My husband has always enjoyed getting out of the house and into nature. Any recommendations?

Check your area for botanical gardens created for the public. They usually have concrete smooth walkways because of ADA public requirements. If you are near a beach, there are often wheel chairs for free or rent with huge tires to make traveling the sand easy.

If you have difficulty pushing a wheelchair on the paths (some can be a gradual incline and make it hard if you arent in good shape) you might want to take someone with you on initial run to see if it's too hard for you.. You might also talk to a golf course about letting you just drive the course with him in a cart. Both of you get outside and should be quite safe. Check with a local zoo to see if they have any trains that operate within the park - pay to ride it a couple of rounds. A local school might allow you to push him around the track in a chair.

I have given my grandmother walks in her wheelchair whenever she and my mom would come to visit us. We were in the military and moved frequently. She really enjoyed the Garden of the Gods walk. I found it a little challenging to push her up and down the hills.

Consider taking your husband on level, paved trails if you are not athletic.

I would discuss your idea of a special wheelchair with a physical therapist, to ensure that a special wheelchair is appropriate for him. They can recommend one that could be custom made for your husband to do general and nature path traveling. It might even be covered by Medicare.

We live in a 55+ community with paved walking paths through the woods. I bought a used golf cart so I could take my husband for rides once he was not able to walk very far.

Bingo! Gosh I love Google...

https://www.traillink.com/stateactivity/wa-wheelchair-accessible-trails/

I haven't checked, but I bet the people associated with this website will also have useful advice on selecting the right models. Or you Google that too, specifying your husband's size and shape and weight, and what you intend to use the chair for. E.g. "best wheelchair for hiking trails."

As VegasLady recommended, on-line wildlife cameras are a magnificent option, allowing 24 hours per day of fascinating wildlife views.

My favorite is explore.org which offers myriad wildlife viewing options. For example, with their live link I am watching gorgeous bears in rushing water trying to catch dinner this minute: https://explore.org/livecams

I hope this helps!

If you have a very small car, make sure you measure first. I ordered a transport wheelchair online & it doesn't fit in my car. Neither the trunk or back seat. They come in a variety of sizes, widths.

If getting him out is too difficult you might try YouTube on cable tv. Search for nature videos or live cameras of animal activity. There is usually nice soothing music or the sounds of birds or running water.

Outdoor all-terrain wheelchairs are pretty pricey, but if your hubby is a veteran, he might be able to get one through his VA benefits. One you may want to look into is the GRIT Freedom Chair. Here is the link: https://bit.ly/385kocE

Another option to think about if your hubby is still mobile and able enough for short trips is an ATV tour. Depending on where you live, there are many that offer tour guides and can take you out on the trails in a UTV (side-by-side- very similar to a golf cart but made for off-road- some seat 4). This would be much safer for him as opposed to a regular ATV where he would have to sit behind the driver and hang on- and which for someone with limited mobility might be impossible. Also dependent on the time of year, there may be wildlife sightings as part of the tour (for instance, Elk season, etc.).

The type of wheelchair your husband will be able to use depends on what he's still able to do.
Can he stand? Is he able to get out of a car? If the answer is 'no' to these questions then you won't be able to take him out unless it's in a wheelchair van that has a lift.
If he's still able to stand and get out of the car then a travel wheelchair might be just the thing. They are lightweight and easy to fold up and put in a trunk or backseat. You won't need an assessment from anybody or an order from a doctor to get one. Walgreens has them. CVS carries them too. They cost about 80 bucks.
The thing is they really only work on pavement. Trying to use one on grass or gravel won't work.

One option is a rollator, a 4 wheeled device with a seat, and limited storage space underneath the seat.

Styles and options:

https://www.drivemedical.com/us/en/Products/Mobility/Rollator-Walkers/c/RollatorWalkers?q=%3Apopularity%3Acategory%3A4-WheelRollators

Ours was similar in style to this one, but if I remember correctly, there was also a basket between the top handlebars.    These rollators can and should be adjusted for height, so that the user isn't bending over to reach the bars.

https://www.drivemedical.com/us/en/products/mobility/rollator-walkers/4-wheel-rollators/duet-rollatortransport-chair-8-casters/p/52-1

Safer for movement though might be a motorized scooter.    It's key and battery operated, so it does need charging.  It's very similar to the motorized scooters in grocery stores but smaller.  

There are probably more varieties here than you might need, but you can get an idea how basic vs. complicated they are.

https://www.1800wheelchair.com/category/291/electric-mobility-scooters/

We found a good one at a garage sale held by the son of an elderly woman who had just passed.

If you get one with ignition, get duplicate keys made ASAP.


Personally, I think the motorized chairs are more functional.  You don't have to push, so there's no constant strain on your back.   And the rider has some sense of independence, as he/she can steer, stop and start on his/her own.

Does your husband have Medicare? You could ask his dr for a script for PT to do a wheelchair assessment for him.
They will assess his functions now and some to come and can have a custom chair made for him.
I believe they can do it at an outpatient rehab (my moms was done at her outpatient ) and I think they even come to your home to see if he qualifies and assess him.
The in home assessment may be better as OT and PT can assess the home with you and give you ideas of and suggestions to make the home have easier accessibility.
Again his dr would just have to write up the script and it is covered under Medicare.

I am only familiar with a non-motorized wheelchair. My MIL is in LTC and can't walk. She weighs 170 lbs. There is a paved path around her facility. Once I took her out on it and nearly lost control going down a declined because I didn't know where the breaks were. Scared the poop out of me. Depending on how much your husband weighs (and your overall size and strength), you'll need to be very careful about going on paved paths that have inclines and declines, as his weight will cause his chair to be very difficult to push uphill and very easy to roll faster than is comfortable and safe downhill. So, if you look into a non-motorized chair look for ones with breaks on the push handles. On a non-paved path I think you will need a motorized chair, which means you need a way to transport it. Do you live in walking distance from a flat path? Even a non-motorized chair will need to be put in and out of your car. Are you able to do this without help? A transfer wheelchair is lighter weight but may not provide the support he needs.