Mobility Devices

[bmitche98]

Hi All,



First post but avid TDR reader . . . Love it . . .



Anyway, my 90 year old mother-in-law had a stroke last summer and is about to be cut loose from the nursing home to come live with us. I won't go into details about the pitiful measly support she doesn't get from Medicare, etc.



She's paralyzed on the left side and unable to get out of a chair or walk without assistance. That wouldn't be so bad when she went in at 100 lbs or so but on the high carb nursing home diet she has ballooned up to - well - can't talk about that either.



Does anyone know of any devices that could lift her from her wheelchair and raise her into either the front or back seat of the dually? My wife says she won't let me get a tailgate lift and put her in the truck bed. Guess that is too easy.



I found web sites for stargate and for Bruno lifts and the Bruno ezlift might work. Just wondered if anyone had similar experiences or needs and what they found worked best.



Thanks,

Bob

 

[willyslover]

one time trip or on-going type of deal ?



they have a call out bus service for the handicap in this state in most cities. . might look into that. . they use them for shopping trips to the malls and Dr. visits etc. etc... this might be a better way to go as they are prepped for wheel chair use.

 

[bmitche98]

It would be ongoing. It looks like she will be living with us for the long haul. We would like to be able to take her to her home on weekends. It's about an hour-and-a-half from where we live. We bought a ramp that she can use to roll right up into the house so that isn't a problem.



The Lift program here will work fine for routine programs like adult day care. Otherwise, we would like to be able to transport her to Dr. apts. etc. without too much physical struggle trying to get her into the car or lift her up into the truck.



Just as an aside note, dealing with aging parents has really been an eye opening experience for us. I don't think I'm particularly naive but I thought when you got older and disabled there were programs that helped take care of you. Unless you are prepared to sell your house, car, and most other possessions or unless you have really good insurance there isn't a lot out there to help senior citizens after they leave the hospital.



Thanks,

Bob

 

[schu777]

Just an idea... if you have a ramp to wheel her into the house and such... perhaps build a ramp that would go to the same level as the truck... although that would only solve the problem at home, not out and about... unless you took the same thing and just stored it in the back... okay... dumb idea, but maybe someone can build up on it.

 

[Joe G.]

Bob,



You may be out of luck looking for stuff that is made for a pickup truck. My wife is handicapped. In '94 and '95 I really searched for something that would allow my wife to get into a Dodge 4X4. No luck, nada. I ended up having to do it myself with electric motor home steps. I know this won't work for your MIL, but if I were you I would start thinking about having to make something. I have seen motor home lifts that will lift a wheel chair up so the person can wheel right in. Those devices won't work on a truck, but you might use the idea to invent something. Maybe a screw driven lift that swivels under the truck when it's not in use. It could lift her up to the seat. If it's possible to get her out of the chair and into the seat with the wheel chair up there that might work. Good luck looking for handicapped equipement. You will need it.



E-mail me if you want to kick around some ideas.



Another edit: Chrysler had a handicapped equipment reimbursment program when I did mine. I got $750 from them. It may have gone up. Worth checking.

 

[E7mack96]

Well, The Next door neighbors' wife is wheelchair bound. They bought a used e-350 ryder rental truck with the ramp in back, and removed the bulkhead that seperates the box, and the cab/chassis. She rolls up into it every sunday for church. They even were able to get a handicapped license for the box truck.



It is a bit odd, but it works.

 

[kaffine krazed]

I have seen a jacked up 4x4 with a wheel chair lift. I think it is an Arcola lift but I'm not sure. I'll see if I can find out who did the conversion. Half the back seat was removed for storage of a motorized wheel chair.

 

[ISBPilot]

I understand!!!!!!

I lost the use of my legs due to a Rodeo accident in 93'. I drive a 99' 3500 2wd CTD. I use the Bruno EZ Lift ( I think ) that you refered to in your post. It works good for me. However there are a few things to consider about it's use. The seat is not very large, it is usable but does require a bit of balance. WIth you and your wife assisting it shoud not be a problem. The only thing that might hinder it's use is that it only goes down as far as the bottom of the floorboard. It is mounted inside the door jamb beside the seat. This will probably still leave the lift several inches higher than the wheelchair she will be transfering from. I put one leg on the seat and pull up on the frame of the lift and door of my truck to transfer myself onto the lift seat. This may be another issue to take into consideration.



I have seen an under the truck lift which raises the wheelchair from ground level up to the cab level. Cannot recall the name of it. It extended from under the cab and had a scissor lift type mechanism.



Recently I have been looking at ways to get on a tractor. There is a company which has a bed mounted boom pole lift with a seat on the end of it. But it mounts permanately into the truck bed.



Feel free to P. M. or E-mail if I can be of any assistance with trouble shooting and such. I have a picture of how my seat is mounted in the driver's door, it can be seen in Readers Rigs. Good luck.



Todd

 

[ISBPilot]

How is the search going.......

Found anything that would help yet?



Todd

 

[bmitche98]

Sorry it took so long to get back but the weekend was pretty busy. I have a profound new respect for home health care people!



Todd, you're right about the ezlift not extending past the floor of the cab. That still leaves a pretty hefty shove of dead weight up to the cab on the 4X4. Man, I didn't know those little old lady bridge players weighed so much. If she could help a little like being able to lift her leg on the lift that would be one thing but after this weekend that looks like a remote rehab goal and certainly not a reality now.



