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My grandmother has recently become immobile from cancer in her spine. My aunt is taking care of her full time at her house but she is having much more difficulty changing my grandmothers diaper due to the fact that she cannot stand up anymore. My mom is having to go over there daily to help, but she has a full-time job that is very busy and this is extremely stressful for her right now.
My grandmother seems to have lost control of a lot of her movements and is very heavy deadweight when my aunt is trying to change her. An additional challenge is that she broke her right arm so she cannot be rolled over on that side.
What would be the best way for my aunt to change her? She just got a adjustable hospital bed, but she is having difficulty with the weight. And the fact that she cannot be rolled over on her right side.


Are there any specific techniques or helpful devices we could use/get to make this easier for my aunt to do on her own???



Thanks!

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Kmpw97: Perhaps you need to hire an in home nurse/skilled professional.
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I wonder whether the Freedom Bed might help. The turning of the bed is motorized. It's pricey but they have financing options.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAk9ppD-KZk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Js4atWSJu0
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While I can’t add any experience to or ideas to the great ideas I do want to echo the suggestion you look into some professional help/guidance. I’m actually a bit surprised she wouldn’t have been sent home from hospital or doctors after one or both events given her issues, with a referral for Visiting Nurse, home care or at least an evaluation. I’m not sure how far out she is from cancer treatment or diagnosis or breaking her area but this is something that Medicare will cover at least for a period of time and it would not only give you aunt some help but a professional would be better able with the patient in front of them to come up with and train your aunt on the best way to do this which might include tools that would also be covered. Any doctor can order at least an evaluation with her issues I think, at least in some states and it’s worth looking into. This must be so overwhelming for all of you but especially your aunt and mom, they are fortunate to have you supporting them.
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asfastas1can Mar 2022
I echo your comment. I wonder if hospice care (either in-home or in an actual hospice care facility, if available) would help. I know they were a Godsend when my dad was so ill and we used both the in-home and then an actual hospice facility, and Medicare and his insurance paid for it. She certainly should be evaluated, as has been pointed out.
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There are some great insights here but her doctor might prescribe home health to come in to give hands on instruction. If you can get even one home visit then you can refer back here and the descriptions here would be a lot easier to follow. This way you would have someone see in person her exact issues and can customize the procedure for you. They also may be able to recommend local resources with benefits she might be eligible to receive.

As far as bed pads here is the best one I have found...
https://www.mipinc.com/products/categories/underpads/patient-care-underpads/fusion%C2%AE-underpads.html?classid=75&searchString=pad

This website is not a retailer but you can learn more about the pad then know what to look for when you search online for a distributor. You can google "fusion bed pad" and there are several websites you can compare prices.
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Here's how to change the diaper of a person who can't stand up.

1) They have to be laying flat on the bed (I'm going to assume your aunt has a hospital bed. Make sure it's raised to a level where no one is bending down. That is to protect your back).

2) Unfasten the tapes of the diaper and roll the long flap ends inwards as far as you can on both sides. Then fold the front portion of the diaper down to under her crotch (try to keep as much of the load contained as you can).

3)Turn the patient to one side (you may need another person to hold them up). Then clean them up and roll that portion of the diaper under them towards the other side as much as possible. Then roll them onto the opposite side and remove the whole diaper. Clean her up and put on a new diaper.

4) Putting on a clean diaper is the same procedure. Lay it flat. Roll one side up tight (about half way). Turn patient on side. Slide diaper under them as far as possible. Turn to other side and repeat.

Do not try to change a soiled diaper while sitting her on a toilet or standing her up. Changing her flat on the bed is the easiest and safest way for everyone involved.
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NYCmama Mar 2022
Her grandmother can only roll to one side.
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You've gotten some good suggestions already, but I will just tell you what I did for my husband who was completely bedridden for the last 22 months of his life.
I hired an aide(who knew how to properly lift a patient with a gait belt)to come every morning to put him on the bedside commode so he could poop. Now my husband had a supra pubic catheter, so my only concern was when he had to poop.
When he was done the aide would hold my husband up while I would clean him up and put a clean diaper on him. It was so much easier than trying to change him in the bed.
Perhaps hiring someone to come several times during the day would be a worthwhile investment, although you would have to find someone not associated with an agency, as they have a 3-4 hour minimum. They are out there, you just have to search. I got the name of my aide through Senior Services, as she used to work for them and was at that time out on her own.
I wish you the very best.
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My Mom is in similar circumstances. She is in a hospital bed, immobile and has an elbow missing due to a broken arm years ago.
I'm physically disabled and it's hard for me, but I've learned a technique.
First of all, I'd like to say the Hoyer Lift has not been any help in this specific situation. I've tried "draw sheets" but they're too hard for me to pull. They do have large cloth underpads that are about 4 feet long and are quilted/waterproof/washable. They are nice when they are under her to help move her for changes. You grab the sides of the underpads and can roll her over. My Mom doesn't like them, though. She says they make her itch, so we stopped using them. sigh.
So, here's what I do:

She lays in the hospital bed with her head partially up, feet down. I am able (with difficulty) to push her onto her side that has her good arm. She can't ever lay on the bad arm. It's hard, but it's all about the positioning in the hospital bed. Having the head part up a bit (not a lot) and the feet part flat makes it easiest for me. I have to push her back and forth for changing/washing.

This was easiest when I used the cloth underpad as a draw sheet to pull up and roll her over with. That is my best recommendation.
I've never had help available to do this, and I empathize because it's a hard thing to do.

Edited to add: There are You Tube videos that demonstrate turning patients in bed. The hard part is finding the ones that show just one person doing the work. Most recommend two people, and that's what most of the videos show. Keep searching until you find one that someone made at home, from a Caregiver and not a company. They usually have just one person and have been very helpful to me.
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