My dh is not able to turn onto his side by himself and he is way too heavy for me to do it. I have tried the draw sheet with no success. The Hoyer Lift is ok for lifting but you cannot change nor clean a person with on. I can get my dh into a sitting position on the side of the bed and clean all but his rear end. Lately, he either will not or cannot get himself into a standing position for me to clean him and move into the wheelchair. What have you all tried with success and no back or shoulder injuries? I talked with our dr. regarding the constant falling asleep (which of course my dh did not do in the presence of our dr.) and the dr. found nothing wrong. Dr. said dh looked perfectly fine. Oh, yes. We used to public transport service yesterday to get to the dr. appt.. Not too bad but they were 20 mins late on the return and we had already been waiting for over an hr. for the pick up appt. Then their lift would not work and the driver had to do everything manually (which we heard about). What should have taken us less than 2 hrs took almost 5 hrs. Needless to say, I won't be using the service again anytime soon. We were both exhausted. Thanks.
brindle if you can get him sitting up and move onto a very close shower chair , the kind with the hole in the middle, you can clean them up perfectly from below. if not, if you have an agency or hospice they can show you how to turn them on sheets without injuring yourself.. if he is unable to help at all, you may need to hire more days of helpers. divvi
Brindle, I have a CNA come daily to bathe my husband and the Hospice nurse is as of this weekend, going to have a CNA come on Saturdays and Sundays as well. I can't turn my husband either. I could get him to stand for 15 seconds while I change his depends and bed pads, but that is all. And it is obvious that this is not going to be able to continue much longer either.
Like you, I can't afford to hurt my back, and I have to have help.
Lynn only weighs 120ish, but even at that turning him by myself is a chore. I was taught how to use the bed liner, and it works great. But, he can not hold himself in any position, so how do you hold him on his side AND clean him alone? I found no way to do this without help. Even at the nursing home it takes two aides to do any of his daily care needs. Even the swing lift (vanderlift) they use to get him out of bed takes two aides. I hope you are able to get some help, sometimes what we want to do and what we are able to do are two entirely different things. Best of luck ♥
i do not use the sheet method for now either. my DH only weighs like lynn nikki. i am able to half roll him successfully enough to clean under the back on each side. at this point i outweigh him by alot :) so what i opt for is to bend his knees - (either one at a time or both together if hes cooperative)to do the cleaning- its very easy this way and if you use the throw away disposable pads you can put a second overlapping one under the hips when bed is made and it comes out very easily when changing and cleaning. then slip another under when done lifting one leg at a time. a little practice but works nicely for me so far. i do go thru lots of wipes doing this way and then a warm soapy wash rag over the cleaned area before applying cremes and new depends.bending the knees makes even getting on new depends so much easier. on a heavier person i think if you can bend the legs you should be ok to get them cleaned up enough.
Nikki, I learned to support the weight with my left hand and clean with the right......My husband could not grab onto the bed rail because his hands were contracted under his chin.
To me, the key is to get the hospital bed to the right height for you to be able to get some leverage....always use your legs.....and then I would roll him to his side.....also make sure the bed rail is up on the other side..ooops...! Once he was on his side I could change and clean him very easily. I watched some very capable aides do this by themselves and they were happy to let me practice and I could do it and never hurt myself.
It is doable......you just need to have someone show you how.....
Ooh, bending the knees sounds like a plan, thanks. I got the bed up higher and that helps as well. He is at least 170 lbs, 6, 2in and I am 128 lbs and 5, 1in. Trying to do anything after putting on lotions or ointments is impossible so have to wash up first. I did use a thick pillow to hold dh onto his side and that did help. The funny thing is that dh has slept on his side for years and now he is sleeping on his back! It was a lot easier to clean his butt when he slept on his side and then I could turn him onto his back to clean his front area really well. Can't figure what happened. Oh well, I am determined (and sore) so will practice, practice. I think I am trying to get it done quickly so he is not uncomfortable but probably need to really think it out and slow down. Thanks for the advice and support.
brindle, oh my heart goes out to you, I am in the same spot. I cannot turn my husband at all due to the nerve damage in my back, I would think bending the legs would be the best but I can't even do that. Brindle, I use the DIVIDED LEG SLING with the hoyer lift, it works perfect, his little bottom hangs out and I clean it so good and then sit him on a diaper in the wheel chair and diaper him. I move him to the wheel chair with the hoyer lift, the diaper is already in place on the chair and zoom it is done. He is clean, he is up and ready for the day. It works perfect for me. The DIVIDED LEG SLING is not the same sling as the commode sling so if you get it just remember ask for the DIVIDED LEG SLING, My husband weighs 150 lbs.
