I don't even know where to begin. I live in the Seattle area and my 89 year old mother lives up in Winnipeg in Central Canada. Yesterday she broke her leg when she was hit by a car while crossing at a crosswalk in a store parking lot. The driver was totally at fault as he was looking for a parking spot and not paying attention to where he was going. I am thinking that the best thing for her and her German Shepherd would be to bring them down here while she mends. She no longer wants to fly and can not sit very long in a car, so I am wondering if renting and RV would be a good option for transporting her as comfortably as possible. I have course have no idea how much that would cost, how comfortable it would be for her to ride in an RV or anything else. Please help me, as I want to get as much information as possible before I present the idea to her in more detail. Or if there is anyone driving out this way that could transport her in a month or so please let me know. My mom is a wonderful woman, very much loved and very intelligent. It isn't as if I didn't have enough on my plate for this summer, with prom coming up for one daughter, a new grandson up in Edmonton for another and the third daughter getting married in August. Plus a home business to run and various other responsibilities. My mother can't stay in her home because it is an old 2 story with a long steep flight of stairs going up to the second floor and no bathroom on the main floor. Staying at my sister's isn't an option either. She is afraid that she may have to give up her dog who gives her life so much meaning and who was one of the top German Shepherds in obedience in Canada.

I hope you have some time to think this through. I know coming to your Mom's aid in time of need is the best thing you can think of at this point but it doesn't sound like a good fit for what you have going on in your own house. It may be better for Mom to stay in an extended care facility up there and have your Sister, if closer, take care of any personal needs.If the Shepherd is as good as you state, there should be a means to have him housed and to visit Mom on a regular basis. My Daughter is a pet caretaker and I would assume there are those in Winnipeg. If I was closer, the dog could be here. Hope it all works out for you and your Mom.

TAKE the VIA RAIL train to Vancouver,AMTRAK train to Seattle and then whatever train gets you closest to home. Get a bedroom. Have meals brought to the room. Yes the will do that both on Amtrak and VIA RAIL. In fact they will bring meals to your coach seat as well.Who will pay for her rehab while she is here in the states?The insurance payment issues might be huge if she comes south.In addition the U.S. government may declare her a part time resident and tax her if she stays to long in the USA.good CBC article athttp://www.cbc.ca/news/business/taxes/canadian-snowbirds-tax-season-2016-1.3451763

I wonder if it would be a good idea to set up a bed, clothes storage, etc, on the ground floor of her house -- even if it has to be in the corner of the living room. In the long term, at her age, it is not going to be practical to have all the bedrooms upstairs.For a bathroom, you can rent a 'commode' (need someone to empty it after use), or get a composting toilet (empty once a year), if remodeling is not practical.She might even be able to stay in her house with the current injury, if she can sleep downstairs and have some one to help her (family or a hired caregiver).I agree that the train would be as comfortable as an RV, and much simpler. I crossed the US by train with a broken foot, once. The stewards and red caps are very nice, and will drive you through the station on their electric trucks if you ask :)

darsben wrote:TAKE the VIA RAIL train to Vancouver,AMTRAK train to Seattle and then whatever train gets you closest to home. Get a bedroom. Have meals brought to the room. Yes the will do that both on Amtrak and VIA RAIL. In fact they will bring meals to your coach seat as well.Who will pay for her rehab while she is here in the states?The insurance payment issues might be huge if she comes south.In addition the U.S. government may declare her a part time resident and tax her if she stays to long in the USA.good CBC article athttp://www.cbc.ca/news/business/taxes/canadian-snowbirds-tax-season-2016-1.3451763These are all things that we need to consider before making a decision which is why I am in the process of collecting information. She has asked that I go up there to take care of her as well, I just don't know how long I can with all going on this summer, hence me exploring the easiest most comfortable way to get her down here. She witnessed a good friend go downhill very rapidly after she was forced by her children to give up her dogs and go into a retirement home and she is afraid of that happening to her as well.

Naio wrote:I wonder if it would be a good idea to set up a bed, clothes storage, etc, on the ground floor of her house -- even if it has to be in the corner of the living room. In the long term, at her age, it is not going to be practical to have all the bedrooms upstairs.She might even be able to stay in her house with the current injury, if she can sleep downstairs and have some one to help her (family or a hired caregiver).I agree that the train would be as comfortable as an RV, and much simpler. I crossed the US by train with a broken foot, once. The stewards and red caps are very nice, and will drive you through the station on their electric trucks if you ask :)There is not bathroom or toilet on the main floor.

