If lifting is physically challenging do you prefer boards or manual? I use boards to transfer my grandfather but have to lift him mostly for wheelchair to toilet, or wheelchair to bed, because the board is too hard to get right. Do you guys have the same issue?
What I did was to make sure the sling was perfectly aligned and there were no wrinkles in the fabric. (I did this with everything sheets, clothes as well as the slings)
At some point you have to weigh risk VS benefit of getting the person out of bed. You have to ask am I getting them up and into a chair for ME or for THEM.
I wanted to keep things as "normal" as possible for as long as possible but at some point I came to the conclusion that he was safer in bed. I will admit that it was not until the last 1 to 2 weeks that my Husband remained in bed.
It was one of the last realizations that I had that the end was closer. With each piece of equipment that he had to use then "graduated" to a new low that required the use of another piece of equipment.
the "guidelines" in a facility require 2 people for using equipment and in general re-positioning but at home that is not a requirement.
There is a safe way that 1 person can use equipment but I would caution if you have any doubts about your own physical strength and ability to handle moving someone with the use of any piece of equipment and that is anything from a gait belt to a hoyer then it would be best that either you have a caregiver at all times when there might be the possibility of having to transfer someone or they be placed where any transfer can be done safely. (That is not to say accidents don't happen in a facility, they can happen anywhere)
I particularly enjoyed learning that there should have been two of me repositioning my mother in bed throughout the night ;) But, seriously, it is so good to see practical techniques fully explained.
I will book mark for future reference. Thank you Grandma1954.
A wide supportive belt is placed around the person and the the belt is attached to the hooks on the sit to stand. The person holds the handles on the upper part of the sit to stand and the caregiver raises the sit to stand. This will raise the person to a standing position easily. The sit to stand has wheels so you can transfer the person from a chair to a bed or wherever they need to go.
The sit to stand works well as long as the person can stand and hold onto the handles.
If they can no longer stand or hold on too much stress is put on the arms and there can be skin tears or abrasions. (the belt is padded but it is not meant to support the full weight of someone)
Once the person can no longer stand and support themselves the option is a Hoyer lift.
There are different types of slings to go with a hoyer. A mesh one with a commode hole, a full solid sling or a split leg sling. I used a mesh one with commode hole to get my husband into the shower chair then used a split leg sling after the shower.
At some point after going to the hoyer you will realize that it is easier on the person and safer to remain in bed. The chance for skin tears, abrasions increase with each use of the hoyer.
(For a practical demonstration of wheelchair transfers and pivot transfers you should watch a few YouTube video tutorials.)
Has anyone suggested a Hoyer lift to you? They come with slings which can be adapted for toilet transfers.