My mother has MS and is 80% disabled. She can stand and dress etc. She is unstable on her feet and sometimes topples over and I am then alone to pick her up.. is there a easy way that this can be done?
I have to add that old people usually have brittle bones, so pulling or pressing too hard can break a bone. If the lift is too difficult and you are concerned about breaking a bone (or hurting your own back) just call 911. The Emergency Response team are taught how to pick old people up, so can do it safely.
Picking up an older person can be very difficult, and doing it wrong can result in injury to you or them. My father was so difficult to help that I only did it once. After that I called 911 when he fell. It took three big men to get him up, even though he was thin. He would tense his abdomen so it was like a board and not assist in any way with his legs or arms. He was deaf, terrified, and had dementia, so calling 911 was the only option without risk of injury.
If a person is mobile, one way to help is to put a straight-back chair in front of them. Have them crawl over to it and use the seat to push up. You can help by using a towel under the arms (around the chest) to help lift. Let them rest each step of the way so they will have strength for the lift. After they push themselves up, they can sit in the chair and rest before standing. (A sturdy coffee table is also good for this.)
dmwillis, so that's how you do it! Last year, before dad had his stroke and became bedridden, he had fallen twice. It seems he was experiencing signs of a stroke which we had overlooked. I only weigh 95 lbs and dad is almost twice my weight (plus taller). When he fell, he couldn't get off the floor. Every time he tried to get up, he fell back down. He reached his hand for me to pull him up and I told him that it wouldn't work cuz I'm skinny. Since he insisted, I did, and he almost pulled me to land on him. So, I dragged the sofa to him and he had to pull himself up to the sofa. Both times.
Yes.The trick if you do not have any help is to become one.First make sure nothing is broken,ask her to move whatever parts she can and pay attention to cuts or twitches she might have.If you get this far then,sit down behind her and wrap your arms around her chest,up under her arms.Sit up on a stool that is stable and take a rest for a few minutes,do not hurt yourself.Now explain you are both going to stand up together.If you remember your bellybutton is your center you should be able to do it alright. They make a help tool called a gate belt (it is a thick cloth belt) you can put around the waist of the person you want to assist.That is the persons center (bellybutton).It really helps control and assist in manuvering the person you are working with. I have gotten creative with my home decor to help me and dad out alot.I made a soft covers rope pull and tucked it under his matressso when he gets in bed,he can use it to pull himself over with.I put a help bar at the eand of the hallway to help get around the corner and hung an umbrella on it so it looks like it is spose to be there on perpose.I have a bar ouside and inside the front door to help set up and down.If you just watch how she moves and where you can use the assistance,you can be creative and help her and save your back.You need to take really good care of yourselk so she has you at your best.
If a person is mobile, one way to help is to put a straight-back chair in front of them. Have them crawl over to it and use the seat to push up. You can help by using a towel under the arms (around the chest) to help lift. Let them rest each step of the way so they will have strength for the lift. After they push themselves up, they can sit in the chair and rest before standing. (A sturdy coffee table is also good for this.)