Question
Do you have any suggestions on how to get the wheelchair into the trunk of a car, I know there are lifts and such but they are expensive. I only have my niece part time so I hate to go to the expense of buying one.  I just thought someone might have come up with a home made device.
Thank you
Sylvia

Answer
Well- it is tough to come up with adaptive devices without a lot more data, but...

Trick 1) Lighten the wheelchair up as far as possible before stowing it. Many models of chairs come with removeable rear wheels, folding backs, removeable head/foot/arm rests, and other tricks to lighten the load. You also want to take off things like heavy cushions, backpacks, etc.

Trick 2) Find things on the chair to MAKE removeable. With the help of a local handy person or a friend that as access to old chair parts, you can often rig up your own quick-release rear wheels. Or, if the seating system is fixed, find ways to make it removeable.

Trick 3) People have rigged up simple pulley systems for their trunks. If you have a handy friend, this is an option. You'll need to figure out a way to make it nice and rigid, but not be in the way of the chair. Most designs involve rigging the pulley up on the trunk lid, and something like a 2x4 to jam the lid solidly open.

Trick 4) The Teeterboard Trick- this is a so-so idea. It works great for some people, and hardly at all for others. Depends on a LOT of variables. The basic idea is to find a chunk of plywood that you can place over the lip of the trunk to help slide the chair over. To use, you lean the folded and lightened chair up against the trunk and stick the teeterboard between the chair and trunk lip. Bending your knees deeply, you lif the chair up, sliding it along the board which rocks and lets you lift/slip/dump the chair in the trunk. It's biggest help is in making the trunk smoother to make it easier to slide the chair.

Trick 5) This is an easy trick that is often overlooked- in many cars, it is a LOT easier to load the chair in the backseat than it is in the trunk. Just fold it, then roll it into the foot area for the back seat.

Trick 6) If you pretty much always load or unload in the same place, rig a pulley system up OUTSIDE the car- in the garage for example. Even if it does not help with EVERY transfer, it will help with many of them!

(Note: To rig a simple pulley system up, try these basic guidelines: http://science.howstuffworks.com/pulley.htm)




Where I work, the family would just ask me or a PT for ideas. In similar situation, we have helped families by makeing chairs easier to take apart, teaching basic lifting techniques, evaluating different vehicles available to see if one offers advantages, and even offering spare 'loaner' chairs to use instead of the person's main, and usually heavier, chair.

If your neice lives in any sort of assisted facility, or has routine access to PTs, technicians, wheelchair repair shops, etc., you might ask them for ideas as well!