Wheelchair Assessment

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Top Contributors - Naomi O'Reilly, Simisola Ajeyalemi, Kim Jackson, Rucha Gadgil, Amrita Patro and Olajumoke Ogunleye  

Introduction

Assessment is a second wheelchair service step. Information collected from the assessment will help the wheelchair service personnel and wheelchair user to;

• choose the most appropriate wheelchair from those available;
• work out what possible additional postural support may be needed;
• decide what training or support the wheelchair user family member/caregiver
• may need to use and maintain their wheelchair.
• Assessment at both basic and intermediate level is carried out in two parts:
  • Assessment Interview
  • Physical Assessment

Assessment Interview

The first part of the assessment is the assessment interview. During this part of the assessment the wheelchair service personnel gather information about the wheelchair user, which will help to identify the most appropriate wheelchair for the wheelchair user.

The assessment interview components at basic and intermediate level are very similar. These include;

• Information about the Wheelchair User;
• Physical;
• Lifestyle and Environment;
• Existing Wheelchair.

Even though the assessment interview components at basic and intermediate levels are very similar, more information is gathered at intermediate level about the wheelchair user’s diagnosis and any physical issues.

Physical Assessment

Physical assessment is the second part of the assessment. It includes:

• Identifying the presence, risk of or history of pressure sores;
• Identifying the method of pushing;
• Finding out how the wheelchair user sits and what additional postural support he or she may need through:
  • Observing sitting posture without support;
  • Carrying out a pelvis and hip posture screen. Pelvis and hip posture screening helps to understand how any problems around the pelvis or hips may be affecting the wheelchair user’s sitting posture;
  • Carrying out hand simulation. The wheelchair service personnel uses their hands to ‘simulate’ the support that a wheelchair and additional postural supports may provide; 
  • Taking Measurements.

Information from each of these sections of the intermediate wheelchair assessment form will help wheelchair service personnel to decide how much support the wheelchair user needs.

Resources

References