Hiring an attendant

[LilWilly 0]

I'm posting this question in this section as I want to avoid the most obvious responses. Anyway, I've had a couple of scary days and Im now reconsidering whether it will be pratical to make my newbie trip to Pattaya at the end of January. My physiotherapists is not entirely comfortable with me travelling alone - although she hasn't forbiden the trip. I'm meeting with a case working Monday to discuss getting some in-home assistance.

 

My question is does anyone know about the availabilty and costs of hiring an attendent in Pattaya for a month?

 

For the most part I expect to be able to look after myself so I'm looking for a safety net - someone for maybe an half an hour a day to drop in and check up on me. It's been a while since I've fallen down and I use the chair more and more. My concern is that if I do fall down, I may not be able to get up without assitance.

 

I've reserved a room at Sunshine Vista. I don't know if their services would including checking in on a guest.

Edited December 16, 2005 by LilWilly

[lemons 0]

Lilwilly,

I really dont think your hotel would have any problem with checking on you say twice a day. Could be managed same as a reminder call - they'd just ring at an arranged time to confirm all is well.

Alternatively, you wouldn't have a problem finding a nearby Thai, (say a massage lady) to help you out here for a modest fee. Say come to the room twice per day for 100baht - win win I'd reckon.

Finally, why not bring your mobile, get a Thai sim with say 300baht credit and program in a few numbers to call if you get into bother.

 

Cheers Lemons

[Prakanong 0]

I am pretty certain you can get a nurse from one of the hospitals to attend to you as an outcall.

 

This is certainly available in Bangkok.

[sinbinjack 251]

The only man that I know with an extensive knowledge of Pattaya and Thailand in general who would be able to give you the best advice on your question is Hilly he knows a lot of people and and is plugged into the local infrasructure so a PM to him might get you where you want to be quicker.

PS.I would not be put off by the quacks if you think you can do it on your own then you probably can

[BillWilson 10]

buddy

i see more and more REALLY handycapped guys in Pattaya

i dont see them alone

the thai view on a handicapp is very different than other places

great info here

 

if you want i will walk over to sunshine and fine out for you

i get my laundry done and my fav driver are across street

 

i have stayed at sunshine several times and i am pretty damn sure there will be not problem to ck on you

 

and after say, 3 or 4 hours, you can have a full time girl....................

 

pm me if yu want me to ck out sunshine vista

i will be in pattaya 23 dec for a month

[Firepole 181]

Lilwilly,

I certainly don't mean to pry but it might be a little more helpful to give an indication of what the degree of your difficulties are. My first concern was seizures but you said you were being seen by physiotherapists. MS, CP, Quad, TBI? TBI w/grand mal w/wo paralysis? If you know what I'm talking about you might need more assistance than indicated. If not, less to worry about. More frequent flare-ups lately if it's any of the previous? Things like this could make a difference in that, I'm sure you'll agree, you'd be better off setting something up with someone with a little medical background. At least this way if, God forbid, you needed acute care you'd have someone with a background who could communicate with the Thai "doctors" due to a language or other barrier. Yeah, maybe I'm overthinking it and you might not need anything more than assistance getting back into your chair but knowing a little more might help someone point you in the right direction for whatever your exact needs are. I'm sure you'll find what you need. Get a cellphone to use like "Lemons" suggested. While I'm somewhat familiar with Pattaya I'm afraid it's not enough to help you other than the suggestion above. Good luck.

[LilWilly 0]

Thanks everyone for your well wishes and assitance. I hesitate to ask on this thread because I think I've seen it elsewhere, but I will do a search and will definitly be looking into buying a pay-per-use cell phone when I'm over there.

 

cenctm - yeah, you're over-thinking but I appreciate it and you make valid points.

 

My condition falls under the Muscular Dystrophy umbrella. Specifcally, I have a rare, untreatable, genetic disorder called Myotubular Myopathy (or MTM for short). Essentially, my body is no longer able to produce new muscle fibres. As my existing muscle fibres wear out, there are no new muscle fibres to replace them and I get weaker and weaker. My legs were affected first, but it has progressed to my arms and hands.

