My husband has Parkinson disease and dementia. He is not able to walk to far because of his balance and fall risk. At home he uses a transport chair because of his mental capacity we need to push him around. The problem is he leans over to the right and forward in the wheel chair as if he's going to fall out. Has anyone else experience this problem? Is there a product I can place in his chair so he can be comfortable and at the same time prop him up.
Any assistance you can provide me, will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Ann
The ones they sell for use on a bed might be a bit large but that could be cut down. If there are fabric stores you can buy a piece of foam and cut it to the size and shape you want.
Another option would be a pillow. The neck pillows they sell for travel might work, they are filled with beads so it makes shaping them easy.
You could also try a child size "memory foam or gel" pillow they are smaller and more easily placed.
As he begins to have to use a wheelchair more often a Broda Chair is great. It can be reclined, there are "wings" near the head (think the old fashioned Wing Back chairs) and the cushion can be moved an numerous positions. They are a bit difficult to maneuver as the wheels are small but you soon get to know the "quirks" of the chair and it gets easier.
It sounds like he needs to be checked out by a PT for a wheelchair to be adapted to his condition. They have ones that lean back with long backs, etc...; they can get very creative. Wish him well for me and I am shocked he has not been referred to see a PT for a wheelchair evaluation. FYI; anyone in here tying people to wheelchairs with rope, sheets, gait belts in medicare approved facilities STOP. You are breaking the law...only approved devices which needs a docs Rx...my God...
https://www.1800wheelchair.com/category/wheelchair-safety-fall-prevention/
the problem can be that you may not be able to have a table on the chair to place items your husband might be able to use.
using both of these .,. Jacket and table ... at the same time may still be considered double restraint and illegal.
in 1993 before i knew anything my father was in a nursing home with a severe stroke from which he eventually died.
he was a very social person and i wanted him near the nurses desk to be near people. The facility gave him a wheelchair table which he would slide under and they shrug and say we cant use anything else.
i didnt know about jackets so he stayed in bed alone.
then i became a nurse aide and learned about jackets and geri chairs and socialization. I wouldve bought a geri chair ! but as you can imagine i wasnt advised of those.
A sadder time made sadder.
My grandmother had a tray sort of thing that reminded me of the tray you put on a kid's highchair. It was soft and kept her upright. Looked pretty similar to this: https://www.beesmed.com/posey-company-6515-restraint-lap-4in-hugger-notched-blue-for-18in-chair-p-75864.html?utm_campaign=googlesimple&utm_medium=product_search&utm_source=googlesimple
When Mom was in the NH, they gave her a chair that the bottom tilted back. Kept her from being able to get up. The back leaned back sobshe could nap and had cushions on the side of her head to keep it in place. I loved that chair.
Like willies idea.