This letter was emailed to wheelchairtraveling.com and asked to share with the rest of the wheelchair traveling community. There is a big difference between what a person needs if using a manual and electric wheelchair. Here’s what one traveler has come up with that is the perfect room for those in power chairs.
ALL HOTELS/MOTELS
To whom this may concern,
I wanted to pass along information that most management/owners of hotel/motels do not know or understand about the word HANDICAP.
Most hotel/motels go by State rules that cover the bare minimum.
A paraplegic is able to transfer from a wheelchair into bed or bath stool or another chair on their own. They are paralyzed from the waist down. This is what most State Laws cater to. A quadriplegic can NOT transfer on their own. They are paralyzed from the neck or chest down and need a Hoyer LIFT that their caretaker must operate to transfer them from/to their wheelchairs. A LIFT must be carried with them if they travel and stay overnight anywhere. It is very difficult to pull/push around on carpet.
The PERFECT room for a quadriplegic would be as follows:
1. No carpet on the floors. Tile as in bath is ideal as it’s hard to move a wheelchair and a LIFT around on carpet.
2. Roll-in bath large enough for both caretaker and the quadriplegic. A five foot by five foot is ideal for shower chair that must be traveled with.
3. Don’t need a lot of furniture in room. Need more room to move around in the wheelchair.
4. Bed MUST be on a regular frame ‘off the floor’ so the legs on a LIFT can go under the bed.
5. This PERFECT ROOM will be on the ground floor so as to exit in case of fire or other problems that might occur.
Thank you,
Russell Essex
RELATED READS: Accessible Travel Tips: Booking a Hotel, Plane Flight and Car Rental – Flying with a Power Wheelchair
Yes!!!! We are having this exact issue now:( ugh!
If the bed is supported on a pedestal, how is the best way to employ a Hoyer type lift. I have tried sliding the springs/matteress off the foot of the bed far enough to get the Hoyer legs under. This requires some type of support under the overhang.
I just had this discussion with the Hilton. Upon requesting all of the above, we were give a 5th floor room and a base under the bed. Try to explain to an ambulatory individual is almost impossible, unless they know well someone with these needs. It’s so frustrating to try moving an adult on a portable lift on carpet, while preventing his feet from hitting the lift! The manager in Southington, HOMEWOOD Suites was very accommodating, but of course could do nothing about carpeting and ceiling sling. How can we make these large hotels understand our needs? If Las Vegas… Read more »
My adult daughter is quadriplegic and is very hard to find an accessible hotel when we travel . We went to Las Vegas this summer and stayed in The Bellagio . I called the hotel before making the reservation to make sure we can reserve the room with the hoyer lift . When we arrived our surprise the room is huge and they have the ceiling electric hoyer lift by the bed and another in the shower ! The bed is electric with a control to change positions . We really enjoy staying in the Bellagio . Is the first… Read more »
Wow, this sounds incredible! Did you take any photos? It would be great to add this to the site to help the next person. Can you please email me at info@wheelchairtraveling.com to talk about this?
Sure I will post a photo of the room
I run into this issue so many time. I can’t believe how many hotel employee, not only the front desk but manager too are not training to understand the need of a handicap person. when we have this issue you should file a complaint with the ADA Department of Justice. Our voices needed to be heard!