Driving is a great way to be independent, enabling us to connect with other people, take part in social events, or travel to work. But for people with mobility issues there can be times when it is a challenge to get into, or out of, a car.
We’ve teamed up with Toyota to provide expert advice to help people maintain that freedom and help you Lift Up Your Everyday.
If someone has mobility issues – perhaps an older person who is becoming frail or who has had a fall, or someone who has had recent surgery – getting into and out of a car can prove to be a challenge, making them reluctant to travel. Fortunately, there are lots of simple ideas and adjustments to help people of all ages and with a range of conditions to overcome these difficulties.
RCOT and Toyota spent a day with two occupational therapists, Natasha May Powell, an Advance Occupational Therapist Practitioner and Charan Chana, a Senior Occupational Therapist with Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust and with John Healy, from Virginia Water, who uses a walking stick, a walker or a mobility scooter. Natasha May and Charan demonstrated ways of helping John to get into and out of two different size cars.
Image source: Toyota
Start by making adjustments.
Cars can be adjusted to improve passenger and driver safety, as well as ensure the driving position is both safe and comfortable.
- If you have restricted mobility, move your seat back as far as possible to get more space. This is particularly useful for people with knee issues, or with prosthetic limbs.
- You can adjust seat belts so they are in the best position for comfort and safety.
- And drivers can also adjust the steering column.
Image source: Toyota
Plan where to store any equipment you need.
If you’re living with mobility issues you might have equipment you need to bring with you. Here are a few ways that could help to make this easier and safer.
- If you have a wheelchair or walker, think about where it might fit in the car and how much it weighs.
- The trunk of a car with its hood open
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- See if you can fold the equipment down or take it apart; that way it won’t be so heavy to lift and will be easier to store.
- Think about the best place to store your equipment; behind car seats might be better than the boot.
- If you’re using the boot, put a blanket down first – it’ll create a smoother surface and make it easier to slide equipment in and out.
- Before you get in the car, store your walking stick(s) in the back, otherwise they could interfere with the pedals.
Image source: Toyota
Stay safe while getting in and out.
If someone has a mobility issue – perhaps an older person who is becoming frail or who has had a fall – they may be hesitant to go out and about to minimise the risk of further incidents.
- Find the safest place to put your hands for support. Instead of balancing on a walking frame, use the car’s frame. Roof-mounted grab handles could be used for assistance, but not full weight bearing.
- Consider getting a portable door handle (sometimes known as a bunny handle). This provides a secure handle you can use and can be easily stored in the glove compartment or door.
- Get into a car bottom first. This helps you keep both feet on the floor until you’re sitting down and means your less likely to fall or stumble.
- Once sitting down, you can use a swivel cushion to help you get into the right position – but if you don’t have one a plastic bag works well too!
- A leg lifter can help you get your legs over the sill of the car. If you don’t have one a dressing gown cord or something like a yoga strap is just as good.
- Cars come in different shapes and sizes and the height, whether it’s too low or high, can cause problems. If a car is too high, using a step could help – but make sure it’s on a flat surface and be mindful of weather conditions. If a car is low, park on a flat surface; don’t park by a kerb as it will make the situation worse and use the ‘bottom first’ technique.
Image source: Toyota
Choose a parking spot that makes access easier.
Here are some tips to think about when choosing a parking space.
- Check first to see if you or your passenger is entitled to a blue badge so you can use disabled-only spaces.
- Choose a space with enough room to fully open the door and make sure you (or your passenger) can safely get out and get any mobility aids out.
- Try to park on a level surface; that’ll make it easier to get in and out. Avoid uneven surfaces, like grass which can make it harder and potentially dangerous.
- Think about kerbs! They can stop you from fully opening the door and make it harder to get in and out of low cars.
Prepare for long journeys.
If you’re going on a long journey, think about how you can break it down into more manageable chunks – both for the driver and the passenger.
- Plan breaks where you can have a rest and rehydrate. This is particularly important if you suffer from a health condition where you become tired. Driving when you’re tired is very dangerous: it can seriously impact your driving abilities, from slowing your reaction times to causing mistakes which could be deadly.
After the demonstration, John Healy said: ‘I will definitely be putting all the tips into practice, particularly the bunny handle and the dressing gown tie, which I wasn’t previously aware of. It’s removed some concerns about my mobility when leaving the house, giving me so much more freedom to carry on doing all the things I love, without being restricted to the house.’
Natasha May said: ‘These simple and effective ways to access a car can completely change the life of you, or someone you are helping who has mobility issues. It increases independence and brings a new purpose and meaning into their life, which they may have lost due to concerns and anxieties about leaving the house.’
Do you need a little help doing the things you love or need to do everyday?
The advice was put together by some of our members, including those working at working at Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust and the William Merritt Centre in Leeds.
Check out our Lift Up Your Everyday campaign, giving you expert advice from occupational therapists to help you do the things you want - and have - to do.
Find out more about how occupational therapy can help you.