In addition to being tentative about stepping down, my wife seems to forget how to sit down. This is particularly bothersome in the bathroom when she does everything right except sit down. I've tried pushing behind her knees, pushing down on her shoulders and, of course verbally coaxing her. Sometimes nothing works and it is time for the trusty mop!
She has the same problem sitting down at the table or sitting down in Church. Has anyone else noticed this?
It probably has to do with loss of depth perception. They can't judge where the chair or toilet is, so they are afraid to sit. My bil developed this - there were times we had to forcibly push him down with him grabbing onto us for life! My sister would yell at him cause he would grab her boob and squeeze it.
I struggled with the same problem; my husband refused to sit on the toilet or at the table. Eventually, I decided it wasn't worth the aggravation (to him and to me) and switched him into Depends and many times would just give him finger foods. He accepted the Depends very easily and it became so much less stressful. We have armed dining room chairs and I know I have to let him find the arm with his left hand and then he verrrrrry slowly will sit down. Much to my surprise, the last three months, he is actually sitting down better in the dining room chair and his recliner. I also believe he is afraid to sit as he doesn't trust that there is actually something behind him.
Haven't had to deal with this yet, but would it help to back them up until their legs touch the chair/commode/whatever--another point of contact, when depth perception is bad. Also, possibly stand at their side with you arm or hand on their back as they sit, so they don't feel as though they're going over backward. Just a thought--check with the Assn for the Blind and/or PT/OT sources for tips. They are in the business of facilitating things like this.
i`ve dealth with the sitting down , we would back up to the chair and touch his legs on it then he knew the chair was in back of him and would sit down, there were a few times he would stiffen his legs and would have to try and get him to bend his knees, that was hard, not sure how they get him to sit in nh, it takes 2 people
Getting my DW seated in her wheelchair or on the toilet has been something of a struggle for the past six months or so, but just in the past week we're having lots more trouble getting her seated in her recliner or on the bed, where there's really nothing for her to hold onto while being seated. She gets panicky and starts whimpering and would fall backwards if I didn't brace her with my leg and slide her into the chair -- all the while she's hollering at me about pushing her. A combination of balance issues and failing depth perception -- possibly worsened by a seizure episode (TIA?) she had six days ago that lasted 45 minutes.
Also leg strength. Forgot that about my bil. This too is where having one of those belts around them helps - helps lower and raise them making them feeling a little safer I would think.
My husband has also refused to sit for the past several weeks except on a dining room chair and then instead of him turning around and sitting down, he stood and pulled the chair until it was to the side and slightly behind him. Then he would reach back until he could touch it with his hand, then he would sit. When not sitting on a dining room chair he went to bed. Would not sit in the recliner or on the sofa.
We've rigged my DW's dining chair with caster wheels so it's easier to push her up to the table, and this also gives us more flexibility in that we just walk her over to the table and let her rest her hands there for support while we roll the chair up behind her and ease her into it while she's still holding onto the table.
I've got bad knees, and sitting down was a problem for a while. I found that I needed to touch the chair to make sure it was there before I could sit down. So what everyone is saying about having them move backwards until they can feel the chair makes perfect sense. So does Gourdchipper's description.
But I'm sure that the time comes when even what used to work stops working. Who do you call for advice at that point?
I don't know if you have tried this, but the aide who helped with my Mom showed me how to get her out of her chair and also to sit her down. First of all brace yourself with your feet apart, lean over them and tell them to hug you around the neck. (You might have to demonstrate by lifting their arms). Lock your arms to your body so you won't hurt your back, and put your arms around their waist and lift to standing position or swivyl to transfer to another chair. They feel more safe this way and it doesn't hurt your back. Try it and see how easy it is.
Well, not only did Imohr explain how to do it, she also explained how to get taught how to do it. You need to contact an aide service and ask for lessons.
Don't know if that would work Starling. None of the other aides or nurses seemed to know how to do it. I forgot to tell you to lock your hands behind their back. If the patient is taller than you it won't be as easy.