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I help friends in my Truck. I usually have them steady themselves then I am there to makesure their footing is fine. I am 5' 2 1/2..and weigh 115 lbs. I can do it.
1. Swivel cushion through 90 degrees so that LO's knees and feet are facing out of the car.
2. LO if able places arms around CG's neck.
3. CG places arm around LO's waist and other arm around LO's hips.
4. Concerted effort, LO contributing as much as s/he is able, CG assists LO to rise to feet and continues to support as necessary.
5. With assistance of 3rd party if necessary, LO is pivoted standing, then lowered into wheelchair.
You will need a wheelchair. There are plenty on the market that will fold easily and go in back of your SUV.
Practice makes perfect for this agingcare tango. You can get an OT to show you, or you can practice with an able bodied person role-playing your LO.
My parents need to buy a cross-over vehicle that's a bit taller than their sedan but not at high up as a SUV. They could find a reasonable used one but they won't budge.
What we did was buy a new car. It seemed to solve most of our problems, at least for now.
You can also get a van that has the electric lift and the seats removed for the wheelchair which will be tied down so as not to move.
Do you at least have running boards on the SUV? That isn't the most secure feeling for an elder, but it would be something.
Tried using the 2 step stool that folks use for getting on horses but the steps were too far apart so it didn't work. If anyone has a good answer to this problem would sure like to hear it.
As mentioned above, a wider step might help.... I've seem some that have a tall handle attached to the step to help one get on the step, but then the handle becomes too short to use to go further.
Check some of the advertisements that are at the top of the screen that sell items to make life easier for ideas.
How I wish my Mom could still ride in my SUV.... my Dad has no problem getting in and out, he prefer the SUV over their own vehicle. So now I have to use my parents sedan, which I despise.... it's not user friendly to my aging back.