Car with good access for my now disabled dad?
Discussion
Hi all.
Sadly my fit and relatively young dad had a brain haemorrhage in April, resulting in a stroke which has severely affected his left side. His recovery is going well, but we're looking at ways to make things easier for him and my mum now that he is home.
He's currently wheelchair bound but between them they are able to transfer him into from the wheelchair into the passenger seat of a car without too much drama.
But dad's E46 330d Sport isn't ideal as it's quite low and they found it a lot easier when for instance they went in my sister's old shape Lexus RX. Mum's Mini Cooper is obviously out too.
So it looks like it's time to get a different car, or maybe an additional car. They don't want to go to the extent of a 'Berlingo with a ramp', but need something with good access to the front passenger seat, with a bit of height, a big boot to take a folded up wheelchair. As my mum will be driving, I feel it should be something not too large. She loves driving the E46 but probably wouldn't want to drive something much bigger than that.
As he is still recovering, we don't really know how their needs are going to change so I feel it's not worth them sinking a vast amount of money into this. We're hoping he'll regain a lot of his mobility within a year and maybe get his licence back but who knows.
So budget will be maybe £5k to absolute maximum £10k?
Also it would be nice if it's not something completely without style.
Thanks.
Sadly my fit and relatively young dad had a brain haemorrhage in April, resulting in a stroke which has severely affected his left side. His recovery is going well, but we're looking at ways to make things easier for him and my mum now that he is home.
He's currently wheelchair bound but between them they are able to transfer him into from the wheelchair into the passenger seat of a car without too much drama.
But dad's E46 330d Sport isn't ideal as it's quite low and they found it a lot easier when for instance they went in my sister's old shape Lexus RX. Mum's Mini Cooper is obviously out too.
So it looks like it's time to get a different car, or maybe an additional car. They don't want to go to the extent of a 'Berlingo with a ramp', but need something with good access to the front passenger seat, with a bit of height, a big boot to take a folded up wheelchair. As my mum will be driving, I feel it should be something not too large. She loves driving the E46 but probably wouldn't want to drive something much bigger than that.
As he is still recovering, we don't really know how their needs are going to change so I feel it's not worth them sinking a vast amount of money into this. We're hoping he'll regain a lot of his mobility within a year and maybe get his licence back but who knows.
So budget will be maybe £5k to absolute maximum £10k?
Also it would be nice if it's not something completely without style.
Thanks.
My dad has walking difficulties, and when I was younger bought a Citroen Xsara Picasso. He said it was the only car the he could walk up to, and slide straight into without needed to climb up or down, so it may be worth a look, plus they go quite cheap too which is handy, also have a big boot.(that I can remember, I was 9 at the time)
Alternatively, the Toyota Avensis might be worth a look as the seats themselves are V comfy, as is the ride quality.
Alternatively, the Toyota Avensis might be worth a look as the seats themselves are V comfy, as is the ride quality.
Hi,
Sorry to hear about your dad. We went through a similar situation two decades ago with my grandfather.
He had no car of his own so we drove him around in pretty much everything.
The best thing was my big 'old Patrol, as it's higher up. Getting him in a normal car wasn't that hard, as he still had one half of his body under control and he could drop himself in it.
Getting him out however was a lot harder, at over 95kg. In the SUV, he was able to pull himself in quite easily using one hand and a bit of help. Getting him out was a lot easier, as he could (again, with a little help) slide out into his wheelchair.
My advise for this case then, everytime, would be: get a higher car. Doesn't matter, hyundai santa fe or the like, it'll be a lot easier than any normal car, I can guarantee it.
Other than that, lots of strength for your family! Hopefully he can make his piece with it and enjoy the rest of his life despite this.
Sorry to hear about your dad. We went through a similar situation two decades ago with my grandfather.
He had no car of his own so we drove him around in pretty much everything.
The best thing was my big 'old Patrol, as it's higher up. Getting him in a normal car wasn't that hard, as he still had one half of his body under control and he could drop himself in it.
Getting him out however was a lot harder, at over 95kg. In the SUV, he was able to pull himself in quite easily using one hand and a bit of help. Getting him out was a lot easier, as he could (again, with a little help) slide out into his wheelchair.
My advise for this case then, everytime, would be: get a higher car. Doesn't matter, hyundai santa fe or the like, it'll be a lot easier than any normal car, I can guarantee it.
Other than that, lots of strength for your family! Hopefully he can make his piece with it and enjoy the rest of his life despite this.
Bill said:
Doesn't the Ford C Max (B max mebbe?) have suicide doors so the opening is nice and big?? That mini mpv segment seems ideal in a slightly higher, decent boot, but not too big kind of a way.
Hmm, if you have a disabled person like that you'll probably have him up front anyway so no real reason to have sliding/suicide doors in the back.
)Pappagallo said:
As he is still recovering, we don't really know how their needs are going to change so I feel it's not worth them sinking a vast amount of money into this. We're hoping he'll regain a lot of his mobility within a year and maybe get his licence back but who knows.
So budget will be maybe £5k to absolute maximum £10k?
So budget will be maybe £5k to absolute maximum £10k?
Claudia Skies said:
Mr SFJ said:
car that he could walk up to, and slide straight into without needed to climb up or down
That's the way to do it.Qashquai?
I'd say a Skoda Yeti would be nice for you guys.
My parents have one, and the passenger seat is very easy for my 87 year old grandmother to get into, and the boot is plenty big enough for a wheelchair, a couple of bags of shopping, AND 3 dogs (albeit, small dogs, but dogs regardless).
They're not that bad to drive either and are pretty quiet.
A thing to keep in mind is that ours is a Greenline model, which is about 20 mm lower than the standard Yeti, so not sure if that would make a difference, but it's something for you to chew over.
I hope your dad recovers quickly though!
My parents have one, and the passenger seat is very easy for my 87 year old grandmother to get into, and the boot is plenty big enough for a wheelchair, a couple of bags of shopping, AND 3 dogs (albeit, small dogs, but dogs regardless).
They're not that bad to drive either and are pretty quiet.
A thing to keep in mind is that ours is a Greenline model, which is about 20 mm lower than the standard Yeti, so not sure if that would make a difference, but it's something for you to chew over.
I hope your dad recovers quickly though!
Is motability the way to go????
One thing id look into is the possibility of having a swivel chair fitted - theres a version now where you can have a frame on wheels - and the seat can slide out onto the frame - with the person still sat on it - you can then push the swivel chair along - hard to explain - will find a link.
You can get hoists for the boot too to lift the chair in and out.
One thing id look into is the possibility of having a swivel chair fitted - theres a version now where you can have a frame on wheels - and the seat can slide out onto the frame - with the person still sat on it - you can then push the swivel chair along - hard to explain - will find a link.
You can get hoists for the boot too to lift the chair in and out.
Heres the swivel chair idea I mentioned in the last post
http://www.autochair.co.uk/store/swivel-seats-and-...
Hoists for the wheelchair to lift in and out of the boot
http://www.autochair.co.uk/store/scooter-and-wheel...
http://www.autochair.co.uk/store/swivel-seats-and-...
Hoists for the wheelchair to lift in and out of the boot
http://www.autochair.co.uk/store/scooter-and-wheel...
Ford B-Max maybe?
Edit: Hovering around £10k now: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
Edit: Hovering around £10k now: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
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