Camping so accessible my wheel chair bound Grandma can do it

I know what you are thinking... My Grandma might not be that old. She isn't. But she does suffer from poliovirus disability. She contracted polio at a very young age and her muscles have been deteriorating ever since. Long story short, it's pretty hard for her to get around.

But even she can go camping.

There are three important things I keep in mind when camping with my grandparents.

Campsites must be handicap accessible.

This is one of the more obvious things about camping with wheel chair bound relatives. Most campsites have handicap accessible sites, however they are limited. Book campsites early to avoid missing out on complete accessibility. These campsites are usually closer to restrooms, showers and other amenities. They are typically bigger to allow patrons room for wheelchairs or larger vehicles that might be neccesary. Handicap accessible campsites are designed to offer a better experience to those that have specific needs. The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association reminds us that each campsite could have a different perception of handicap accessibility, so call before you book to confirm the above details.

Activities must accommodate a wheel chair.

My grandma is unable to stand for longer than ten minutes at a time and can not walk well on her own. Therefore we restrict her to wheel chair navigation only on outdoor vacations. Look for campgrounds that have paved trails for different activities. Zion National Park has an awesome paved hiking trail to the Emerald Pools. Some beaches have paved trails almost all the way to the waterfront. If you can't get a wheel chair bound relative all the way to a location, get them as close as you can and carry or walk them to a camping chair. It is sometimes much easier to place a light chair somewhere than to tumble through rocks and sand with a wheel chair. For example we did this with my Grandma when we took family pictures in Mexico. Wheeled her down the sidewalk and walked her a few feet to a chair.

There must be an RV hookup.

As my Grandma's disability has gotten worse, I have realized that she can no longer go tent camping. Although I love "roughing it" in a tent, I do not mind camping in an RV at all if I have my Grandma's company. Lucky enough my grandparents own an RV. Along with the comfort and ease of an RV, it is necessary for my grandma to have running water. It would be rather difficult for my Grandma to navigate her way to running water in a typical campsite every time she needed to wash her hands, brush her teeth or go to the bathroom. Especially if it was at night with no help. Having a camper or RV allows her access to running water within a few steps of her bed. If you do not own one I would seriously recommend renting an RV when camping with wheel chair bound or handicapped friend and/or family member.

No matter the situation remember, even my wheel chair bound Grandma deserves some fresh air.