Mom is (94) and can't get into my SUV it's too high. Are there any ramps available?

HI- You probably need to help her into vehicle or their are transit rides that can lift her or the person there will help her in. you can also ride with her to the store where she needs to go or Dr.
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.

I drive a 2005 Ford Escape and my father actually liked it because it was high enough off the ground and easier for him to get in and out. He was always afraid of falling so the fact that the seat was "right there" was helpful. He used a walker and someone would hold it while he lowered himself into the seat, then we would help him hoist his legs into the car. Worked pretty well. on a different note, if your parent is on Medicaid I believe they have transport help to get a patient back and forth to doctor's appointments. I hope this helps.

The getting out again is comparatively straightforward (always depending on the relative sizes of loved one and caregiver, of course). You can get turntable cushions that go on the seat, so for the getting out process:

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.

You may be able to get her into a low car but how are you going to get her out and and standing again? You can't drag her out by her arms that will really hurt and may cause damage to those arthritic shoulders and elbows.

I wonder if the car manufacturers might like to put their designers onto solving this problem. There must be a substantial market for some kind of mounting system that seniors can use.

Could you rig a ramp up the back hatch on the SUV and a tiedown for a wheel chair?

...perhaps you could help her get into the vehicle..and they do have steps to help her step..yet, U will need to still Help her.

Nojoy, I had to chuckle when you mentioned a car "practically roll around on the ground getting in and out of it." I know exactly what you mean. My parents car feels that way, and poor Dad, it takes him 10 minutes to get out of the car... where with my Jeep he just hops down with no problem. I do notice that he is having more trouble getting up into the Jeep as he's 93 and that darn age decline and bad knees.

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.

There are some very expensive options, but they might be right up your alley. There's a replacement seat that is electric and it swivels and lowers and then raises back up, Bruno brand. There are transfer boards that can transfer between a wheelchair and a car seat. You might try the suction cup handles on the window glass to give her something else to hold on to.

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.

My 90yo Mom with ALZ DZ can no longer get into my 4X4 Jeep or Pickup. Both have grab handles and although Mom used to use a step to get in she can no longer do so. Yes she is physically weaker than she used to be but it's almost like she mentally can't figure out how to do it anymore even with simple instructions and assist. It's a major bummer!!! I have two great rigs that we can no longer use and am forced to use a ---- car that is so low you have to practically roll around on the ground getting in and out of it. Hate it but glad we have it. FYI:
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.

have you looked at renting a van that is wheelchair accessible? Worked great for MIL who couldn't reach up or step up into our SUV.

My mother can't sit up or stand, I can't lift her and the NH staff aren't allowed to help. I have an SUV but I wouldn't even be able to get her into a low slung car.

Is there some kind of transportation service for the elderly or disabled in your area? A taxi she can get into? Call your local area agency for aging for resources to help with this problem.

Yes, use the small step, like the ones you buy for RV's. Step up, get steady, then reach for the grab bar either over the door or near the windshield. Then one foot on the passenger floor and boost her in on the count of 3. Work together. Don't rush. My MIL hates trucks. Your other option is to trade with someone who has a car, just for the day. A good friend will do this.

Those passenger side handles are only good if the passenger is able to grab onto them getting in... for my Mom, who is 96, she has serious bone pain in her hands, thus grabbing onto anything she is unable to do.

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.

Maybe a bigger/wider step will do the trick. She's afraid of falling off step but maybe wider is better. Thanks

I do have the handles but she was too afraid. I will try getting in front seat and pull slightly but I will always have to have someone else with me to stand behind her and I almost never have anyone around to help.

I'm starting to repeat myself. What??????

Both my brothers, with large SUV's keep small but sturdy step stools in them. Works great, along with the handle that Eyerish mentioned. Works great.

My SUV has a handle on the passenger side, up near the windshield. I'm sure if yours had one you wouldn't be having this problem but that's how I got my dad into my SUV. I think a ramp would be too steep unless you had one specially made to fit the car. Someone may need to be behind the wheel and pull your mom through while someone else on the passenger side maneuvers her into the car.

My Mom has the same problem. At one point she able to use an one foot high plastic step to get in but it still wasn't easy and she didn't have the confidence in that step.... I remember when Dad use to put down the step for her to get in, he would say "ALL ABOARD" :)

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.

Thought about dog ramp but didn't hold enough weight.

Tried the steps. She got up to seat but had nothing to hold onto to pull self into seat.

Maybe portable steps?

We use a ramp to get our senior dog into the car. Wow thats a tough one..... I think a ramp would be too steep for someone with walker.