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My 91 yr old mom lives in LTC. She cannot walk and is in her lift recliner 24/7 because she cannot comfortably lie in a bed. Her spine and neck are severely deformed and bend forward so she can't lie flat. She's getting weaker and losing her ability to use the EZ stand lift to get her out of the lift recliner to toilet or change her. She's incontinent and sometimes they stand her up and change her on the spot, sometimes they wheel her into the bathroom. The nursing home staff has told me it's getting to where it will no longer be safe for her to use the stand so they will have to move her to her bed. Depending on who's working, I don't know that staff would take the time to arrange all the pillows and cushions that would be necessary to make mom remotely comfortable. She won't be able to move or reposition herself once in the bed. Are there any other options besides moving her to her bed? Any other experience with this level of kyphosis and end days? Mom seems to be getting closer to the end, and if they move her to the bed, I think she will decide that's it, she has lost all control. She's not on hospice but I will bring it up again when I am there today.

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I'm not sure how raising the head and foot would help?

My mom was a side sleeper all her life plus along with a mild dowager hump she had a high degree of forward head posture, severe enough so that with only one thin pillow her head was tilted back to the headboard. Whenever I came in if she was in bed staff invariably had her flat on her back with one pillow (I provided several extras), I know they must have repositioned her periodically (because there were no pressure sores) but I never saw her in any other position unless I put her there myself. IMO if you want any degree of compliance having this noted on her medical chart as a necessity is a must...
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I don't have a lot of advice, mostly offering sympathy as my Mom had the same - bent back that of course only got worse as she got older, and her head was bent down even more too because of that. I very much understand her not being able to lie flat - Mom still had her mind and always made sure herself (as much as she could) that she need extra pillows and couldn't like flat all the way. (She had always been a side-sleeper too.) I agree with the advice to talk to the nurse and get it into her orders - although I understand the worry that the message won't always get to staff.
I do wonder with the question of being in the chair - do they have a Hoyer lift? Mum had been in a wheel chair for the last 5 years (other issues) and couldn't comfortably stand, so they had to use a Hoyer to get her back and forth from the bed to the wheelchair. You probably want her to keep moving on her own as much as possible, but if it's becoming a safety issue with her standing from the lift chair, then it would at least offer options to move her around a bit.
Good luck, I sympathize!
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Hospice. It is absolute best way to address your mother’s needs. We used it for my MIL and my mother. We were able to start and stop it as their needs changed.
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Get hospice involved. The comfort meds may allay some discomfort, plus they’ll be additional staff.
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XenaJada Apr 2022
^^this
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Do they not have access to a full lift?
I think she should be able to rest comfortably in bed so long as they know that putting her flat on her back is not an option and that is written prominently in her chart.... I imagine changing her while in bed should also be simpler. Get an OT (occupational therapist) involved, there may be devices to help.
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Hospital beds can be adjusted. She can sleep with the head a foot raised up. You need to talk to the Director of Nursing.
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I am wondering if a pregnancy pillow would be comfortable for her. You could have a waterproof cover made that has a washable heavy cotton pillow case that keeps it from being sweaty hot.

I would look at moving her though. To say she needs to be in bed with it being so miserable for her sounds like they are not doing their job. A hoyer lift can easily be used to get her changed and moved around.

I would tell them they need to find a different solution and not make her miserable to make it easier on themselves. Then get busy finding a facility that actually cares.
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There are various types of beds that can accommodate her needs - hospital beds that can life the head and legs to more comfortable positions, beds that can gently turn her from side to side to prevent pressure injuries... There are also foam wedges of various sizes that can help to support her back and sides into more comfortable positions. I would suggest discussing this with either palliative care, hospice or case management to get her the type of bed that will help her best.
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Unfortunately, the end is near. When the body falls apart do to aging, there is nothing that can reverse it. It's time to accept reality and stop looking for impossible solutions.
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cwillie Apr 2022
Oh p*zz off. All the OP wants is a way to keep their mother comfortable for the time she has left, no matter how long or short that may be. Your nasty gloom and doom posts are unhelpful and unwelcome.
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Wonderful responses: hospice, talking to the facility are good steps. It sounds as though you have a solution for your mom with the pillows. I would also put in a blink camera that runs on Wifi and is placed so you can see your mom yourself. I would not ask permission. I put one in for my mom (she doesn't have a roommate). I am much more comfortable with my mom’s care and with her situation. I told her it was a speaker because I didn’t want her to be uncomfortable. It is a speaker and I love that I can talk to her as well. There are several out there but Blink is the only one I used and it has 30 days of free saved recording. I signed up for the 30 dollars a year plan to save the recordings. Another thought, it sounds as tho the facility is doing a good job but I got my mom a private carer 3 days a week to do body care, lotions, massaging skin, watching TV with her and talking with her.
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