Wheelchairs for Carbon Knees?
My Grandad has a carbon knee so he can only bend his right leg and up until the last couple of years he has managed to keep driving his automatic car safely and comfortably, however it has become a real struggle for him now that he is in his late eighties, and it is a huge worry for my Mum especially when she is in the passenger seat with him at the wheel. Because of his disability he finds it very uncomfortable sitting in the passenger seat and getting in and out of the car in reverse, so my Mum cannot drive him around and so he cannot venture beyond the local shops. He has also never been able to sit comfortably in a wheelchair, and he gets stuck trying to get out of one which is so frustrating for him and means my Mum hasn't been able to aid his mobility in that way either. My Grandad is a very proud and stubborn soul and refuses to stop driving - without his car he would feel even more isolated and dependent on others. There will come a time of course when he will have to stop driving, but in the meantime, does anyone know of a way in which an ordinary car can be adapted at all for his disability, and what sort of wheelchair might be more suitable for him?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Linda Jane McLean on
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I'm afraid that I am struggling to understand. I presume you mean a knee replacement?
The knee that does not bend is the leg which has not had the operation?
I am astonished that he would want to drive at all, from your description. However, as he does, any adaptation would have to be specialised. I do not know that at his age this would be encouraged.
As a passenger in the car, if he finds it difficult, there are various solutions. A good O.T. might be the first place to try.
Linda
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Permalink Reply by George Perfect on
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Hi Rosie,
Sad to say from your description it does sounds as if the time has come for your grandad to seriously consider giving up driving. As a keen driver myself (I used to take part in long continental drives and also raced historic sports cars - on track, I hasten to add) I know how important it is to maintain that sense of independence that driving brings.
But, we all have to adapt, and it does sound as if your grandad is having, and may continue to have, significant difficulty in conducting a car *safely*. It's not just his safety or that of his passengers (like your Mum) that has to be considered but that of other road users, pedestrians etc.
Of course, my opinion is nowt but speculation based on the brief information you give (you may well be describing a Mr S. Moss for all I know). If you want a definitive answer, book a session at your local Driving Assessment Centre. These centres are run by the NHS on behalf of DVLA and have a stock of adapted vehicles (eg; already fitted with hand controls, swivel seats etc). A session at one of these centres will both establish whether it is safe for your grandad to continue driving and, if so, advise the kind of adaptations - including wheelchair options - that he might need.
After my last stroke, my great fear was that a (mandatory after stroke) trip to the Assessment Centre would see my licence taken away for at least a considerable time. In fact, the staff were as kind, helpful and (importantly) positive as you could ever ask. They *wanted* me to show that I could still drive safely and after a very thorough assessment placed only sensible and modest restrictions on my licence that reflect my capabilities. Overall, it was a very worthwhile exercise - it feels very good when someone tells you that you are still capable of driving safely. It's a huge boost to my confidence to know that I continue to drive not just on my opinion but that of a professional examiner.Your grandad may well end up with a different result. But better he, your Mum and you all know in good time.
On a positive note, perhaps your grandad could consider a road-capable mobility scooter or powered wheelchair with leg-rest attachment. Many scooters enable you to drive them with one or both legs straight, resting feet on the front mudguards. As Linda says, a talk with an OT is the place to start. It may not - or it may! - get him from John O'Groats to Lands End. It will preserve his independence.
My father-in-law is now in his late eighties. A keen, life-long driver he gave up driving around 8 years ago when he decided his reactions were becoming too slow. He has always been active, fit and independent up till just over a year ago when his mobility declined significantly. We gave him a light-weight class 4 (fully road legal, lights, tax and all, 8MPH max speed, 20+ mile range) mobility scooter that sees use nearly every day. It has maintained his independence, his mobility and his sense of self-worth (his wife can still send him out to the shops and he carries home the weekly groceries, albeit in the panniers and baskets of his scooter!) He is not reliant on others when he needs to attend GP or hospital appointments. Perhaps most importantly, it lets him get out of the house and has maintained his contact with friends and clubs so that he still has an active social life.
A lady neighbour was recently heard to complain that he was speeding - I think because his scooter is faster than hers.
Great to see him still having fun! :>)
Good luck in getting your grandad sorted out. Let us know how he gets on.
George
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Permalink Reply by Rosie Ince on
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Thank you very much Linda and George for all your thoughts and suggestions, it is much appreciated. It had never actually crossed my mind to look into specialised mobiltity scooters/powered wheelchairs as an alternative form of transport for my Grandad - that's going to be an interesting conversation/debate! But yes a session at a driving assessment centre would be a good place to start. Thank you.
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