Begin with how your parent will use the chair. Someone who can walk short distances but tires on outings often does well with a light manual transport chair that a family member pushes. A person who sits most of the day needs proper seating, a cushion that protects their skin, and a seat width measured to their body. If arm strength is limited and they want to get around on their own, a power wheelchair is worth a serious look, and an electric wheelchair can give back real independence.
Think about Burlington's terrain too. The lakefront promenade and Spencer Smith Park are flat and easy, but streets climbing toward the escarpment get steep fast, which is hard on a manual chair and the person pushing it. Winter slush on curb cuts matters for power chairs, so ask about tire type and ground clearance. If your parent lives in a lakeshore condo, measure the elevator, the bathroom door and the turning space in the hallway before choosing.
Prioritize a retailer with a seating specialist on staff and a service department that repairs what it sells. Ask whether they work with occupational therapists, because a therapist's assessment is how Ontario's Assistive Devices Program supports eligible wheelchairs. Check the warranty on the frame and the battery, and ask how fast they can send a loaner if a repair takes a while. For a short recovery after surgery, a wheelchair rental is often the smarter first step.
Our advice is to buy through a local mobility dealer after an OT assessment rather than ordering online. The online chair may look cheaper, but the trade-off is no fitting, no adjustments, and no one nearby to fix it. Burlington's selection of dedicated mobility stores is small, so families often compare shops in Hamilton and Oakville as well, and you'll find them listed close by on this page.