seat belt buckle for arthiritis sufferer

[canesisters]

My dad told me yesterday that he is having a lot of trouble working the seatbelt buckle, so he is now just buckling it before he gets in so that it doesn't beep the whole time he's driving. <gasp!>
I've been searching on the web for some sort of arthritis friendly seat belt buckle that doesn't require shoving a button down with the thumb. There doesn't appear to be anything... Can that be??? Arthritis is so common, and older drivers are more and more common... how can it be that no one has dealt with this problem yet?
Do any of you know of something that could help??? Preferably something portable so that he could use it no matter what vehicle he's driving.

 

[bobm]

A daughter , perhaps ?

 

[so lucky]

Would a small tube-type flashlight kept attached to his keychain help in pushing the button down? Or one of those little portable tool kits with the screw drivers in a tiny canister.
I have big problems with the kind of belts that you have to squeeze both sides in at the same time. Like on some child seats.
I bet you will find something that works, cane.

 

[Carol Dee]

I will watch this thread for a solution. Like So lucky I find child seat restraints difficult. Especially with the left hand. (Thank Goodness the youngest Grandchild can push the buttons for Grandma or he would be stuck there!)

 

[canesisters]

For child seats - this seems to be a popular solution
http://bucklebopper.com/

 

[canesisters]

Looking at airline seat belt extenders......

Have to check out the tab end - might not fit a car buckle

 

[Carol Dee]

@canesisters that will work for the single push button style. Trouble comes with having to squeeze from 2 sides. Ouch thumb.

 

[catjac1975]

Contact the arthritis foundation for advice.

 

[digitS']

... I have big problems with the kind of belts that you have to squeeze both sides in at the same time. Like on some child seats.
I bet you will find something that works, cane.

I don't have the child seatbelts to deal with, just the dog's collar.

Poor little thing must think I'm trying to strangle her!

Steve

 

[canesisters]

Haven't found a good solution to the seatbelt problem yet - but did find out that he's also having trouble turning the ignition key (it does not make sense that he will spend hours complaining to me about everything else under the sun and not tell me about the few things that I CAN help with.....)
Found these to help with key turning:





And this is a pen but could be useful for pushing buttons of several types: