilitation of rental housing for elderly and disabled renters.

To promote the adoption of accessible design principles in the private market, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) created a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist program that trains and certifies housing professionals in aging-friendly design, and the Andrus Gerontology Center at the University of Southern California offers an Executive Certificate in Home Modification.

Already, builders are beginning to construct homes that incorporate features for aging adults, including:

• A side-door entrance with no steps to offer an accessible entrance without a ramp or lift in front.
• Sinks and vanity cabinets that are positioned at 36- and 32-inch heights, with sink cabinet doors and thresholds which can be removed to provide wheelchair access.
• A toilet that is set in a larger space for wheelchair access.
• A barrier-free shower with grab bars and a seat for better safety.
• A first-floor bedroom which provides the option for one-level living and can also act as a home office or other space if not needed as a bedroom.
• Hard-surface flooring to provide easier mobility for anyone using a wheelchair or assistive device.
• A peninsula counter-top in the kitchen that is set 30 inches high to offer both a sitting area for light meals as well as a lowered work surface where a cook or helper can sit instead of stand.
• Storage for everyday items at reachable heights with several easy-access drawers with cabinet pulls, which are easier to grip than smaller cabinet knobs.
• A roomy garage to provide enough space for easily getting into and out of a vehicle.
• Staircases that have handrails, ideally one on each side.
• Motion sensors that provide hands-free lighting.
• For those who can afford it, an elevator built into first- and second-floor closets.

Whether these modifications are accomplished through retrofitting older homes or designing accessible new homes, aging-friendly modifications can adapt to people’s changing needs, allowing them to age in their homes more successfully. And smart builders will make building homes for aging in place, a priority.

You don’t need to be a celebrity to benefit from the highest-quality products for home care, mobility and accessibility! While famous people with disabilities can often afford custom-fabricated equipment, the staff at Pacific Mobility, Inc. provides the customized solutions and attention-to-detail that customers deserve. We often look to the stories of well-known personalities to better understand the challenges that face our clients. A great resource for staying connected are the social media profiles of celebrities with disabilities. Learning about the ways they have overcome their disabilities can be motivating to those who people with physical limitations themselves. Here are seven physically-challenged people well worth following online:

Stephen Hawking is an internationally renowned physicist. He has lived with MND (Motor Neuron Disease) for more than 40 years. Doctors told him he wouldn’t live two years beyond the age of 21 when he was diagnosed with ALS, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He is unable to talk, breathe easy, walk and hold up his head in an upright position.

Sue Austin is a British artist who has been using a wheelchair for two decades due to an extended illness. Doctors informed her of her limitations but she pushed forward and now inspires people around the world as she scuba dives with her innovative underwater wheelchair creating beautiful visual art.

Nick Vujicic is a best-selling author and well-known motivational speaker. He has tetra-amelia syndrome, which means he was born with no limbs.

Santina Muha is an actress, writer, host, public speaker, comic, and media consultant. She was involved in a car accident at the age of five that left her paralyzed.

John Hockenberry is a Peabody and Emmy Award winning journalist and author. He has been using a wheelchair since age 19, when he suffered a spinal cord injury in a car accident.

Tatyana McFadden is a Russian-born United States Paralympian athlete that competes in the T54 category. She has attended multiple Summer Paralympic Games and has won 10 medals.

Itzhak Perlman is a Israeli-American violinist and conductor. His legs were paralyzed permanently when he was four years old due to polio.

Not only are we certified by the top industry organizations, we have also been recognized as one of the best in San Diego and Orange counties for uniquely personal service! Read our ratings and reviews to learn more about how well we treat our clients!

As an individual ages, muscles become weaker, coordination more problematic, and reaction times tend to lag. For some elderly people, the inability to retain one’s sense of balance can presage a dangerous situation – one in three adults 65 and older falls each year and older adults are hospitalized for fall-related injuries five times more often than they are for injuries from other causes.

For these older adults, common-sense ways to prevent falls abound. For getting around, a cane or a walker can help steady one’s gait and add leverage for getting up and sitting down. When balance issues become severe, a wheelchair may be employed, greatly reducing the chances of a sudden fall. Seniors who have mobility challenges while living in a multi-story home should investigate the possibilities of installing a stairlift.

