What aids are available to lift things in and out of my car?
I am unable to weight bare much in the way of lifting and carrying things, and I'm struggling sevrely to get things that are anything more than what can casually be carried in a hand or in ny small rucksack in and out of my car. Every time I go grocery shopping or pick up a slightly larger or heavier item to bring home, it has to sit in my car until I can get someone to help me lift and carry the items inside. I also have to travel a lot and pack a suitcase, unfortunately usually a considerably large one because I have to bring a load of additional items with me for medical management. I can lessen the burden where the suitcase is on wheels, and I use a wheeled shopping trolley to take what I can from grocery shopping to & from the car, but the unavoidable problem still remains when these things are too heavy for me to lift on and out of the car boot- especially the suitcase. I have no one except my dad to help me and each time I have to arrange for him to make at least a 40m round trip to help me, or work it into a moment he is coming relatively near anyway. Or on occasion I am hurting myself trying to do it myself anyway. It's not fair on him or sustainable, and I need another way of getting things in and out of my car indeoendently. There may be things for this I don't know about. Does anyone have any advice?
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Could you make an alternative use out of things like this, just so we can get an idea what you are looking for? https://abletoenable.co.uk/shop/vehicle-adaptations/car-hoist/smartlifter-lm-range/
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Hoists a available to lift wheelchairs etc into vehicles could that not be used/adapted to be used for some/most of your needs.
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Why not get shopping delivered to your door? There are some good deals available now eg from Ocado. Then you can put fridge/freezer stuff away asap (it comes in a separate bag from the shop) and take your time putting away the rest bit by bit. Well, that is what I do currently.
Best Wishes, A
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Be careful with internet shopping as most supermarkets are bagless now. That means they expect you to move all of your items individually from their crate into your own crate or bags on the doorstep. That takes a lot of leaning and lifting. I tried 3 different supermarket deliveries and found they just didn't work for me unfortunately. Ocado is the only one that still uses bags as far as I know, which does help a bit.
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Iceland/The Food Warehouse still deliver in bags.
You can ask for bagless delivery crates to be taken into the kitchen and crates placed on kitchen counter which helps. Drivers will often assist unloading as it helps them get onto their next delivery quicker.
OP would having heavy items delivered and everything else you can manage staying as you shopping in person be a solution?
How about the suitcase sitting upright or sideways (as best suits you) either in the footwell of passenger seat, or sat on the back seat of car?
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Morrison's also uses a bag scheme even, i.e. you pay for the bags, and get money back from bags you return. Also Morrison's drivers are well aware of disabilities and are trained very well and will help you in your need and carry the bags all the way into the hall way, I made use of that every time the 3 months after my stomach surgery.
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To add further to this, there is even a tick box on for example Hermes / Evri, when you get your tracking number for any type of delivery, where you can say that you are disabled and need help with deliveries.
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You can get an adaption in your car and add a hoist, if you have PIP mobility and get a car you can add this adaption but I think you have to pay( I'm not 100% sure on payment) Online shoppping is a big help and the drivers all bring the crates in and put on my kitchen worktop to make it easier for me.
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Hi. My situation sounds a little bit like yours. I often use Morrisons click and collect service where I ask the assistant to help fill my boot. Back home I can usually manage bringing the fridge/freezer goods in myself, then I treat my car boot a bit like a cupboard bringing in a bit at a time each time I pass or as I'm when needed. The canned goods can stay there a long time even in the summer higher temps.
For deliveries, I live in a second floor flat, and have found Tesco, Morrisons, Waitrose will bring up the delivery. I always tip people a pound or two depending on how much work/time (Waitrose won't accept). Percentage wise, it's not a lot extra to me on a £100+ shop and helps what are relatively low earners.
On your suitcase etc and getting stuff into the car. I know someone who has made what is basically a plank of wood with a lip at one end (like a broom handle cut in half) that sits on the low flat bottom boot (where he's fixed something to accept the lip) and can wheel or push things into the boot. The plank is quite light, however there's a strap fixed on the underside for ease of moving it. Of course I realise you'd very likely need to know someone to make something like this for you (and have a boot which is flat)
Lastly I am becoming more inclined to ask for help now and again when needed (from friends/neighbours I wouldn't ordinarily ask), sometimes paying for it, whilst also being as independent as I can. I have really screwed up my back many times in the past (needing days or weeks to get back to where I was) lifting and moving things which are way belong my limit.
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Sadly not every type of delivery service offers adjustments. I find Royal Mail and Evri are fine. But always have issues with Parcel Force and DHL. As I can't travel anywhere to colect missed deliveries, I have to make sure I only order things where I can see which service will be used. But even that isn't failsafe. I have had a few deliveries sent by a different service to the one that was shown when ordering.
(Sorry, that's way off-topic from supermarkets, but now that I'm effectively housebound and can't reliably get to the front door, I'm finding even having things delivered is a massive hassle that often goes wrong and ends up with the items returned to sorting offices etc. I'm not allowed a secure parcel delivery box outside my flat either.)
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Because of neck/shoulder damage I too have problems lifting/carrying things. I have shopping delivered & always find the Drivers take the stuff out of the crates for me. If you have regular delivery Couriers most of them are helpful in carrying things in for you. Basically you have to ask people which I must admit has taken me a long time to learn.
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Tesco have always been great with the delivery being taken into my kitchen and unpacked for me.
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