How do you know when it's time to lose the car and get a mobility van?

Jeremy Nachtigall • July 10, 2021

I’ve talked about my mother’s brief recovery from surgery and her subsequent rapid decline due to her diagnosis of ALS. It was during this time that we had to quickly learn what is involved with caring for a loved one with physical limitations. My mom had a typical 4 door sedan that we (the aides, my sisters and I) would use to transport her around. We would take her to doctor’s appointments, to the supermarket, to the beauty parlor, the nail salon and even into the city. But it wasn’t like, “OK, c’mon mom, let’s get in the car and go…” It was a process.


First, one or two of us had to help mom get into her wheelchair. Then she had to be wheeled out to the car. Then we had to properly position her chair alongside the car.

Then we had to remove the armrests and footrests from the wheelchair and use a transfer board to slide my mom into the passenger seat. We’re only halfway there at this point. Now, get the seatbelt around mom, fold up the chair and put it in the trunk. This was the daily process to get my mom from place to place. It wasn’t until December or January that we came to the decision that we needed to get a mobility van. We had an appointment with her elder law attorney to discuss the funding of her care, asset protection, and required documents. I distinctly remember parking on the slush-covered street and what a challenge it was to now do in reverse what we had just done 15 minutes earlier. Getting the chair out of the trunk, positioning the chair on the curb and setting up the transfer board so we could get my mom out of the car and into her wheelchair and then reattaching the armrest and footrest. You have to understand this was a constant exercise. Over and over. And exhausting to say the least.


I was tasked with locating a vehicle for my mom and disposing of her current car. I went to work researching dealerships that sell mobility vehicles. Fortunately, I found a modified-van resale dealer in NJ. The next decision was what kind of van do we need? Toyota, Honda, Chrysler? New or used? Rear entry or side? And it wasn’t just a matter of picking your favorite car, we had to decide which modification to use, Braun or AMS? How about the chair locking system? A retractable ramp or a folding ramp, etc. After much time researching for the right dealership, the various vehicle choices, options and pricing, I ultimately located a vehicle with Braun equipment. Now, if you’ve ever gone shopping for a car, you know that this is an event that requires mental strength. What we normally do is look at Kelley Blue Book or the NADA to determine what a vehicle should cost. However in this case, I really had no basis to determine if the dealer’s pricing was fair except for comparable vehicles with comparable equipment. We made the deal which included trading in my mother’s car. 


This was the game changer. Gone were the days of pulling the wheelchair up to the car. Gone were the days of folding it up and putting it in the trunk. Gone were the days of struggling to get my mom in and out of the car, and gone were the days where my mom didn’t feel as though she was a burden on her children because that’s what usually happens. Our parents don’t want to be a burden on us. That’s why it is important to prepare now so that you are not rushed into a decision later. The steps you take now to prepare for what could be will benefit you in the long run. I decided to be a Daily Money Manager so I could help other families avoid the stress and frustration of having to navigate these situations and complete these goals alone.


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