Wheelchairs and cars

daisygirl_2

Biggles wrote: »

Are you saying you've asked the GP to refer you to OT, as MouseyMousey suggested, and they've refused to provide a free wheelchair? It's not usually a problem, there's no way you should need to buy one unless it's specialised in some way.

I didn't know free wheelchairs were available through the OT! I'll tell my Dad. He's the kind of person who expects nothing (unlike me!) and it's taken years to actually get him to register with the OT!

Thanks!

Savvy_Sue

The OT should assess what he needs, and AFAIK that should include an assessment of what your mum needs in order to make it 'work' for them as a couple.

BUT it's not always as simple as that, and may take some time to provide what he needs, or may be told that what he wants (lightweight etc) is more expensive than what he needs, and he can only have what he needs.

But equally it should mean he doesn't end up spending a lot of money on something which turns out NOT to meet his needs!

daska

I know it won't be suitable for your specific situation but... my husband used to fit my wheelchair in the back of our Smart car. So the amount of space you need may not be as much as you expect!

On a separate note, fight hard with your GP/OT for an appropriate wheelchair - I can't propel myself but, because I'm married, I only qualified for an attendant wheelchair??? This was despite the fact that we had a new baby so my husband wouldn't be able to push a wheelchair and a pushchair and I would be housebound whenever he wasn't around. We ended up buying a portable mobility scooter and the wheelchair, obviously, doesn't get much use!

LameWolf

We have a Honda Jazz; the back seats fold down and we can get my wheelchair (folded up) in there behind the front seats without removing the wheels. This leaves the boot free for luggage if we're going away.

Obviously, this is only helpful if there are only going to be two people in the car. To put the wheelchair in the boot, we have to remove the wheels, but it can be done if we are giving a friend a lift.

HTH

simpywimpy

For anyone in the area, walton and walton auctioneers have a mobility scooter (large size one) in their auction tomorrow. They also have one of those folding walking frames and a fold up wheelchair too.

www.waltonandwalton.co.uk

allydowd

An OT could help you access a chair through the voucher scheme:

Voucher Scheme link

Keith585

I know it sounds odd, but we have a sports car because it was ideal for the wheelchair:j

We have a Hyundai coupe, the wheelchair fits in the boot without putting the seats down (it has 2 rear seats which will take average adults). As it is low it is easy to lift the wheelchair into the back. The large coupe doors (it is a 2 door) give lots of room to get in and out of the front seats easily.

Hope this helps - remember to think outside the box, there may be other "unusual" cars out there that do not come straight to mind

Strapped

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

The rather ugly Toyota Yaris Verso is often valued by wheelchair users because it is easy to put a wheelchair in standing upright rather than lying on its side.

Likewise the (beautiful lol) VW Touran (although this may seem a bit bigger than what your mum has in mind).

TaBunny

mouseymousey99 wrote: »

Your Dad needs to ask his GP. They can refer him to an assessment office (usually at the hospital) where someone can sort out the best type for him.
Sorry don't know much about cars.

This is definately the best thing to do I totally agree with Mousey, I got referred by my gp to the local wheelchair service and they measured me up, weighed me and got a new wheelchair out to me within a fortnight. They also take into consideration interior door openings in your house if it's needed to be used indoors. They actually supplied me 2 one for indoors which doesn't have removable wheels but is easier and smaller to get around the house and then a Breezy which is a great outdoor chair, lightweight, easy to fold (for my carer too heavy for me) and pops in the boot with or without the wheels on. My daughter has a very small car and it fits in her boot, a fiesta, with the wheels off it's one quick pop and click and they come off very easy.

But first thing is to get the referral from the gp, also you could ring your local council and ask to be put through to the wheel chair service and they can advise you. Remember it's much better to have a professional measure someone up for a wheelchair for safety, comfort and suitability. Also the maintenance will be free and they provide free cushions and change the chair if your circumstances change. Good luck let us know how it goes.


OH and p.s I used to have a yaris verso t spirt and I loved it soooooooo much best car to drive and easy to get in and out of I would've replaced it on my motability in a flash but they stopped making them so you can only pick them up second hand now but it's a dream of a car and certainly not ugly lol. (;-)

allydowd

I would recommend Smart ForTwo cars as a vehicle, I'm not a wheelchair user.

I had a neighbour who had a device that lifted the chair from ground level up into a roof box. Using one of those you could choose from a bigger range of cars.