How Power Wheels Transformed Christel’s Life

2024-11-12
Reading time: 15 min.

Play video

Table of Contents

Christel’s Journey

Christel is a 68-year-old woman who has been living with rheumatoid arthritis for more than 30 years. Her journey started in 1993 with swelling and pain in her hands and feet. The disease soon spread to her knees, hips, shoulders, wrists, and spine.

It’s been a tough and lengthy road, filled with so many surgeries and procedures that Christel has lost count. Over time, she has experienced worsening symptoms and increasing limitations in her everyday life, especially with the pain that flares up in the mornings.

25 Fractures in a Single Year

Nowadays, Christel uses a wheelchair due to chronic pain and arthritis. In recent years, a new diagnosis has also drastically affected her daily life.

In 2022, Christel was diagnosed with osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones, increasing the risk of fractures. This had a serious impact on her life, as she endured 25 fractures in just one year.

To help avoid future injuries, Christel needed a solution, and the answer came in the form of a VELA Chair with Power Wheels.

The Difference Between a Wheelchair and a VELA Chair with Power Wheels

When Christel goes out, she uses either a manual or an electric wheelchair. Without her VELA Independence Chair with Power Wheels, she would be dependent on her wheelchair indoors as well. But with the VELA Chair, Christel has more freedom and flexibility inside her home.

Despite her severe disability, it’s not immediately obvious when visiting Christel’s beautifully decorated home. She lives in an accessible, one-story house, but nothing in the layout suggests that she uses assistive devices.

Her home is full of color, art, and life, arranged just the way she likes it. This is possible because she can navigate her home effortlessly in her VELA Independence Chair with Power Wheels.

I wouldn’t be able to do that with my electric wheelchair—it’s just too big,” Christel explains.

While she can no longer cook by herself, Christel loves being in the kitchen. Using her VELA Chair, she can move around and assist her caregivers, whom she lovingly calls “the girls,” when preparing meals.

I can roll into the kitchen, direct things, taste the food, and really be a part of it. The wheelchair would just get in the way,” she says.

At the dining table, Christel’s VELA Chair allows her to sit comfortably with her guests, making her feel included again.

I’m part of the conversation now. When I was in my electric wheelchair, I felt left out. Now I can join in fully, she shares.

Even when it comes to wrapping Christmas presents, Christel gets involved.

I sat next to my helper while she wrapped the gifts and felt like I was the one doing it. I’m still part of my life.”

Even In the bathroom, where a vanity unit has been removed, Christel can roll right up to the sink in her VELA Independence Chair and brush her teeth. She gets visibly emotional when describing how much it means to be able to do these everyday tasks on her own.

It means so much. You might not think it, but it does. It makes me feel human again. You get put in a box when you lose the ability to do things. I used to be able to do everything, and suddenly, I needed help with even the smallest tasks. So, it really means the world to me.”

Explore Power Wheels Benefits

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects the joints, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. It most often affects the hands, feet, and wrists but can impact any joint in the body.²

Symptoms can develop slowly over time and vary from person to person. Common symptoms include joint pain, fatigue, and stiffness, which can be unpredictable and affect daily life.³

What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis, which means “porous bones,” is a condition where the bones become weak and brittle. This can happen when bone density decreases, or the bone structure changes, increasing the risk of fractures.

Typically, there are no symptoms with osteoporosis, and many people only discover the disease when they spontaneously or with minimal stress break a bone. Fractures can occur in any bone but are most common in the hip, spinal vertebrae, and wrists.^1,4

24-Hour Assistance

Christel now relies on a personal care program, ensuring she has round-the-clock help. This is essential, as she depends on daily support. She cannot walk or stand, and her arthritis severely affects her shoulders, wrists, and fingers, making simple tasks—like taking a sip of water—difficult.

Even though there is a lot she can no longer do, Christel focuses on what she still can. She retains the ability to transfer herself, meaning she can stand from her VELA Chair for short moments and move to her armchair.

Thanks to the Power Wheels on her chair, Christel can move herself to her armchair safely and independently when needed—a skill she greatly values.

