Getting in and out of cars was one of the first difficulties my dad faced when he began having problems with his spine. After his first surgery, he began clinging to the vehicle’s door for support. Watching it, and him, swaying back and forth was pretty scary — it seemed like a miracle when he got through a trip without smashing his fingers — or worse.
When I saw the Handy Bar at a disability expo, I thought the price ($40 USD) was ridiculous, but I bought it anyway and took it home to Dad, not really convinced that it would help. I was wrong — it made all the difference. It took a couple of tries before Dad got used to it, but having the extra support to lean on when entering and exiting made all the difference.
Using the Handy Bar is very simple — inside the open car door is a u-shaped loop strong enough to keep the door in place when it’s closed. When the door is open, you put the Handy Bar into that loop and then treat it as a handle. Though it doesn’t actually lock into the loop, the bar is designed so that putting weight on it makes it more secure. Leverage keeps it in place — in all the time Dad used it, it stayed right where it belonged without once slipping. The manufacturer says it supports up to 350 pounds; it handled Dad’s 200 pounds-plus with aplomb.
Since it doesn’t have to be permanently installed, it’s easy to move the bar from one vehicle to another, and it stows in a side door pocket when driving. There’s an integrated — and protected — blade to use to cut a seat belt in an emergency, and the manufacturer points out that the whole tool can be used to smash a windshield, if you ever deem it necessary.
Available online at Dynamic Living — fits most vehicles; Dynamic Living has a chart showing which ones are compatible.