Mom is 98 years old, still healthy but with advanced dementia. She is extremely frail, and we use a transport chair for outings, appointments, etc. However, though she still walks short distances with a walker, it has become very difficult to get her from the chair into the front seat of my car, as she cannot really help. Even with two of us, it's an ordeal. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how this could be made easier? I know there are services that will transport her to her appointments, but we like to take her out for scenic drives, visits, etc. Thank you for any helpful information!
In our case, it was easier to transfer my wife to an automobile if it was a smaller and lower vehicle.
The transfer chair locked and parallel (almost) with the car and the door opening. Car seat all the way back. A simple "Core muscle" lift by you just like putting the person on the side of a bed. Never bend and try to get them all the way end. Yor back will never be the same. All you need is part of the butt on the side edge of the car seat to slide and maneuver.They must go in facing out (sideways) just like onto a bed. Then gently lift both legs and turn in the seat. The use of a plastic bag is a great idea. We hadn't thought of that.
Getting out and back into the transfer chair is everything in reverse.
We tried the transfer boards, etc and nothing ever lined up. Obviously if the person is extremely heavy (my wife is 150#, advanced dementia) you might need someone on the inside lifting by the waistband to assist.
If your Mom still stands or even partially stands it should be a piece of cake.
Good luck. They do love to get out and "see things" and that is good for the caretaker also.
The metal handles that attach to the door jam of the car also worked well as someone else mentioned. That way, your mom can have handles on both sides getting in and out.
These can be gotten at stores that sell "On TV" stuff. They run $20 normally.
When my sister needed help standing and getting into the car during her cancer battle, we found it easier to get her into the 2nd row seat of my minivan because the sliding doors were out of the way. We could roll the wheelchair up beside the car seat. I could get her up with a forearm under her shoulder. She could put an arm over my shoulder and brace the other arm on the front seat back while moving into the car seat.
Place the bag on the seat of the car.
Have Mom sit on the seat once she is properly positioned.
Move the walker out of the way and grasp her feet and ease them into the car while helping with your other hand to turn her in the seat.
The plastic bag makes it very easy to mover her around on the seat. It also makes helping her get out a bit easier since you can more easily turn her in the seat so she is sitting on the seat sideways. Once she is on the seat sideways move the walker into place, lock it and help her to a standing position. It helps if you have a gait belt around her though, should have one anyway just for safety.
Once she is sitting on the car seat with her legs at the side, you can pivot her feet into position in front of her.
This was a technique recommended by my mom’s PT, and I would assume any PT or OT could show you.
My mom was a chunky 4’11”, and it worked well for her.
Please forgive my poorly worded explanation.
My husband is over 300#, panics and the process to get him into the car is exhausting and we’ve only been successful once. But for a person who doesn’t weigh that much, it would be much easier. . If you do consider and purchase one, have a person from the medical equipment come out and show you how to use it. If we could get it to work, it would be great.