204010

[204010]

can any one out there advise please. Husband has PSP, later stages. I drive a Ford Focus est. his wheel chair goes in the back. The problem now he is finding it so hard to get in & out of the car as his legs won’t move. Where do I go from here . If he can’t get in car he can’t go out & would hate that for him. Any help please. Joy

[Red1990]

I purchased a 2018 Ford Edge Titanium after a lengthy test sitting project of many months. The seats in the Titanium version from 2018 to present are kind of magical. The material is easy to slide in/out. They are very sport structured almost like an adult car seat that keeps my PSPer Mom in place. The seats are placed close to the door and are a good height. She was almost 5ft8in with long legs. I back her up to the seat, sink her behind into it and then swing legs. She actually seems more comfortable in that car than anywhere else including her recliner and bed. Good luck.

[204010 in reply to Red1990]

Thank you for your reply, will look into that car, sounds perfect

[AliBee1]

Hi. You will need to change cars to a Wheelchair Adapted Vehicle [WAV]. If you are in the UK we got one from Allied Mobility where you can either buy one or have one on lease. All the best. AliBee x

[Jewel23]

We are going through the same issues here in the USA with my father. His mobility has deteriorated a lot in the past two months that he's no longer to walk, or get up by himself from the bed. He needs total assistance with getting him up. His body is very stiff. I don't know how long this stage last. He's also not eating much, some days he sleeps a lot during the daytime. His PCP is asking the family to make decisions about if we would like for him to get a PEG tube and DNR - do not resucitate. It's been very stressful because we didn't think it will get to this point.

[PMPL in reply to Jewel23]

Hello, I'm so sorry. Stiffness is awful for them.

For my dear Mum I organised Botox injections which worked pretty well for her arms , chest and neck stiffness.

The only drug that helped at all was Tizanidine.

Mobility is a big problem eventually.

Re PEG . My Mum had to have one because orally to give food and fluid was impossible safely and in quantity tfor her to thrive.

Just sharing with you just incase anything is of any use.

Same issue with my poor M re the car ...she loved going out but gradually the car became distressing for her. Not sure why because she couldn't tell me.

X

[Jewel23 in reply to PMPL]

Thank you for your insight. It seems to me that he's in the advanced stage and definitely things aren't getting any easier for him nor the family!

[Dance1955 in reply to Jewel23]

so sorry to hear about your fathers mobility have a look a Sarah stedy if he can weight bear these are amazing better than a hoist smaller and easier plus he will feel better and he will be using his legs I used one for over three years they actually sit on in you easily transfer from bed to chair and chair

[Dance1955]

I used a slide sheet for my husband to get in and out of the car if you don’t have a slide sheet you can use nylon material like a shower curtain or something fold it in half get him to sit on it then you should be able to move him around

Also do you have an OT they are pretty good at helping mostly

Where do you live I am in Perth Western Australia

Good luck with it all

Hugs 😘

[Jewel23 in reply to Dance1955]

Thank you for the suggestion. I would have never guessed. I didn't even know those existed. I think we definitely are going to look into buying the slide sheets

[Dance1955 in reply to Jewel23]

i used a Sarah stedy for transfers the patient can weight beat they are amazing

Very easy to use plus maintain independence and strength

[Jewel23 in reply to Dance1955]

Thank you everyone for the great suggestions. It's greatly appreciated.

[eaglet in reply to Jewel23]

We. Use a sit to stand for meIt looks similar to the Sara ,but it has a hydraulic lift

[AnneandChris]

Hello there

I bought a Mazda CX5 as my husband was having difficulty with our previous Mazda 6. He found this easier to get into as he was a six footer, however towards the latter stage I always had a plus 1 to help me get him in and out. This stage, sadly was fairly short, as he died not long after.

Strangely, he didn't particularly enjoy going out. He used to get car sick, something he had never had before. He loved sitting in our garden, hat and dark glasses on.

The advice from the earlier posts is, as usual, right on the nail.

Hope this helps.

