Swivel Seats Disability Aids
In the last 25 years, the design and manufacture of more sophisticated swivel seats has been a breakthrough for disabled and those with reduced mobility. There are swivel seats to suit exact requirements and types of vehicle. The ability to transfer a seat from one car to another means when a new car is purchased, there is no need to buy another.
The most basic seat available is the manual swivel. Pulling a simple lever allows the seat to be manually swivelled through approximately 90 degrees, making it easier to either stand up or doing a sliding transfer onto a wheelchair or scooter. All basic swivel seats usually come with glide rails to enable the user to position the seat for optimum comfort when travelling. The seat can be used on either the passenger or driver side. When used on the driver side, there may be limited rotation.
More sophisticated models tend to have the following options:
* Electrically operated swivel
* Leg and Thigh supports
* Integral 2, 4 or 6 point belts
* Adjustable head and neck supports
* Lumber supports
For larger vehicles such as MPV's and 4x4, even motor homes, seats that both swivel and lower are required. The lowering action is extremely important and can allow someone with reduced mobility to purchase a larger car or drive a motorhome. They are available in the following models:
* Turny 300 HD. Swivels manually and lowers out of the vehicle and back up at the touch of a button. Operators will need to control the swivelling action and therefore require good strength and dexterity. Total Range of vertical movement is 300mm (12 inches). Maximum Capacity 150kgs.
* Turny 300 Orbit. Both the swivel and the raise and lower of the seat are done at the touch of a button with the Turny Orbit. Total range of vertical lift is 300mm (12 inches). Maximum Capacity 150kgs.
* Turny 395 HD. Works in the same way as the 300HD but has an increased vertical range of 395mm (15.5 inches)
* Turny 395 Orbit. Works in the same way as the 300 Orbit but has an increased vertical range of 395mm (15.5 inches)
* All Turny models can be used in conjunction with the Carony transfer wheelchair. Either Carony 12, Carony 24, Carony fixed, Carony Kids and the electric Carony Go.
The latest advance in disability aids are swivel seats where the seat in the vehicle becomes your wheelchair seat, eliminating the need to transfer from one seat to another. This makes getting in and out of cars effortless. When travelling, the base unit is then stowed conveniently and neatly in the boot of the vehicle.
There are 3 versions available, as follows:
* A 'transit' wheelchair, so the wheelchair user is pushed by a carer when out and about.
* A version that is 'occupant propelled', so the wheelchair user can propel the wheelchair themselves.
* An electric wheelchair option, whereby the occupant propels the wheelchair with a joystick.
All these swivel seats greatly aid disabled and people with reduced mobility as well as their carers giving all concerned much appreciated independence.
