Hmmmm. You have to stand behind.... Have you been coached with the "Nose over toes" method of standing? If the person will firmly plant their feet, use their arms for leverage, and lean forward so their nose is over their toes, you should not have to stand behind. Practice with a friend - that's what we had to do in training. I find that, when I stand behind my client to help her stand, she tends to lean BACK into me, making it almost impossible to get her standing. It took a while for her to trust "nose over toes" but now she says it when we get out of the car. HEY - that's where I perfected it. There was no way I could be behind her in the car! :-) She simply had to do as I said, or she'd have to sleep in the car! Her son just picks her little self up out of the car, but this Gramma can't quite do that!!!
I do use a walker in front but I have to stand behind the commode chair and her to lift her up and she can't stand for more than a few seconds. I am not very good at this :(
Great suggestions, Deb. When I was working with the Colonel in that situation, I did pull his Depends up above his knees while he was sitting, and then basically "hugged" him to get them fully up in a flash before he transferred to the wheelchair again. He used the rail beside the toilet and one of the wheelchair arm rests to stay standing. I had him hold the left arm rest with his left hand so that I could easily (or MORE easily!) pivot him into a sitting position as soon as the pants were up. I did get dribbled on a few times. If you're going from commode to bed, I would think having the commode at an angle so she can grasp the bed rail to stand might work. Wow. Challenging stuff! Hang in there!
These things are easier to figure out in person but here are a couple of tips. Are you using a walker in front of the commode to help stabilize your mom? Pull the depend up above her knees before you ever start to stand her. Use the depends with open sides and just have her transfer and sit on a fresh one and then tape the sides. Ask your doctor for a few occupational therapy or physical therapy visits for some ideas. Hope some of this is helpful. It is not an easy. My mom transfers only with assistance. i have 3 walkers in strategic positions, a wheelchair, a lift recliner, and electric bed. So much for my decorating theme.
Good luck!
Ruth
Hope some of this is helpful. It is not an easy. My mom transfers only with assistance. i have 3 walkers in strategic positions, a wheelchair, a lift recliner, and electric bed. So much for my decorating theme.