I'm still thinking about the wild side of things - like the ramp and building something custom. If we wheeled her up to the cab door on the ramp and I had some kind of sling rigged up over/across the passenger seat it might be possible to slide her over to the seat. On the other hand, I can't stand the idea of block and tackle hanging down from the passenger cab roof. Of course then I could install an air horn and use the rope . . .



The most realistic option that I think you have been hinting at is to look at vehicles that are designed for handicapped access, such as a van with a side lift. I'm not admitting defeat yet but for the few times that I would need to transport her in the truck I don't think it would be worth the hassle or expense trying to make it work when the tools aren't there.



Thanks so much for your ideas,

Bob

 

[Joe G.]

Bob,



One thought I had while brain storming a little with your situation was how to mount whatever you come up with. Body sheet metal won't take much weight. When I installed motor home steps on my truck I made a mount from a long plate that bolts to the frame. I welded two arms to support the steps to the plate. You could maybe weld a couple of hitch receivers to a similar plate so that the hitch receivers stick out to the side. Then whatever kind of contraption you have can be attached or detached very easily. That would work better than something that just sat on the ground which may or may not be level. Also it could be some awesome looking thing because you would not have to drive with it attached to the truck.

 

[bmitche98]

:Bounce: Woo Hoo . . .



I walked into the parts store and told the salesman what I wanted. :laugh:



After he stopped laughing long enough for me to explain what I was thinking about he smiled and said, "That might work. "



:smile: Engine Hoist :smile:



It has the lift arm that will not only hold the weight but will extend into the cab because the base will slide under the truck. The model I found has larger wheels so it shouldn't bind up on asphalt or concrete.



We have a harness that the hospital accidentally packed when she left for the nursing home and with slight modification we should be able to make it secure enough that we could lift her up roll her over and plop her into the front passenger seat. The theory is to put the harness in her wheel chair, move her to the hoist, attach the top of the harness to the lift, pump it up, and maneuver her into the front seat. Lower, unhook, wheel the lift into the truck bed (with the ramp), and off we go.



As an added benefit, the lift could be used in the house to help stand and hold her up. The used patient lift machine that my wife bought cost $400. 00 and it is awkward and has straps on the legs, buttocks, and back that have to be tight to hold her to a base.



Engine Hoist - $145. 00 much more secure and stronger as well as easier to use.



After we get the harness modified and if it works as well as I think it will then I'll post some pictures. If not, then I've at least got an engine lift in case I need it for any mods that are patiently waiting for the end of warranty.



Thanks so much for your help,

Bob

 

[RustyJC]

The engine hoist ought to work. We had a quadraplegic who lived across the street from us (PhD geologist who had a massive stroke) who has since passed away but who my wife and I would occasionally assist his wife in caring for. Gil used a medical device that reminded me of a stainless steel engine hoist with a sling arrangement to move from his wheelchair to a normal chair or into bed. The only problem with this hoist is that it probably wouldn't extend high enough to raise someone into a 4x4. With the telescoping load arm, the engine hoist might just do the trick!



Rusty

 

[bmitche98]

The little smily thingys didn't work on my last post - oh well . . .



Yes, the height issue knocked out a lot of options such as the ezlift. But even without extending the arm on the hoist it easily reaches the roof of the cab.



The main issues that I see at this time (while it is still in the box) is making sure she is secure in the sling and can't fall out, keeping her in a sitting position while lifting, and securing the sling to the arm in such a way that when we push her into the cab she clears the front seat and the roof. Hopefully a little trial and error will help get these resolved.



If this doesn't work, in addition to actually using it as an engine hoist, my wife and I can have a designated eater program. One week she can over feed at the local (fill-in-the-blank) all-you-can-eat restaurant and when the deed is done I can hoist her into the cab. Next week it's my turn. We won't need to take along the wheel barrow . . .



Thanks,

Bob

 

[Joe G.]

Bob,



Have you thought of makeing a lift from a camper jack? The kind that go on slide in campers. Plenty of height. Easy to use once you build the contraption. It would be light so it would be easy to carry in the truck bed.

 

[jmadden]

Bob -- there are actually some lifts out there that will mount under the truck (attached to the frame). Lift operates from ground level and the one I've seen rises high enough to get the wheel chair seat level with the truck seat. I'll try to get you some info on who makes it... just talked to my brother who said it is a Braun (www.braunlift.com).



Try this site too!



http://www.angelfire.com/tx/followmeoutdoors/



At the bottom of the page is a picture of a truck w/ a lift w/ a link for details.



Also, you might try contacting some local organizations (spinal cord injury associations, maybe Easter Seals, etc. )... a lot of them may have ideas... or put you in contact w/ members w/ ideas.



Like the engine hoist option, but seems like it would be a challenge to lug around for the other end of the trip.



Good luck! Hope some of this helps.



jm

 

[jmadden]

Bob -- there's another lift out there that may be of interest too (my brother thinks it is a Braun also)... not sure if it uses the original vehicle seat or its own seat, but what it does is...



Uses a regular outside seat space (i. e. , passenger or driver), slides the seat outboard and then lowers for someone to get in. Raise it back up and slide inboard... and the person is in the seat they will ride in. Then just find something to do w/ the wheelchair.





jm