How the Chair Benefits Her Caregivers

Karen, one of Christel’s caregivers, highlights how the VELA Independence Chair with Power Wheels has made her job easier. Before the chair, it could be challenging to interpret Christel’s requests, but now she can move around and show exactly what she wants, making communication much smoother.

Karen also notes how the chair reduces her physical workload.

It’s such a relief that we don’t have to push her. She can easily rotate the chair on her own,” Karen says.

This reduces the need for manual maneuvering and lessens the physical strain on the caregivers.

Preventing Dangerous Falls

For Christel, safety is a crucial factor in her daily life. With osteoporosis, a fall isn’t just risky—it could lead to multiple fractures, further limiting her already reduced independence. This would severely affect her ability to engage in everyday activities.

That’s why Christel is so grateful for her VELA Independence Chair with Power Wheels, which lets her move exactly where she needs to go for safe transfers.

The chair’s compact design allows her to position herself with precision, minimizing the chance of unsafe movements and providing steady support during transitions.

Unlike a traditional wheelchair, where size and footrests make it hard to get close enough, the VELA Chair ensures the proximity and security she needs.

I feel safer in this chair because I can get as close as I need to. That’s not possible with the wheelchair. It needs more space, and I can’t just pull up and transfer.”

Christel is very aware of the progression of her condition and knows that, over time, she risks losing her mobility. Therefore, it’s important for her to maintain as much independence and mobility as possible while she still can.

Reach Out to an Expert

Power Wheels for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoporosis

A work chair equipped with Power Wheels offers many benefits for someone like Christel, who suffers from both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. The chair helps reduce joint pressure, which in turn minimizes pain and swelling.

It also lowers the risk of fractures. Before receiving her VELA Chair with Power Wheels, Christel experienced 25 fractures in one year. Since getting the chair, she hasn’t had any.

Why Choose Power Wheels?

The VELA Chair with Power Wheels provides several key benefits for those with arthritis, osteoporosis, or other mobility issues.

This chair helps users maintain their independence, improve their quality of life, and move freely, even in challenging circumstances.

Some of the main advantages include:

Independent Mobility

Users can move around freely without assistance, even on difficult days.

Greater Independence

The chair supports daily tasks, allowing users to manage activities on their own.

Improved Mobility

The chair allows for easy movement throughout the home.

Energy Conservation

Users can save energy and focus their efforts on tasks that matter most.

Maintain Independence and Quality of Life

By promoting increased independence, the chair helps users maintain a high quality of life.

Cost-effective Solution

Power Wheels can be retrofitted onto an existing VELA Independence Chair, making it a flexible and cost-effective solution.

No Major Home Modifications Needed

Unlike electric wheelchairs, this chair doesn’t require costly home adaptations, allowing for freedom of movement at home without significant expenses.

Reduced Need for Home Care

With more independence, users may need less assistance, decreasing the demand for home care.

Stay at Home Longer

With Power Wheels, users can maintain their independence for longer and continue living in familiar surroundings.

power wheels

Who Can Benefit from Power Wheels?

The VELA Independence Chair with Power Wheels is designed for a wide range of people with different mobility needs. It’s especially beneficial for:

Seniors with reduced strength in their arms and legs.

Users with balance issues who are at risk of falling.

Individuals who tire quickly and need a chair that requires less effort to move.

Users who have difficulty walking or pushing themselves in their chair.

Users with reduced mobility due to pain.

Users who use a manual or electric wheelchair at home but experience limitations in their daily activities.

It’s important to note that VELA recommends that users of the chair with Power Wheels have a stable sitting position and are able to independently transfer to and from the chair.

Find your chair here

Power Wheels

Sources

1 Osteoporosis Causes & Symptoms | NIAMS (nih.gov)

2 Rheumatoid Arthritis | Arthritis | CDC

3 Rheumatoid Arthritis | Health Topics | NIAMS (nih.gov)

4 What is osteoporosis and what causes it? | bonehealthandosteoporosis.org