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?
(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.
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.
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.
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