As I discussed in the previous post, we travel with a manual Hoyer lift to be able to transfer Cheryl between the wheelchair and the bed or toilet.  The lift remains in one piece so it can be rolled around in the hotels.  We are using bellmen where they are available at the hotels and have had no problem with them handling the lift without damaging it.

The big problem with hotels for the past few years is around the beds.  We noticed that many hotels were beginning to use wood platforms under their beds.  These are boards that are recessed a few inches under the box springs and mattress of the bed and go all away around.  Such boards make the use of the lift impossible because the feet of the lift must slide under the bed so that Cheryl is positioned over the mattress.  A normal bed on a frame with open space between the floor and bed, like we have at home, is the type of bed the Hoyer lifts were designed for.

We have had numerous conversations with hotel management and with hotel chains to understand their rationale for the platforms.  The only reason given to us is that it prevents items from rolling under the bed out of sight and thus left behind by guests.  So the reason for the platforms is convenience for the hotel guests.  Clearly this is a decision made by people who do not understand the challenges of those with mobility issues.

In all our encounters with the platform beds, no hotel has been prepared to temporarily remove the platform for us.  To do this would require platforms that are removable so that the bed frame remains. It would also require staff on hand to do the platform removable.  Hotels can not typically handle both of these needs.

Recently on a trip to Biloxi to the Golden Nugget, we encountered a very dedicated hotel staffer with a creative approach.  We had a king sized bed with 2 box springs under the mattress.  She had the platform removed which took the frame as well, leaving the box springs and mattress sitting directly on the carpet.  Obviously, this allowed no access under the bed for the lift.  However, once the hotel staffer saw the lift and understood our dilemma, she developed a creative solution that worked for us for two nights.  The box springs were moved apart so there was an opening for the lift between them. The mattress remained on top and across the opening.  See the photos below to see the end result.

Creative solution at one hotel.

This solution worked because the mattress was a good one and was able to bridge the opening while still providing support.

Another glimmer of hope for us is that recently we have been able to find a few hotels who are no longer using the platforms under the beds in their wheelchair accessible rooms.  One of our favorite hotels is Hampton Inn and we can usually find one of them that has a room with the bed on a regular bed frame.  Our hope is that all the hotel chains will at least remove the platforms in all of their wheelchair accessible rooms.

One other option KJ has developed for travel is an adjustment to the Hoyer lift.  In some cases we have found beds on frames but the height above the floor is insufficient for the lift to be pushed under.  He went to Home Depot and bought caster wheels for the front legs of the lift that are not as tall as the regular wheels.  He carries wrenches on trips so that in a few minutes he can swap out the wheels, lowering the lift legs by a couple of inches.  The wheels on the lift are 5″ wheels and the replacement wheels are 3″.  The dis-advantage to the smaller wheels is they are much harder to push on carpet.

Our normal practice now is to contact the hotel we have selected directly before we depart to ask if the bed is on a platform. We frequently make reservations online or through 800 numbers for the chains to get better rates.  The fact remains that only the local hotel staff can assure us the bed is not on a platform. Even with the process we have been burned because the hotel staff really didn’t understand what we were asking when we called them directly.  Or they were just guessing or, worse yet, lying.  I choose to believe it is not the latter.  We have made and cancelled many reservations because we could not be guaranteed a room with the bed on a frame.  It requires persistence and patience to make sure before departure that we will find a room that accommodates our needs. Driving 6, 8, or even 10 hours only to find a room doesn’t work is an instant stress builder, something neither one of us needs.