How do I properly lift a patient that is on the floor and who has no ability to help?

Jun 1, 2009

Sometimes my mother ends up on the floor. I try to get her to put her arms on a chair and knees in front of the chair. She can then help pull herself up while I help lift under her arms.

One time she could not do this. I called the ambulance; an EMT asked how much she weighed. At 130 pounds, he could lift her and put her into bed. We later learned that when elderly people have urinary tract infections, they become unsteady. You might check that out.

I put a bell on her walker so I would know when she is moving around. She has to move it to get out of bed. Then I get up to check on her. I keep telling her that if she wants to live at home, she must not end up on the floor. USE THE WALKER!

Cat

Jun 1, 2009

jayneh, you might consider a bed rail - either a 1/2 rail or whole rail - and a baby monitor for you to hear if he needs to get up in the middle of the night. If he is frail preventing night falls is healthier for him and you. If you have already made his room & the house 'dad safe' and he is using a walker a bed rail might be the next step...just make certain that you or someone are nearby if it is up and use padded fabric guards so that he doesn't get tangled in it.

There are some good websites that have training videos on how to lift patients who have fallen. I have gone through this with my mom when she first came home from the hospital - now she uses a walker. Falls are scarey for all of us.

MrSwivel

Sep 17, 2010

Try and prevent the fall when possible. Lifting is dangerous to both parties and difficult. There are lift belts on the internet and devices to help them move. mrswivel.com

chl64

Apr 24, 2011

There is a device called the ELK lifting cushion that is a mat that slips under the bum of the person on the floor then inflates to lift them to a sitting position. They are about $3000 which I couldn't afford but they make another version to help get out of a bathtub for $800 which I could manage. Mangar is the manufacturer. This saved us. My mom gets too close to the edge of whatever she sits on and ends up on the floor. She doesn't hurt herself but I can't get her up. It's just me and calling for help (not 911 of course) resulted in voicemails and us laying on the floor for hours. Now I just roll her on her side, slip the mat under her and kind of hold onto her while she "inflates" ( just for stability). Best of all I can store it in her closet or under her bed. Weighs about 5 pounds and the compressor takes up less space than two shoe boxes. Best money I EVER spent!!!