My mom is disabled and wants to go camping, any adivce?

Penelope · 02-08-2013, 03:03 PM

My mom wants to go camping this summer. The only problem is that she recently hurt her back and cannot sleep on a cot or in a sleeping bag because she needs a softer surface. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for me. I would hate her to miss out because of her back injury.

oldsarge · 02-08-2013, 03:49 PM

How about an inflatable mattress?

Newanderthal · 02-08-2013, 04:39 PM

at home, test a thermarest self-inflating camp pad, air mattress, etc. Find something that works before going to the woods. Then, find a camp site you can park nearby so she doesn't have far to walk.

DuctTape · 02-08-2013, 05:13 PM

Possibly a hammock. Doesn't get any softer than pure air. There are many who use a hammock due to back injury, as it is the only way for them to sleep.

Lorax · 02-09-2013, 09:11 AM

Inflatable mattress and use a battery pump.

Also, reserve a state park campsite that is a handicap site for more open area and more even ground for her to walk on perhaps?

ppine · 02-09-2013, 10:00 AM

Multiple thermarests maybe. Less chances of a leak. Good furniture. Flat campsite.

Judy Ann · 02-09-2013, 10:10 AM

An air mattress can be adjusted to the perfect degree of support and is easily found. My Coleman lasted about 150 nights for less than $40 (twin). I would not recommend the Quest brand that Target sells.

Every state park in my neck of the woods has a couple of handicapped sites, however most sites are designed to back into and open the trunk making car camping easypeasy. I would not advise a site where she has to carry in her desired possessions for any distance.

Grandpa · 02-09-2013, 10:15 AM

Having just had recent surgerys, I can attest that finding a suitable sleeping surface is the easy part. Getting down on or up from the ground would be agonizing. Even the act of getting into or out of the hammock would be difficult with that back.

I suggest some kind of recliner or glider chair, with a thermarest or underquilt under the body and a good bag as a quilt over the body.

Judy Ann · 02-09-2013, 10:27 AM

Ouch Grandpa!!! I had visions of the Beverly Hillbillies and Granny riding in a rocking chair in the back of the truck after reading your post. If anyone is in so much discomfort that they cannot sleep on a 6 inch air mattress and get up by themselves, then the family will have to be very creative!

Grandpa, I hope that your recovery is going well. If Grandma sets up a recliner in the back pasture for you to sleep in please have her take a picture. I need to see that UQ and and overstuffed bag with my own two eyes!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

Grandpa · 02-09-2013, 11:05 AM

Recovery is going great Judy. I fully expect to come off the disabled list in two weeks. Grandma has already relinquished firewood duty back to me. But she is still manning the snow shovel. She is out there right now removing last nights 9 1/2 inches (she measured) off the porch. But that recliner was the only place I could sleep for about two weeks.

As for Penelopes Mom, it depends how much flex she has in her body. I know there is no way I could have got down on my thermarest or back up on my feet alone.