Gone are the days when the only kind of wheelchair that you could get would be the manual ones. Now you have electric wheelchairs that are quite good for those who have weaker upper bodies as well as lower body problems and disabilities. The increasing popularity of electric wheelchairs which can be just plugged into the mains and charged is due to the much enhanced mobility that these afford.
Motorized wheelchairs contain motor and heavy batteries that contribute to the greater weight and sturdiness of the wheelchairs. The basic idea is to give a friendly experience to users, though the consoles and the controls may be sometimes anything but simple. These wheelchairs have various models and are on offer at varied price points, with their increasingly common usage being attributed to the much greater mobility that they afford the old or physically challenged persons.
Another category of wheelchairs are the power wheelchairs which have a number of drive options (also with unique wheelchair accessories). While these are heavy and unwieldy in transportation, there are some of the rear wheel drive type power wheelchairs which are quite fast even though they do not offer much of a smooth drive on uneven surfaces. Front wheel drive wheelchairs are more stable and could also come in some options where the turning radius is designed to be small, also affording greater control.
Another area that is of concern to wheelchair users is aesthetics and looks. Users are now discerning and demanding that the wheelchair look more like a scooter than a traditional wheelchair. This is why there are so many ultra light and optimized wheelchairs that can be customized to look exactly how the user wants them to look. It is quite true that form is gaining credence and importance over functionality.
In the past, disabled people would be hauled over to their bedrooms by a pretty strong person as power chairs also have problems with stairs. Now we have stair lifts that help people get about stairs without any assistance. Automatic and semiautomatic disabled lifts are available in slide and folding platform types. Many buildings, public and even private transportation vehicles now come with automatic disabled lifts (fantastic travel accessories).
The use of chair lifts is gaining popularity as there is a realization that aged or disabled people may be around that have problems in rising from a chair and moving about. Precisely modifiable chairs are also possible in this day and age. One can look forward to those times when there will be custom chairs that can even ascend stairs.