Newbie here, no RV, but have serious situation. need advice

2gypsies1
Explorer III
Jun 18, 2016
It's been a month and a half since the first post. I assume you found a way to deal with the problem by now. Let us know.
Joyce_in_NY
Explorer
Jun 17, 2016
I would love to know how you solved the problem! How is your mom doing?
Harvey51
Explorer
May 03, 2016
Look ahead, not back. Discuss with doctor and hospital social worker, who can work through a large range of assisted care facilities. My mom had kidney failure in her mid eighties and the social worker in Edmonton University hospital got her a place at a government lodge near the dialysis center closest to her home town in the north. She was happy there and made friends. Very modest cost, easily covered by her pensions. After a year a miracle happened and she could live without dialysis so she went home where my dad looked after her for several years until she had a big stroke. It's one thing after another in the nineties. Then she went into government long term care, same cost, and a year later transferred to the new LTC in my town. By that time her mind had gone the way of her body and she thought she was in a boarding school. Died at age 90.

We are now looking after MIL in our home and one of us has to be home with her all the time. We had a year or so where she could get in and out of the RV, which was pretty good. But no more. The motorhome sits idle.
pianotuna
Nomad III
May 02, 2016
Install the chair lift to the 2nd floor.

Laying in the rear bed of my class C is not a terribly comfortable experience. I find it impossible to read a book, for example.

A class B may ride better.
Caroline5
Explorer
May 02, 2016
DrewE wrote:
I see you've gotten a lot of good advice and information, but oddly not a lot answering the specific question (about difficulty traveling in a motorhome).

While it would probably be more comfortable than a car, a motorhome is generally not at all ideal for an incapacitated elderly person. The entry to most motorhomes involves a fairly narrow door and several relatively steep steps, and the interior is often rather tight, precluding navigation with a whelechair or walker. The toilets are often lower to the floor than normal residential toilets, with little room to maneuver around them.

A class C motorhome is not going to give an exceptionally smooth ride, though of course a lot depends on how rough the roads are. A diesel pusher with air suspension would be a nicer ride...but finding one to rent might be a big challenge.

That's not to suggest that it would be an impossible plan, only that in my opinion not as easy as it might seem at first. I think taking the train would be a lot simpler and more comfortable and have better facilities for a disabled person. Even a large sedan with lots of back seat space would in my opinion likely be more practical.
DrewE
Explorer II
May 02, 2016
I see you've gotten a lot of good advice and information, but oddly not a lot answering the specific question (about difficulty traveling in a motorhome).

While it would probably be more comfortable than a car, a motorhome is generally not at all ideal for an incapacitated elderly person. The entry to most motorhomes involves a fairly narrow door and several relatively steep steps, and the interior is often rather tight, precluding navigation with a whelechair or walker. The toilets are often lower to the floor than normal residential toilets, with little room to maneuver around them.

A class C motorhome is not going to give an exceptionally smooth ride, though of course a lot depends on how rough the roads are. A diesel pusher with air suspension would be a nicer ride...but finding one to rent might be a big challenge.

That's not to suggest that it would be an impossible plan, only that in my opinion not as easy as it might seem at first. I think taking the train would be a lot simpler and more comfortable and have better facilities for a disabled person. Even a large sedan with lots of back seat space would in my opinion likely be more practical.
Caroline5
Explorer
May 02, 2016
fla-gypsy wrote:
This is a difficult position you find yourself in. Avoiding assisted living is not going to be easy. With that type of injury mobility is an overriding problem that is difficult to overcome. My mother is also that age and only lives 2 miles from me and I think I would still consider assisted living in those circumstances. I know that's not what you wanted to hear but you can't let emotion cloud what is already a difficult problem to overcome.

I posted my response with wrong quote. Sorry
Caroline5
Explorer
May 02, 2016
Sorry I keep posting message in wrong quote.
Caroline5
Explorer
May 02, 2016
fla-gypsy wrote:
This is a difficult position you find yourself in. Avoiding assisted living is not going to be easy. With that type of injury mobility is an overriding problem that is difficult to overcome. My mother is also that age and only lives 2 miles from me and I think I would still consider assisted living in those circumstances. I know that's not what you wanted to hear but you can't let emotion cloud what is already a difficult problem to overcome.

Lol, taken away from her and she might even be faced with giving up her dog. She flipped out and got angry with me.
Last fall while I was visiting I took her to look at an assisted living community and they welcomed the dog with open arms. She
Caroline5
Explorer
May 02, 2016
Caroline5 wrote:
SCVJeff wrote:
What about a stair lift?

We would have to see how much room is required on the second floor as the landing there is tiny, about 3.5 x 3.5.

Lol, no, that isn't what my mother wants to hear. I sat down with her 10 years ago and tried to talk with her about selling the house and moving into a one story home or assisted living. I warned her that the day may come when she will fall, break her leg and the choice will be taken away from her and she might even be faced with giving up her dog. She flipped out and got angry with me.
Last fall while I was visiting I took her to look at an assisted living community and they welcomed the dog with open arms. She chose not to move because she didn't want to have to take her outside several times a day to go potty. That time again she got upset with me when I expressed my concern about the stairs.
So now here we are, the choice has been made for her and she is afraid of loosing her dog. I am doing my best to figure out what the best option is now.
There are some things I can put on the backburner for a while, but there are others, like spending time with my first grand child and helping my daughter plan her wedding I can't.