Memo for the Record

7/15/2013

Memo for the record

This wheel chair is just that, a wheel chair. It was procured through Amazon.com and ultimately through a medical supply house.

It is a medium size wheel chair, like having a seat size of 18 inches. A small chair has a seat of 16 ", and a large chair has a size of 20". I would consider it a medium to low use wheel chair, whatever that means. So I don't know how tough it is.

Initial tests suggest it can get around the main house OK. As for use next door, no tests have been done there so far.

The manual covers how to go up and down steps. Basically, the manual recommends getting the hurt person out of the chair, first. You can read the manual and figure it out.

For someone with a broken leg or hurt foot,  I am not sure  initially if it will work with that situation. The Hemlocks has some crutches for that possibility, too.

I suspect it might also be used for barter purposes, too. It's initial value is $130 USD. I figure I can barter it for at least two or three days of wood for the wood stoves, for example. Right now a rick of hard wood (4' X 4' X 8 ') goes for $85 USD. I don't know what soft wood, like pine and hemlock, goes for these days. But I figure if someone has a sick person in need of a wheel chair, then the Hemlocks is a place to think about. Now keep in mind, the local nursing home has wheel chairs, too. So timing will be a factor, too.

Last, for barter thinking, the Hemlocks has tools (including a wheel barrow) and wood for wood cutting and heating if need be.  I would suggest thinking about that possibility when calculating barter options, like offering tools and wood. Then the barter person might be just offering labor, to include cutting and stacking, in my opinion.