There are many ways in which home modifications can also prevent the type of accident due to decreased strength and poor balance. Handrails are wall fixtures that provide support and stability. When properly mounted, they are able to bear the weight of a person when walking, rising, bending over, or standing up. They can be installed in any number of areas in the home, including: on the staircase, alongside the bed, near living-room furniture, in the kitchen, and even in the garage where a handrail can be reached through an open car door.

Bathrooms are particularly dangerous places. Up to 80 percent of falls in the home are in the bathroom. While anyone can stumble and fall in the bathroom, having poor muscle strength and balance is strongly associated with increased risk. Most falls occur while:
• Getting in and out of the tub or showers
• Sitting down and getting up from the toilet, and
• Walking and attempting to use towel bars, sink tops or other objects to support balance.

In addition, there are certain environmental features or hazards that add to the risk of falling. These include:
• Insufficiently secured towel racks that could fall when gripped for support
• Shower chairs that are not slip resistant
• Bathtubs that are difficult to step into and out of
• Sliding shower doors that could move unexpectedly when entering and exiting the tub
• Slippery bathtub and shower floor surfaces
• Slippery floor tiles, especially when wet, and
• Low toilets heights that are difficult to get up from easily.

Luckily, bathrooms can be modified to decrease the risk of accident. Grab bars added to the bathroom provide a great measure of safety. They can be installed above the bathtub, in the shower cubicle and just outside it, next to the wash basin, and beside the toilet. Other bathroom modifications include: bath benches and shower chairs, raised toilet seats, and in some cases more complex bath lifts and bathroom transfer systems.

Seniors with balance issues should also consider investing in better lighting throughout their homes, and especially on their staircases. Poorly lit areas make it harder for individuals to distinguish where steps start and end and this can lead to insecure footing, causing falls or slips.

Another way to prevent falls is to make sure that all rugs in the house are slip-proofed by having them secured to the floor with double-sided tape. In addition, seniors who are prone to falling because of poor balance or weak muscles should always wear rubber-soled, low-heeled shows that fully support their weight. Wearing only socks or smooth-soled shoes on stairs or waxed floors can be unsafe.

At Pacific Mobility, we not only have the best products available, we have the experience and expertise to help you address your mobility challenges based on your individual needs and within your budget. Call or visit us today and we will be happy to serve you.

A power lift chair can be an extremely helpful accessory for people whose mobility challenges make it difficult for them to rise out of a chair from a sitting position, or to sit down from a standing one due to pain or lack of muscle strength. A power lift chair is a particularly beneficial purchase for the home that seniors with mobility issues can use to retain their independence while remaining in their homes. They also help provide safety and convenience for nurses, family members, and other caregivers, who risk injury from assisting those who need help getting up from a sitting position or returning to one.

A power lift chair is constructed like a traditional recliner with the added feature of a powerful electric motor located (single & dual options available) in its base which is connected to hand controls that allow its user to manage the speed and angle of the lifting mechanism. Most power lift chairs can achieve all the positions available on the best recliners.

Three basic power lift chair styles are the two-position chair, the three-position chair, and the infinite position chair. The two-position lift chair is built to recline as much as 45 degrees. It is designed for the casual user and is not ideal for napping, or prolonged periods of sitting. The three-position lift chair reclines to an almost flat angle, which more closely mimics the range of a standard recliner. It is a better alternative for those who intend to nap while in it. The infinite-position lift chair is the most expensive type, but a good choice for a person who will be spending a lot of time sitting or lying in it. It generally offers more comfort and therapeutic options, such as dual motors which allow the footrest and the seat back to move independently, and a greater range and combination of positions. Typically the infinite position chairs all user to lay in Trendelenburg Position (heart below lower extremities) which is very helpful in eliminating swelling in the legs.

In choosing the most appropriate model, an individual will have to consider not only his or her mobility needs and functionality requirements, but also such things as price, number of positions the chair offers, specialty features such as heat and/or massage, and how and where the chair will fit in the home. A critical consideration is the weight and height of the individual. Most power lift chairs can support over 300 pounds. A person’s height is important because the distance that the chair needs to lift off of the ground to facilitate a safe and pain-free exit is based on the height of its intended user.

At Pacific Mobility, our experts can help you determine which power lift chair will be the best one to meet your needs while fitting your budget. Our chairs come in a wide variety of styles, fabrics, colors, and advanced features. Come and visit or contact us today.