A transport chair is for getting from one place to another, not for sitting in. It’s often the first wheelchair a family meets, usually when a parent has become weaker and can no longer walk longer distances, like through a mall, a hospital, or down a long hallway.

Good for:

• Trips to appointments, outings, and longer walks the person can’t manage on foot
• Moving someone from room to room, pushed by a caregiver

Not good for:

• Sitting in for most of the day. A transport chair has no proper seating support, so long periods in it can lead to slumping, discomfort, and pressure injuries.
• Moving yourself. Most transport chairs have small wheels the user can’t push.

If someone is starting to spend hours a day in a transport chair, that’s a sign to ask for a seating assessment. Note that ADP does not fund transport chairs, so they’re usually bought or rented privately.

A Type 2 chair is a seating system: a wheelchair fitted with a cushion and backrest chosen for the person. The goal is to sit well for longer periods and to move around independently where possible.

Good for:

• People who spend a good part of the day in their wheelchair
• Supporting good posture and protecting the skin with the right cushion and back
• Pushing yourself, or with your feet, around your home or care home

Keep in mind: a Type 2 chair has fewer adjustments than lighter models. That’s fine for many people, but someone who needs a closer fit or an easier push may do better in a Type 3.

A Type 3 chair is lightweight and more adjustable than a Type 2, so it can be set up to be easier to push. It’s chosen to help a person stay as independent as possible in getting around.

Good for:

• People who can push themselves and want to do more of it
• Saving energy and reducing strain on the shoulders
• Getting to the dining room, activities, and outdoors with less help

Lighter chairs are also easier for caregivers to lift into a car.

A Type 4 chair is very light and usually has a rigid (non-folding) frame. It’s built for people who are very active in their chair, for example someone who pushes long distances every day or lifts the chair in and out of a car on their own.

Type 4 chairs are seldom used with older adults and are not often seen in long-term care. If you’re wondering whether one fits your situation, ask your therapist.

A tilt wheelchair lets the whole seat tip backward while keeping the person’s hip and knee angles the same. This moves weight off the bottom and onto the back. Another person always has to operate the tilt.

Good for someone who:

• Can’t shift their own weight, and has a seating plan to prevent or manage pressure sores
• Needs help managing muscle tone or posture
• Can’t sit up for a reasonable length of time

What tilt is not for: ADP will not fund a tilt wheelchair when the only reason is pain management, making transfers easier, feeding, toileting, or rest. Tilt is funded only when trials show it’s needed for sitting tolerance or skin protection, and when a caregiver is available to change the tilt regularly.

Tilting works only if it’s done regularly. If you care for someone in a tilt chair, ask the therapist how often and how far to tilt.

Power mobility is considered when someone can’t push a manual wheelchair well enough to get around in daily life. There are three main options:

• Power wheelchair — battery powered and driven with a joystick. It can include a seating system, and power tilt or recline if needed.
• Power scooter — for people who can walk short distances and get on and off by themselves, and who don’t need special seating.
• Power add-on — a motor fitted to a manual wheelchair, for people who push themselves but need help over longer distances.

Keep in mind: driving safely takes good judgement, vision and reaction time, so the therapist will usually do a driving trial. Power chairs are heavy, need room to turn and regular charging, and usually need an accessible vehicle for travel.

ADP and power mobility: ADP funds power mobility only when a manual wheelchair can’t meet everyday needs, and only the most basic device that does. A scooter isn’t funded as a replacement for a car or just for outings. Batteries and repairs aren’t covered. Power wheelchairs with power tilt or recline go through ADP’s Central Equipment Pool, which includes maintenance and repairs.