RVing With Quadriplegia
My wife became quadriplegic a year ago due to a tumor in her spinal cord and the resultant surgery. She has some movement but at least for the foreseeable future, she will be wheelchair bound. Prior to this we enjoyed camping in our 26' Class C. Now, a year later I am trying to figure out how can we get back into this hobby.
I would like to hear from those who have solved some of the challenges that quadriplegia presents with respect to camping and RVing. I'm thinking that instead of her expensive, powered wheelchair, a manual tilt in space chair would be easier to manage in the confines of an RV. I know there are manufacturers of lift devices to get her into the RV. I also think that the passenger seat could be removed and anchors installed so she can ride up front. We use a Hoyer lift at home to transfer her from chair to bed but I think the confines of the RV are too tight for this device. She is working hard in therapy to effect a slide board transfer but we are not there yet. Also, I am 64 with a heart condition so I don't have the stamina to physically lift her. I'm thinking that either the dinette bed would work for her with foam wedges or I could look into installing a hospital bed in that space.
Finally I wonder how I would go about showering her. There is no way I could get her into the RV shower. As we mostly showered in the RV before, I never paid much attention to what campgrounds offered in the way of shower facilities. Do most or many campgounds have showers big enough for a handicapped person with a wheelchair? At home we use a tilting shower commode chair so I will also have to figure out what I will shower her in.
All things considered I may just have to bite the bullet and buy a larger RV to accommodate everything we need. I know resale on these is very poor due to the low demand so I would probably look at buying a used one.
I know many would think that this endeavor is a big waste of money and we should just give it up. She has been the most wonderful spouse and as her time here is going to be limited, I'd like to fulfill as many of her wishes as I can. Anyone whose life has been touched with quadriplegia knows that anytime one can experience things they did before is very precious. Any references to resources would be appreciated. Of course cost will enter into any decisions as we are comfortable and retired but by no means rich.
I would like to hear from those who have solved some of the challenges that quadriplegia presents with respect to camping and RVing. I'm thinking that instead of her expensive, powered wheelchair, a manual tilt in space chair would be easier to manage in the confines of an RV. I know there are manufacturers of lift devices to get her into the RV. I also think that the passenger seat could be removed and anchors installed so she can ride up front. We use a Hoyer lift at home to transfer her from chair to bed but I think the confines of the RV are too tight for this device. She is working hard in therapy to effect a slide board transfer but we are not there yet. Also, I am 64 with a heart condition so I don't have the stamina to physically lift her. I'm thinking that either the dinette bed would work for her with foam wedges or I could look into installing a hospital bed in that space.
Finally I wonder how I would go about showering her. There is no way I could get her into the RV shower. As we mostly showered in the RV before, I never paid much attention to what campgrounds offered in the way of shower facilities. Do most or many campgounds have showers big enough for a handicapped person with a wheelchair? At home we use a tilting shower commode chair so I will also have to figure out what I will shower her in.
All things considered I may just have to bite the bullet and buy a larger RV to accommodate everything we need. I know resale on these is very poor due to the low demand so I would probably look at buying a used one.
I know many would think that this endeavor is a big waste of money and we should just give it up. She has been the most wonderful spouse and as her time here is going to be limited, I'd like to fulfill as many of her wishes as I can. Anyone whose life has been touched with quadriplegia knows that anytime one can experience things they did before is very precious. Any references to resources would be appreciated. Of course cost will enter into any decisions as we are comfortable and retired but by no means rich.