 

I use a power-chair as much as possible these days. I can still stand and walk (well, I guess "shuffle" is a better word) short distance as long as I have some support (two canes, or a cane and a wall, or a bathroom counter). I can not do sit ups. To get out of bed, I have a pole installed next to my bed which I use to pull myself into a sitting position. For Pattaya, I plan to park the power-chair next to the bed so I can use it's handles in place of the pole. I also have trouble lilfting my arms above shoulder height. On the two "really bad days" last week, it took me 15 minutes to pull myself into a sitting position.

 

But I'm feeling better now and seem to be back to my "normal". I think my bad days were caused because I let myself get too tired (as in only 4 hours of sleep two nights in a row). In fact, if it hadn't been for the PT appointment on that 2nd day, I'd have stayed in bed and gone back to sleep - probably would have avoided the worst of it*. I'm going to see how things go over the next couple of weeks before I decide whether I'm going to "risk it".

 

* Hmmmm note to self. Hide tip in room night before. If too tired to get up, tell her where it is and go back to sleep.

Edited December 17, 2005 by LilWilly

[lemons 0]

I'm going to see how things go over the next couple of weeks before I decide whether I'm going to "risk it".

Mate, you know your capabilities better than anyone. All I can add is that, for a very modest fee you should be able to get any assistance you need from the Thai people - particularly the women.

 

"If you never never go - you'll never never know"

[Firepole 181]

Lilwilly,

Yeah, like I suggested, I was over thinking it. Sorry, occupational hazard on my part. Always plan for the worst and hope for the best is my motto.

 

A good bet would be to try to hook up with someone, via a board members suggestion, to give you the assistance you might need before you get there. If you don't get that, with that right amount of Baht and time you can get whatever you need when you get there..

 

I'm not sure what you mean by a power chair but, at the very least, you'll need a "travel wheelchair" in Pattaya. Keep in mind that the streets(and curbs) in Pattaya are NOT handicapped friendly. Fortuneatly, you WILL be able to find a companion to assist you.

[LilWilly 0]

I'm not sure what you mean by a power chair but, at the very least, you'll need a "travel wheelchair" in Pattaya.

power chair a.k.a. electric wheel chair.

 

I've never used a manual wheelchair. I think my OT forsaw that I wouldn't be able to use it long enough to justify the $4,000+ CDN cost. I don't think I'd be able to use a travel chair on my own. For that I'd need a full-time attendent or it would be too tiring to go anywhere.

 

I've received PMs from a couple of members offering help which I gladly accept. We'll play things loose and see how things go. I tended to be an independant person and I want to be as independet as possible on the trip and still be safe. I expect the main activity the first week will be exploring, which will give me a better handling on things. Like everyone says, you can't know Pattaya until you experience Pattaya.

Edited December 17, 2005 by LilWilly

[BillWilson 10]

I have seen several guys w/ electric chairs

the town aint friendly to them, but i have seen them none the less

 

magellans has a folding wheelchair

http://www.magellans.com/store/Health___Wa...AidsWA219?Args=

but is a 1000 usd

 

you can get one cheaper in thailand for sure

 

how many days??

[LilWilly 0]

how many days??

[BillWilson 10]

correct counting, but how many days IN COUNTRY??

 

fyi, if you are not working, you need to double them anyway!

[LilWilly 0]

Oops I misunderstood. I'm reserved for 28 days. I arrive in Bangkok Jan 31 and should be in Pattaya around 3:00 am Feb 1st. I leave Bangkok arond 6:40 am March 1st.

Edited December 18, 2005 by LilWilly

[Firepole 181]

Lilwilly,

You might want to consider having someone build you a plywood ramp that is small enough to keep with you in your Pattaya travels yet sturdy enough support the weight of your chair. I've got a feeling you're going to need it to get over the curbs in a lot of places. Trust me, you don't want to spend ANY time in the street looking for access to the sidewalk. Tie a rope to it so, when you're alone, you can pull it up to you once you're over the curb.

