Follow
Share

My mother will be 85 yo in November and stands about 5'3". She cannot stand long enough to "wrangle" her way into the passenger seat anymore and I can no longer assist her getting in. I have searched the internet with every phrase I can to find something to help lift her manual wheelchair up high enough so she can slide over into the car seat. I need to find either a manual wheelchair that has the capability of raising up to the proper height by a lift or on its own.

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Thank you all. Money is a very big issue for both of us. I have come up with an idea of: use a regular walker without wheels and steps or ramp. Just need to figure out where find compatible steps or ramp. She has the walker.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

Groovy,

Does her wheelchair have the removable arms, so that, once level with the seat, the left arm of the wheelchair could be removed you or someone else from inside the car, then she can scoot over on a slide board?

If so, then I'd look for just a lift, but preferably one that the wheelchair can be rolled up onto. I've seen lifts advertised in Harbor Freight ads, but they don't have sidearms.

Do you know of anyone who could fabricate them? Or have you contacted assistive device companies?

Could you use something like this?

https://www.ride-away.com/wheelchair-lifts-ramps/
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

Nah, we Escape drivers are pretty devoted. ;-)
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

Might be easier to buy a different car (LOL).
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

cwillie - I was thinking that too. I'd be worried she'd get tangled in the bars of the wheelchair and have a more devastating fall than trying to get in normally. Those swivel chair thingies (my first two links, and the first of cdnreader's links) look pretty spiff! But undoubtedly expensive. At least one of them uses your existing vehicle seat though, so maybe it's not so bad in price. 
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

I don’t have an SUV, and my car’s seat is lower, but we recently rented a Hoyer Portable Lift. It’s a Hoyer Advance 340,which means it supports up to 340 lbs. it’s a sling lift and I put the sling  around my husband and attach it to the lift. It’s a hydraulic lift which means it has to be cranked up. Wish I’d gotten the electric, but it was twice as much. (Side note: I believe if you get a script from her doctor, Medicare may pay at least part of it.) The lift is positioned at the car door and then I can swing my husband onto the car seat and lift his legs into the car. The lift folds and fits into the trunk. Since he’s about 320 lbs. it can be a little taxing on me, but at least he gets out and we don’t have to pay for the community bus.

There are a lot of lift videos on YouTube. That’s where I found this one.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

I'm trying to picture a way that this would be helpful... raising the wheelchair would lift her feet off the ground so that there would not be even the slightest possibility of a pivot transfer, everything would be totally dependent on her upper body strength. Bear in mind that bringing the chair level with the car seat plus the space taken up by the car door will pretty much fill the door way and there will be no room for you to help.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

(Took me some guessing, too, but apparently "elevating manual wheelchair" was finally the right search phrase.)
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

www.pdgmobility.com/products/elevation/index.html

www.proactiv-gmbh.com/rigid-frame-wheelchair_lift.html
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

How much money do you have to spend?

www.bruno.com/products/valet-seating

www.hurt-auto.com/swivel-seat

www.hurt-auto.com/lift-up-device-to-transfer-a-person

www.takealonglifts.com/
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

Dear GrooveyHoovey,

I'm so sorry, I know you are only trying to help your mom. I found this link, I hope it's helpful.

www.lift-aids.com/power-transfer-seats.aspx

www.arjohuntleigh.com.au/products/patient-transfer-solutions/passive-floor-lifters/maxi-lite/
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter