This double whammy poses problems for wheelchair travelers who need either a high or low bed. they can’t be lowered in any way) and there is no space underneath to place a hoist. Higher platform beds seems to be the new trend at US hotels, meaning that many beds are not adjustable (i.e. This is also why you will come across a wide range of bed heights and styles from hotel to hotel – even within the same chain, due to the fact that the majority of hotel properties are now franchised. This is why you will often find heavy and bulky furniture in wheelchair accessible rooms that are placed in a way that block access to the windows, outlets, nightstands, and thermostats. So, what happens when a wheelchair user travels and has to stay in a hotel room? It’s important to know that non-fixed furniture in US hotel rooms do not fall under the mandate of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Whoever designed this hotel room forgot I’d need access to the bed and blinds. A higher position also makes it easier for a caregiver to dress or reposition a wheelchair user who needs extra care, or for someone with knee or hip problems to get up out of bed. This often means there is more space under the bed to roll the supporting legs of a hoist or lift. For people like us, lower beds make it much easier for us to transfer safely and comfortable from our chairs to our beds.įor wheelchair users who require a considerable amount of care/assistance, a higher bed is likely better. Many manual wheelchair users have no lower body control, but have good upper body strength and can also self-transfer. I’m a power wheelchair user who can’t walk at all or lift my legs, but I can stand, plant my feet in one spot, and pivot to transfer. We’re able to customize our homes, and specifically our bedrooms, to meet our particular needs. That means that their daily living needs are totally different as well, which includes how they sleep. No two people with physical disabilities and/or the need for a wheelchair are the same. In this post, I take a look at the debate over the appropriate bed height in wheelchair accessible hotel rooms, the apparent lack of two-bed accessible rooms for families traveling with a wheelchair user, and what hotels can and can’t (or won’t) do to make things easier for wheelchair travelers. For travelers who use wheelchairs, however, a good night’s sleep in a hotel room – even one designated as wheelchair accessible – may be a pipe dream depending on a multitude of factors. Some people are more picky than others about the mattress type or pillows, but most just want to sleep. That’s all a traveler really wants when he or she arrives at a hotel room after a long day of travel.
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