[marleyboy 140]

im pretty certain ive seen adverts in the pattaya mail newspaper (comes out every friday in pattaya and on the net) as to what you require, with people advertising themselves asd carers. ive not used them mind you! and as the other posters say the thais in the hotels will look after you grandly! (especially if you tip them!) so id try not to worry too much on that score! as for mobiles they are as cheap as chips! you can get second hand ones for around 1,000 baht, in october i took mine swimming with me! 800 baht to get it fixed so i bought a brand new one for 1,900 baht! all the best mate!

[LilWilly 0]

Lilwilly,

  You might want to consider having someone build you a plywood ramp

Unfortuantely it would be too arkward and heavy. It would need to be 30" wide and support 600lbs.

 

Now a 30" 2x4 with a rope through it might be managable. The chair can climb a 3" step. The 2x4 would act as a ramp to 5" and it would be light enough for me to handle. Only problem is it might also serve as a decent weapon.

Edited December 19, 2005 by LilWilly

[sonars 0]

Hi LilWilly,

 

Firstly I'd listen to Lemons quote above 'if you never go... you'll never know!"

 

Secondly though you must be totally aware of how wheelchair unfriendly Pattaya really is. It's an absolute nightmare and I really hope that you can find an attendant as soon as you can get out of the taxi.

 

I don't live in Pattaya but have visited my Dad there every year since 1998. For the last three years we have taken our young kiddies who are now 1year 10months and 3year 10 months. We take an 18" wide pushchair with us and it's really hard work and makes me appreciate how a wheelchair user would struggle.

 

The biggest problem will be the massive curbs. I reckon that some must be over 10" tall with no drop curbs in sight. Then you've got the condition of the pavements (sidewalks?) to consider. They'll be extremely un-even with slabs missing and large open holes left by workmen. The pavements will also be really crowded with pedestrians and market stalls and vendors.

 

Even when the pavements are in good order they'll be a telephone/electricity blocking your way. Imagine this: You've just managed to get up a 10" curb on Beach Road. The pavements starts to get very narrow (maybe down to 36"). There's tightly parked cars to one side of you and a wall to the other. You then see a telephone post right in the middle of the pavement. You can't get by on the pavement; you can't go around it so you've got to go back a couple of hundred yards to the 10" curb!

 

Don't get me wrong. I love Pattaya and you should make every effort to experience it for yourself. I just worry that you are going to end up stranded at your hotel with just a hotel worker checking in on you. I would strongly advise that you arrange an experienced and physically capable attendant for the duration of your stay.

 

I'm able bodied and have found Pattaya to be extremely frustrating and I think it would be nearly impossible to get around in a wheel chair without some serious help.

 

I hope you've found this helpful as I didn't want put a dampener on your trip. You WILL be able to have a great time in a fantastic place but please consider arranging some decent/strong help to be there when you arrive. Perhaps some of the forum members could scan the Pattaya Mail for you?

 

I'm there from the 6th - 22nd of January and am counting the days.

 

All the best and have a great time!

 

Sonars

[Lancashirelad 0]

Sonars, I'm glad you made that post as, reading the thread the terrible state/frequent obstructions of the Pattaya pavements/side walks was in my mind & I was thinking that Willy should be made aware.

 

That said, during my last trip I saw several guys in chairs.

 

Perhaps worth remembering that often an access to a building with many steps, will have a different access that's level. i.e. Royal Garden Plaza from 2nd road is level.

 

Willy, the worst that could happen, is that you give up in disgust after a couple of attempts to explore & finish up sitting by the pool all day. Even then, it would be relatively easy to get some female company shipped in.

 

Walking Street is level & quite a lot of the bars & restaurants on it are on the level.

 

I agree with what other posters have said in that it would be prudent for you to have someone with some medical knowledge....including how to lift you.

 

Hope you have a blast.

[LilWilly 0]

I agree with what other posters have said in that it would be prudent for you to have someone with some medical knowledge....including how to lift you.

I would think most of the ladies would have experience lifting drunken farangs, so they'd be well experienced on how to lift me.

 

It would probably be more of a strength issue. Might need a couple of ladies to put me to bed each night.