New wheelchair gives Alletta the freedom to socialise
Being unable to move around easily can have a dramatic effect on your confidence and quality of life. But Auckland woman Alletta Langveldt is rediscovering her independence thanks to a Physipro XL5 manual folding wheelchair supplied by Cubro.
The 72-year-old had a “terrible” fall and fractured both of her lower legs while being treated in hospital for pneumonia, forcing her to enter a period of long-term rehabilitation at Patrick Ferry House on the North Shore.
“From that point on I had no balance, and I’d take steps like a baby,” she says. “I can stand with my walking frame and one person assisting me but not on my own. It has been over a year that I have been debilitated. Even with my walking frame I walk very slowly and cannot go very far.”
Alletta describes herself as a family-orientated person. She loves to talk to her fellow residents and enjoys crochet, knitting, baking and cooking. So being unable to move around her new home freely and participate in daily activities was causing her great distress.
She has struggled with bigger, heavier wheelchairs which were too difficult for her to move properly on her own. Thanks to ACC, Cubro has now been able to supply her with a more compact and lightweight option.
“This wheelchair allows me to socially visit other residents in their rooms and I can also attend daily exercise classes,” she explains. “This has positively impacted on my life as I have more independence now and don’t call for assistance from staff as much as I did before."
“This chair is my bread and butter. I can even make my own bed each morning while sitting in this chair. Without it, I don’t know what I would do!”
The Physipro XL5 manual folding wheelchair features the lowest seat-to-floor height in the industry (11½ inches), providing the lowest center of gravity and making foot propulsion easier and more efficient.
It has removable, height-adjustable swing-away footrests and armrests, and the aluminium frame combines lightweight design, strength and durability. The entire wheelchair weighs just 18kg.
“I can move it around by myself in my room and around the hallways of Patrick Ferry House,” Alletta says. “I use it every day around the facility, wheeling myself.
“This wheelchair is light and it turns beautifully. It’s also easy to fold away and to put into a car.”
There are 10 seat-to-floor height adjustable positions and seat depth adjustments, and the angle and height of the backrest can also be customised to suit the user.
The Physipro XL5 manual folding wheelchair is suitable for people weighing up to 120kg. But there is also a heavy-duty option designed for bariatric users and those that have involuntary muscle spasms that can cater for up to 158kg.
“Mariette Kruger, and Henry Bertulfo from Cubro, were both beautiful to deal with. Very nice people and very helpful. They showed me how to use it, fold it down, and made sure the seat and backrest were comfortable for me to sit in.”
Alletta’s healthcare assistants are also fans of the new wheelchair as it’s so easy to move. They assist her with showering and dressing each morning, but from then on Alletta is now able to take care of herself.
“These are my wheels! I also sit in it in my bedroom and can access my own ensuite all by myself, whereas previously I needed help to do that.”
“Hand on heart, I couldn’t ask for a better wheelchair.”
To find out about our range of manual wheelchairs please get in touch with our team.
Cubro case studies are based on actual testimonials provided by real customers and users of our solutions. In some testimonials to protect the identity of the users, we have changed a name and used a stock photo. Our case studies describe our past work with customers and users, and detail solutions that have improved their quality of life. As each individual user has a unique set of needs and requirements, the content in these case studies should not be used as a substitute for professional advice from a registered clinician.