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I do not know how many of you subscribe to Paraplegia News magazine ... but two or three months ago there was a small article from an individual from the PVA who wanted suggestions on bed accessibility in hotel/motel rooms.
From the information he had gathered so far ... the individuals had more troubles with the beds being "too high" off the ground for transfers, etc..
I wrote his e-mail down over two months ago but it was only yesterday that I got the opportunity to send him off an e-mail that he left below his article in Paraplegia News.
There were a couple of things I could have worded better [or, unfortunately, left out] but I think I got my message across for my individual experience. And I experienced the same thing in a recent two-night trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico in September.
If any of you want to write to him ... you can get his e-mail below.
Lori
-------Original Message-------
Date: 6/13/2006 2:21:51 PM
Subject: Hotel bed accessibility
Dear Bob,
A couple of months ago I read your article in Paraplegia News asking for input/experiences of other folks when they travel regarding the beds in hotel chains.
I was actually surprised to read that many people had trouble transferring into the beds because they are "too high." Because I have had the opposite experience!
Five years ago, my husband and I traveled cross-country from Virginia to Tucson, Arizona using my accessible van. We never knew how many hours we were going to be able to travel in a day so we just had to 'wing it' when we finally arrived at any certain city toward the end of a day and to look for a hotel.
My husband can stand-pivot me INTO a bed but I need to use a hoyer lift to get out of bed and into my wheelchair.
So my major issue is "at least a 6 to 8 inch clearance under the bed for my hoyer. That is challenging. We will ask at the desk and they will say "oh yes, we do" but every single time my husband had to go check out the room to make sure that the appropriate clearance was there AS WELL AS no obstructions under the bed. We have found that, under some hotel beds, there is a block under the middle of the bed to hold it stationery. If that is the case ... we can not use that bed. So we search for rooms inside the hotel that both have the clearance height and no obstructions.
But also, every bed that was in numerous hotels ... was very, very low to the ground even with the clearance. I am so used to my adjustable hospital bed at home that goes up and down off the floor for my caregivers to help me dress, etc.. And I am used to looking at my caregivers from my perspective in the bed. But all the hotel beds made me feel like I was lying on the floor! My husband had to bend over so far to help me that it was very very difficult to say the least! Backbreaking.
I can not remember all the hotels that we stayed at .. but the people who were most accommodating were at the HAMPTON INNS. Unfortunately, they are a more expensive hotel chain and their beds weren't any higher off the ground than what I am referring to. I remember staying in a brand-new DAYS INN one night and they were very accommodating as well except for the height of the bed.
So my suggestion is just the opposite .... not only do I need maneuverability room but I need a bed that is more easily able to get into and out of. And, for me and my experience, that requires a bed that is off the floor much more.
That is my two cents :-)
Sincerely,
Lori [C5 quadriplegic] | 
