Laura in CA
New member
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2008
- Messages
- 9
- Reason
- Loved one DX
- Country
- US
- State
- CA
- City
- Irvine
Hi all,
My dad has ALS, and is in what I've just seen referred to as the "locked in" stage. He is coming to stay with my family for 8 days while his wife (full-time caregiver) heads out of town.
I think he uses the C 5000 wheelchair (? I'm trying to remember the logo on the side) Anyway its fully motorized obviously, has a head switch and chin devise which he uses to control it. We're making it a priority to get my house setup so that dad can spend as much time as possible outside while he stays with us. My husband built ramps both front and back. At his small house the ramps are difficult, and his neighborhood isn't ideal for getting around in his chair, so he hasn't been going outside unless he needs to which makes me sad. I live in suburbia with little traffic and lots of nice cement pathways through the parks.
I'm wondering if you can take a chair like this into the grass? I know he's never tried that and he might be more willing to try if I tell him I've heard from other PALS about it. We have many great parks near my house and I know he'll be more likely to hang out with me and the kids there for a bit if he can get onto the grass and into the shade.
Or as an alternative, is there any sort of sun umbrella attachment for wheelchairs? (If not, I'm inventing one!) I know they make them for my kids' strollers and I may just buy one of those and see if we can rig it for dad's chair. Again, to get him outside more - I think he'd really like that. (Our weather has turned so gorgeous here this week in So Cal too!)
Thank you very much in advance for any input!
My dad has ALS, and is in what I've just seen referred to as the "locked in" stage. He is coming to stay with my family for 8 days while his wife (full-time caregiver) heads out of town.
I think he uses the C 5000 wheelchair (? I'm trying to remember the logo on the side) Anyway its fully motorized obviously, has a head switch and chin devise which he uses to control it. We're making it a priority to get my house setup so that dad can spend as much time as possible outside while he stays with us. My husband built ramps both front and back. At his small house the ramps are difficult, and his neighborhood isn't ideal for getting around in his chair, so he hasn't been going outside unless he needs to which makes me sad. I live in suburbia with little traffic and lots of nice cement pathways through the parks.
I'm wondering if you can take a chair like this into the grass? I know he's never tried that and he might be more willing to try if I tell him I've heard from other PALS about it. We have many great parks near my house and I know he'll be more likely to hang out with me and the kids there for a bit if he can get onto the grass and into the shade.
Or as an alternative, is there any sort of sun umbrella attachment for wheelchairs? (If not, I'm inventing one!) I know they make them for my kids' strollers and I may just buy one of those and see if we can rig it for dad's chair. Again, to get him outside more - I think he'd really like that. (Our weather has turned so gorgeous here this week in So Cal too!)
Thank you very much in advance for any input!