Wheelchair Van Alternatives (Temporary)?

[Calvin-CALS]

We're in process for getting a wheelchair van. It should be another month.

Patti doesn't have her rehab chair yet (also in process), but as of this week, she can't reliably stand at all. I'm moving her around in a fold-up transfer chair. (Up to now, she could transfer into a car using the door or her walker for stability as she moved into the seat.)

So, we have a month, at least, before the van comes and some places to go ...

For our long trip to the MLA clinic 5 hours away in San Antonio, Texas, we're going to rent a wheelchair van. But that's friggin' expensive – $400-500. The only place to rent one in our area, Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, is an hour away in McAllen, Texas. Prices are $100 a day plus $0.35 per mile after 100 miles. And that 100 miles will be spent picking up the van, bringing it to the house, and bringing it back.

All that is fine for the clinic trip to San Antonio, but we'd like to find cheaper options for more local trips to the doctor appointments and fun stuff.

There are no local wheelchair taxi services. :evil:

One idea I had was renting or borrowing a cargo van as we need it, getting a ramp to push her up, then strapping her down in the chair facing backwards with her chair backed up to the passenger seat. She doesn't like that idea, obviously, and it may not even be safe.

Where we live, we don't have ADA public transport – or any buses. But I'm going to contact public transportation in the nearby larger town where her doctors are and see if I can negotiate them coming outside their service area.

Another idea getting her into the car with a lift ... but the lift another piece of DME in progress with the insurance company ...

Anyone have any other ideas?

 

[lgelb]

From what you've outlined, Calvin, I'd say maybe try to find on Craigslist or wherever your local ads would be, a newspaper or bulletin board, someone who is willing to drive you guys in or lend their own w/c van from time to time. Wherever there are people in wheelchairs in your area, like a rehab or VA hospital or nursing home, or cerebral palsy program, would also be a place to inquire.

I don't see the point of getting Patti into a car with a lift, even if you end up with a foldable one that can do that (I don't know of any) because she still needs her PWC and it's not going into a car. I know -- she has a manual now, but that won't be for long and as I say, car transfers/riding with only the support of a bench seat would not be fun.

It is a long shot, given your location, but sometimes casinos and other destinations have passenger shuttles that are w/c accessible. I also noticed that Valley Transit claims an airport shuttle from Brownsville or Harlingen to anywhere in the Valley--

Even once you get a van, a five-hour trip to clinic is a big commitment and I wouldn't just run up there every 3 mos. on autopilot. There's a lot you can do transactionally by e-mail and phone, and there will be diminishing return on investment with the visits. Others here may disagree, but that's my two cents.

I also note your ALSA chapter states that you can apply for financial assistance for the transport-to-clinic expenses and I'm sure they'd be helpful in other respects as well, if you haven't contacted them.

 

[Calvin-CALS]

From what you've outlined, Calvin, I'd say maybe try to find on Craigslist or wherever your local ads would be, a newspaper or bulletin board, someone who is willing to drive you guys in or lend their own w/c van from time to time. Wherever there are people in wheelchairs in your area, like a rehab or VA hospital or nursing home, or cerebral palsy program, would also be a place to inquire.

I don't see the point of getting Patti into a car with a lift, even if you end up with a foldable one that can do that (I don't know of any) because she still needs her PWC and it's not going into a car. I know -- she has a manual now, but that won't be for long and as I say, car transfers/riding with only the support of a bench seat would not be fun.

It is a long shot, given your location, but sometimes casinos and other destinations have passenger shuttles that are w/c accessible. I also noticed that Valley Transit claims an airport shuttle from Brownsville or Harlingen to anywhere in the Valley--

Even once you get a van, a five-hour trip to clinic is a big commitment and I wouldn't just run up there every 3 mos. on autopilot. There's a lot you can do transactionally by e-mail and phone, and there will be diminishing return on investment with the visits. Others here may disagree, but that's my two cents.

I also note your ALSA chapter states that you can apply for financial assistance for the transport-to-clinic expenses and I'm sure they'd be helpful in other respects as well, if you haven't contacted them.

Thanks, lgelb. You've got some great ideas there. I'm especially excited about contacting nursing homes, etc., and people on Craigslist. I also found out today that we DO have a local bus service to my town that's wheelchair accessible (with lifts) and that will get Patti to her appointment. ... Hopefully, though, we'll get the van situation straightened out soon. In the meantime, I am much more at peace knowing we have several contingency plans, which we can also use if our van is ever in the shop.

Two days ago, I was convinced we were trapped. That was not a good feeling.

 

[John1]

Hi Calvin,

I have another suggestion. If your wife can stand with support, you might just use your regular car. I can't walk at all, even with a walker but I can transfer from my mobility scooter into the passenger seat of the car. My wife then packs the scooter into the trunk of the Corolla and off we go. We do have a Braun wheelchair van and it is wonderful but when it is out of commission, the Corolla is our backup. We also spent about 3 weeks in Italy last fall and rented a regular car and traveled with the little 3-wheeled Pride Go-Go Elite Traveler.

 

[gooseberry]

Alsa.org also does grants of up to $1000 for a variety of things. Your transportation to clinic may be covered that way. Its worth a shot. I would ask them for suggestions as well.....you never know what resources they might have available.

 

[affected]

@ John1, if you read the original post, he says that she can no longer do reliable standing transfers, and had been until now able to get in a passenger seat

 

[John1]

Yes, I missed that important detail Tillie.