Get your husband to the sitting position on the bed, then slip the sling behind his back, attach the first first part of the sling at the back, I use pillows behind him to help when he starts to lean back, then pull the sling under his legs, then hook the side of the sling and zoom you are ready to clean the bottom and place him in his chair. Let me know if you try this, I know it will work. No one could be more unable to turn them to the side than me.
Jane, that sounds like a good apparatus but it would have never worked around here. My husband could not even sit up by himself so even that divided leg sling would have been a two person maneuver. But, for those who have LOs who can sit up it sounds great.
Brindle, I hope you find something that works for you.....
Ladies you are all troopers. My heart goes out to each and every one of you; along with my admiration. I cannot imagine how my DW would handle turning me over. As for me, we are only at Level 6, so I haven’t had to deal with the issues yet. However, at least for the next few years, I’m 53 years old, she weighs about 135 lbs, I’ll be able to just pick her up. As time goes on, I’m not so sure.
Sandi, This is not a two person task even if your husband could sit up, my husband also falls backward cannot sit alone without arms or pillows but you just put this sling behind the back, slip the long part under the legs and lift them from the laying down position on the bed, it is simple, a one person trick. Just takes a little practice. The sling holds them in place. I can well visualize doing this same technique with a person such as your husband was. I get my husband to the sitting position from a position where he is laying flat and the sling brings him up.
Jane, they use what they call a split leg for Lynn, but it does not have the hole you are speaking of. I will have to do some searches to see what slings are available. I am curious, if they are laying down and not able to shift or sit, how do you slip the sling behind their back? It takes two people to get the sling on Lynn and then two also to move him. One to help hold him in the sling and one to operate the vanderlift. I am trying to find a way to make this a one person operation so I am interested in your techniques. Thanks :)
Nikki, brindle's husband can be gotten to a sitting position, she was trying to find a way to clean his bottom after getting him to the sitting position. I also am able to lift my husband from a laying down position with the sling. First, raise the head of the bed, then pull him forward and slip the sling behind him, it only has to go to the top of the tail bone, not under the bottom, then lower him back to the laying down position, slip the bottom straps under each leg and hook the sling to the lift, he can easily be raised this way, the bottom will hang out and can be cleaned. Just don't cross the bottom straps of the sling. It is designed to use this way for cleaning. If in an emergency and you usually have help getting them up and your help cannot get there one day, you can also leave the sling on when they are laid down and lift them from the laying down position. You can also roll the sling up while they are laying down and push it under just as you do when changing a diaper in bed.
There are many different ways this sling can be used. It just takes a little practice and has saved my life.
As for a two person operation, it is NOT. I would say in a facility they would require two people because of liability, as all instructions on slings and lifts say a two person operation but in reality it is not especially in a home setting.
This is a link to the exact sling I use. It is a six point sling and has to be used with a six point lift. In the picture you will see the leg part is crossed. The instructions with the sling allow the legs not to be crossed with each leg apart therefore allowing the bottom to drop down for cleaning.
I hope this helps. http://www.phc-online.com/Hoyer_Lift_Sling_p/invacare_r100.htm
Thank you Jane! That was very helpful to see the picture. It is very different than the sling they use for Lynn. The one he has there is no head and back support. I can see where that would be much better! My only problem would be pulling him forward. It isn't that he is trying to be difficult, it is more he panics and resists when one tries to help move him. But even when he is sleeping I was unable to lift him up enough to get the sling on him alone. But that is because of my medical issues. I can see where if one had the ability that this could easily be a one person operation. I will keep practicing :) Again thank you!
Jane. Thanks for all of the help and info. I will certainly research it. sounds great. My back and shoulders ache, ache. With the regular Hoyer "seat" I found that taking out two of the metal holds before putting it under dh is easier to "pull" through under him. I was worrying about hurting him with those pieces. They are easy to take out and put back in. I'll let you all know what I find. Thanks again.
brindle, just look at the divided leg sling that I use and visualize it with the straps not crossed at the legs, just a strap under each leg with the legs then apart, it works and the instructions that come with the sling allow it to be used in just this way.
copy and paste this link. http://www.phc-online.com/Hoyer_Lift_Sling_p/invacare_r100.htm
Jane. Thanks. I went to the website but the picture was not really good. However I did ask my dr. to get one for me as it is covered by my insurance. It took me 3 hrs this morning to get my dh out of bed and into the family room. Every time I cleaned him up, he would poop some more. What a mess! Good think I have an extra sling so I could wash the original one I had on him. I had to take a time out. Hopefully, the sling will come soon but I think it will have to be ordered and may take a couple of weeks. What in the world did people do before all of these gadgets? It is still difficult with them but I think impossible without them unless you have lots of help. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Will let you know how it goes.