Sitting out getting some rays

[Vraic]

I've got something similar to the Ford in the other reply - Honda CRV. The boot is pretty square so it is easier to get the wheelchair in and the seat height makes the transfer easier

[Rose1sunflower]

We have hired a Fiat Diablo from Fleximobility. It was unsafe trying to transfer my husband into a car. The Diablo has been converted for a wheelchair with ramp and a winch if you need help putting the wheelchair in. We have used a manual and an electric wheelchair. I was uncertain if I would like driving it and my daughter wanted it to be automatic so she could drive it. We had some practice drives before we signed up for it and it is great! You can hire it for different lengths of time. They also take care of the MOT, servicing and tax.

We would be unable to get my husband out and about without it.

[204010 in reply to Rose1sunflower]

Thank you for your reply. Have thought about hiring a car . We do not qualify for any help so need to look into the best options. Is it expensive to hire or do I just look at a second hand car . I also drive an automatic

[Rose1sunflower in reply to 204010]

Yes it is quite expensive but about what you might pay on a loan to buy one I should think. As we were uncertain as to how much we would use it, whether we would get on with it etc we decided to hire it. We don’t qualify for any funding either. It is the only way can get out to appointments, meet up with family and we’ve also been on holiday to Northern Ireland and to a couple of Center Parcs in it. You could hire it for a week/month to see if it’s what you want and then look to buy if that’s what you want. We’ve had it for a year now. The company look after MOT and any problems which is a bonus. You just have to organise the insurance. Good luck.

[sherlock19]

Morning. We are at this stage now. We don't qualify for assistance with the car mobility scheme but we do have a local Dial-a-Ride service which is amazingly helpful and inexpensive for journeys and means he just goes straight into the back in the wheelchair without having to move. They will take passengers too for £1. Have a little look locally, you might have that or something similar.

Good luck. If just feels like one indignity after another doesn't it!?

[Scottoppy]

My wife also had this problem and the solution is not cheap. There are two main options, one is to obtain a modified car that can take a wheel chair with the patient in it; the second is to have your car modified so that the patient can be transferred from chair to car seat via a hoist. The latter was the option we took. Firstly the seat can be modified to swing up and out so that they can simply slide onto the car seat from the wheelchair. This is ok until a PSP sufferer can no longer support themselves vertically. The car can also be fitted with a hoist to take them from the wheel chair to the car seat. The sling is in the house and is placed in the chair prior to the patient being transferred via the hoist in the house to the chair. At the car the in-car hoist transfers to the car seat. This was our solution, check it out here basnw.co.uk/product/handyte... . Good luck

[Healthynotwealthy]

We got mum a second hand WAV it's been brilliant to make sure we can take her to places. No need to wait for hospital transport etc. I would totally recommend this route for making sure you are not faced with this issue again further down the line when mobility changes.

[45purple]

Hi I had a friend who had an adapted car to which her husband stayed in the wheelchair so less moving and handling for you both. Have a look at disability cars 💜

[Abrecheisen53]

Garbage bags also make a great slide sheet. Amazon also sells a pivot disc. Primarily used for standing, but we used it in the car

[LFG3]

Have you ever checked into the Car Transport lift by BestCare? The model is PL350CT. It is a battery powered (rechargeable by plugging it in) hydraulic lift system. There are videos to watch online. It can be used in the home for bed to wheelchair etc transfers and also wheelchair to the car transfers. I have one although have not used it yet as my husband can still stand with assistance and shuffle his feet to pivot and then sit back down. We have a Toyota RAV4 and it works well for him. He is 6'2" tall.

[Robbo1]

I bought a wheelchair vehicle eventually, but it was a strain on my back, pushing the chair in and out of it. Here in Sheffield, UK, we have a transport service for the elderly and infirm. You pay a fare, but it isn't as much as a taxi and the driver will help with the wheelchair. He will also pick you back up at an agreed time.The downside is, that you may not be the only passengers and there may be a few pick ups, before you are taken to your destination.

It is worth enquiring if there is such a service, in your area.( In the UK, Social Services will know.)