Caregiver Blogs:

A transport wheelchair may be a caregiver’s best friend. Designed and manufactured to be portable, a transport wheelchair is lighter than a traditional wheelchair, typically weighing under 30 pounds—those made with lightweight aluminum frames can weigh under 20 pounds. What’s more, it easily folds, allowing you to quickly place it in your car trunk and take it out for use by your loved one when you reach your destination. Because both sets of wheels are small, the transport chair is traditionally pushed by the caregiver, not the user. Transport wheelchairs have been modified and significantly improved over the years. The seat tends to be broader and can accommodate a separate cushion to add to the comfort factor when the user will be sitting for extended periods, such as on a trip to the park or mall. (You will need to take the cushion off before folding it back up.)

A quality transport wheelchair can have its own “bells and whistles,” like foot and arm rests. But one of the key variables to consider is how much weight the transport chair will need to hold and how heavy the transport chair is for the caregiver to lift in and out of the car. In general, a transport wheelchair falls into either the lightweight, standard or heavy duty category:

• The standard transport wheelchair has a weight capacity of 250-300 pounds.
• The lightweight transport wheelchair has a weight capacity of 225-300 pounds and tends to cost more, but is easier for the caregiver to push as well as lift into a vehicle.
• The heavy-duty transport wheelchair has a weight capacity of 300-450 pounds.