Once I got her into my car (not an easy task), I took the wheelchair around to the back of my car and tried to put the chair into the trunk of my car.  That’s when things got really rough! 

• I had a difficult time lifting the chair high enough to get it into the trunk (It weighs a ton!).
• Once I did get it into the trunk, I struggled to maneuver  it around in the trunk so that I could get the lid of the trunk closed.

Not long after this “incident,”  I learned about transport chairs.  I ran out and purchased one a.s.a.p. and it has been a lifesaver!!

The many benefits of the transport chair far outweigh the cons.  Some of the many benefits are as follows:

• The chair is fairly lightweight.  I am only 5’2″ and weigh about 120 pounds.  I find the chair easy to maneuver and easy to lift.  They are under 25 pounds.
• It fits in the trunk of my car (Chrysler Sebring) without any problems.  An elderly couple I met awhile back said that they keep theirs on the floor of the back seat of their Chevrolet Cavalier. 
• They come in some nice colors – - more than just the “chrome” of standard wheelchairs.
• They are fairly comfortable. I have not sat in my Mom’s for an extended period of time but she has said that it isn’t bad.

As is the case with most everything, there are a few downsides to these chairs.

• Medicare does not cover the cost of transport chairs.  They see them as a benefit for the caregiver, not the patient.  I beg to differ…..  Regardless, I found the approximately $100 pricetag well worth the money.
• Because the wheels are considerably smaller than those of a standard wheelchair, the patient is unable to move themselves around in the chair.  Users will need the help of a responsible adult to push them in the chair. 
• The wheels on these chairs are not as tough as those on standard wheelchairs.  Wheels on transport chairs wear out more quickly if they are used daily and/or on uneven surfaces such, as gravel.

Please keep in mind, these chairs are meant for short trips.  They are not meant to replace the use of a standard wheelchair.

I purchased my Mom’s from a local medical supply company.  However, they are available online at Amazon.

Since then, I have found a couple of sites that provide assistance in this area. Please keep in mind that I did not use the sites and/or their advice myself so I am not comfortable rating them but I do think it is worthwhile to pass their hints/online tools along in hopes that some of you might find them helpful. If you do use the sites, we would love to hear from you. Please let us know if they were helpful and whether you yourself would recommend them.

Mobility-Advisor.com recommends that you start narrowing your hotel choices and once you have a list you are comfortable with call the hotel directly. They report that “asking the following questions can quickly determine if the hotel is disability friendly and right for you.

• ‘Do you provide special disability services?’ This should be the first question you ask. The answer you receive will immediately indicate the property’s experience and desire in assisting disabled travelers.
• ‘Which floors are disable rooms located?’ It is important to be on or near the ground floor in case of emergency, especially when elevators are not in service.
• ‘Are the disabled rooms ADA compliant?’ If the answer is yes (and it should be), ask for specifics on how the room is equipped to accommodate ADA guidelines.
• ‘Can the beds and other furniture be moved in order to make the room more comfortable and accessble?’ Depending on the room size and configuration, you may not need to make any adjustments. Yet, it is a good question to ask if you are unfamiliar with the hotel brand.
• ‘Does the hotel provide a wheel chair accessible shuttle to nearby tourist attractions and public transportation?’
• ‘Is disabled or handicap parking available”‘ You may want to follow-up asking how many spaces are allocated per wheelchair accessible room.”

Please access the article online for full details and their other valuable information.

Mobility-Advisor.com referred me to www.whenwetravel.com who provides a list of worldwide destinations with links to wheelchair accessible hotels. Many are well known American chains (e.g., Hyatt, etc.) but some are brands I would not have known to try myself.

Flickr image by Stehpentrepreneur

Travel has always been a big part of my Mother’s life.  Once she began to rely on a wheelchair to get around, I became really nervous about how I would be able to travel with her.  I was especially nervous about flying with her on commercial airlines.

Fortunately, there are some great tips on the web for traveling with a wheelchair.

A website called “Accessible Journeys” provides its site visitors with some fantastic tips for traveling with a wheelchair.

• Have your wheelchair inspected to make sure it is in good working order prior to departure.
• Label all of the movable parts with your name and contact information.
• Notify the airlines that you will be traveling with a wheelchair, well in advance of your departure.  Ask that they gate check your chair when you arrive at the gate.
• If you are unable to walk at all, request the following information from the airport (well in advance of your travel date): (1) Ask that they have an aisle chair available to get you from the gate to your seat and (2) ask if they will have an aisle chair available to get you from your seat to the rest room once the plane is in transit (the chair that took you from the gate to your chair returns to the airport gate).
• If your chair is foldable, fold it and secure it with a strap or duct tape – - it will be much less likely to get damaged this way.
• Remove the leg supports and cushions (they can be easily lost in transit) and put them in your carry-on luggage.
• Get a claim check receipt from the staff before you allow them to check your chair.

The Australian Government’s, Air Safety Authority provides some additional suggestions that are also relevant for travelers worldwide:  They include:

• Call the airline 48 hours prior to your departure to confirm that they have received all of your requests
• Some airplanes have aisle seats with armrests that lift.  It makes wheelchair transfers much easier.  Ask your airline about availability.
• Keep in mind that some planes have very small restrooms and not all planes have handicap accessible restrooms – ask ahead of time!

Please note: motorized wheelchairs have separate rules/processes that are not addressed in this post.