Helping elderly person in & out of car

[MissMarplesNiece]

But especially into the car. Is there any equipment that can help?

DM is late eighties and has very limited mobility. I take her to appointments and she likes to go out shopping etc. It is so difficult to get her into the car; really it's a two person job but I am often on my own with her. I have a Kia Picanto, so not a big car, but because she's under 5 feet tall it's still very high for her. I'm so worried that she's going to miss the seat and slip to the ground when it will be near impossible for me to lift her up - so dangerous if its a place where there is traffic. Last time she ended up with half a buttock on the seat and I had to lift her on fully - no good for my existing hernia or my back.

We've got one of those rotating seat cushions which doesn't help with the problem.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mobility-Disabled-Vehicle-Assistant-Portable/dp/B09PY6BBWJ/ref=asc_df_B09PY6BBWJ/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=570343106551&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10557690055105522446&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006873&hvtargid=pla-1647134892170&psc=1

How much arm strength does she have? We had one of these things which slots into the door hinge and gives something lower down to hang on to

Ah, I see I quoted the same as @WeAreOnTheRoadToNowhere but rather more neatly

Sorry for the ridiculously long link but these are useful
The car is low so don't park against the pavement as that will make it even lower. Does she use a walking frame?
If so manouvre with the frame until she is in front of the seat before you assist. Don't have 1 leg in and 1 leg out of the car. Get her to sit as far back as she can with both feet on the road. You can use a Turner cushion or a plastic bag to assist with the turn. You can't leave the plastic bag under her though
Once safely on the seat, get her to shuffle back, you can help legs into the car
The car transfer is one of the hardest as access is so limited to help
The above will help with pushing up from the seat when getting out

🤣

I am going to recommend the door handle bar too. I found it very helpful with my elderly father who has poor mobility. He's a much bigger man though, and has to support his own weight on the handle as I haven't got a chance of holding his weight.

I find this invaluable for getting in and out of car, chairs and bed. Much better than holding hands

shop.parkinsons.org.uk/collections/everyday-living-aids-1/products/handy-handle

Sorry for the ridiculously long link but these are useful If you put two [ in front of the link, a space and then some text followed by two ] after the link, the link is replaced by whatever bit of text you put in (in my post “these things”). The text forms a clickable link to your url.

I’ve got one of those door hinge handles and it’s brilliant. It took me a while to ‘trust’ it though.

Park on the flat, not against a curb, and back your mum up to the car. Place her left hand on the hinge handle and encourage her to lean her weight onto it.

Gently support her shoulders from the front and ease her down onto the seat so her bum is fully on it and her feet are both still outside the car. Place her hands in her lap and then using the swivel cushion, pick up her feet (knees bent) and spin her through 45 degrees.

If you can, practice this a few times on a day where you don’t have to go anywhere.

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-accessories/interior-car-accessories/simply-car-handle-aid-585205.html

this has been brilliant

Not much to add, other than those grab handles are great.

www.afutureathome.com

Also came to recommend the door handle.

This guide has different methods and talks about equipment options. Can be trial and error but might give ideas ?

https://www.ridc.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/Guides/getting-in-and-out-of-a-car.pdf