By the way, I found things at WalMart internet site that I can buy and they ship for free to my home. Saves me time. Just ordered some pads, disposable pants, Boost, Baby Aspirin to see what it is like. The source I had for no rinse cleaning (Walgreens) stopped carrying the one I liked so have to do more research.
Thanks, Bama. I don't use the shampoo just the body wash as dh has scalp issues. Found some at Amazon. Can you believe the Hoyer was not working this afternoon? Got dh into bed just in case it failed completely I did not want to take a chance. Can't get a replacement until Monday. Then dh is having problem with lots of phelm tonight. Got some up finally. Poor guy. I feel so badly for all of these souls with this terrible disease.
Also, if you are still trying to use the pull up type incontinence diapers I would suggest you go to the regular tab type diaper, it is so much easier to put on.
here is a link to what I use. scroll down to the picture that says WINGS CHOICE ADULT, they are great.
copy and paste this link. http://www.dhphomedelivery.com/productcart/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=9
Ok, I think I have finally gotten the hang of turning dh. My dh is 6 ft 2 in so I have a person with very long legs. I found that I have to pull him way over to one side to get a good turn and use a pillow against the bars so as not to injure the knees. Then do the same on the other side. Once I get the turn right, I can try to do as much as possible. Still waiting for the split leg sling. Had a scary experience today with the regular sling. It was not positioned enough on the bottom and I though dh would fall out. Quickly put him back ito the chair and began to pull the sling into place. What a chore! A little more difficult these days with the blow up boots covering his heel pressure sores. Never ending.
brindle, when the split leg sling gets there be sure you have the loops in the correct position or he could also come out of that sling. Any sling you use has to be positioned correct or there is a chance they can come out. with my husband I have to use the purple loops on all sides except the last one and I use the green loops on the end sides. It will be according to his height and weight which loops keep him more secure. I have found the placement of the loops is as important as the position of the sling, it requires both to be correct in order to keep them safe.
brindle, No, when I am cleaning the bottom area I have him in the sling then pull it to the side and out far enough from the bed to give me room for cleaning him. I have all my necessary items ready in a basin that I carry over and I sit down on the floor or sometimes a small stool and begin to clean him, then while he is still in the sling I move him to his chair and sit him on the diaper and fasten it then we are finished.
brindle, you can clean him over the bed if you feel more secure that way until you get the hang of this. It will be easy to do either way.
brindle, be sure you have the sling on him and the loops in the right position, use the color of loops that make it secure. You can use different colors of the loops but they have to be the same color on both sides on each end. Like I use all purple till the one that is attached to the leg part and that one I use the green loop. It will be according to your husbands weight and size.
Jane. No I have not received it yet. Got a call from Apria asking if I had received it. When I said no, she wanted to know if I knew the part no. so she could order the right one. Never thought this would be such a big deal! Another question: how do you use the lift without hitting the dh in the head with the chain holder? Right now I have a diaper over his head. Thinking about a bike helmet. I have to use it about 8 or 9 times a day. Oh yeah, dh was so quiet in the sling up until a week back then started to get panicky and moving which makes it really difficult to work. Had to put him back onto the bed one time until he calmed down.
brindle, I do not have the chain type lift, mine is a six point here is a link that will show you a picture of the one I have.
I just watch it and lower it slowly so that I stop it before it hits his head, I gently try to push him back so that he does not try to lean forward and hit it, my eye is always one on him and one on the six point attachment.
Jane we had the Hoyer and then when I had a problem with it, they replaced it with the one I currently have by Drive. They no longer carry Hoyer. The nurse today said he would check to see if there is a size issue and get back with me. He thinks the area that hold the chains is too small for such a big man. We shall see. Thanks for the info. I will check it out.
I contacted the lift company and they advised me to adjust the rings so that there is one more at the shoulder level. That seems to work. However, because the leg chains are shorter now, I have to adjust dh in chairs to sit back all the way. Still looking for a better result but at least he doesn't have to wear the diaper for head protection now. Have not seen the split leg sling yet. Am about to give up hope. Did realize if I turn dh completly onto his side, I have a better shot at cleaning (especially as dh has a bm at the same time he pees). I pull dh's legs first to one side. Then pull the rest of the body to the same side until I can turn him to the side completely. Seems to cause less stress for both of us.
Ok. I now have the old chrome Hoyer lift again. Problem with air leaking from the Hydraulic seems to be common for us. Nurses tell me many people get the lifts and never use them and that is why we don't hear about problems. Found a slider sheet on the internet and it is a back saver! I am finally getting the hang of it and so glad I got it. I also use the lift to pick up my dh in order to change the bedding and reposition him. Never did get the split leg sling which is a non issue at this point. Did get the larger sling which is so much more comfortable for him although a little more difficult for me. My dh is now in Palliative care. So many changes so quickly.