What should I be prepared for when my elderly goes from walking to being immobile?

ruthieruth, thank you so much for taking the time to share this!

welcome. Just send me a message if you have any specific questions...Im sure there is more to talk about but i was trying to give a very very fast overview. I used to help train people to use chairs before I needed one myself so i have a perspective from both sides. Good luck to you.

the main thing is that it's sort of an emotional adjustment. It's NOT a lifestyle choice.....it's a Tool....like a hairbrush, or a drill....if this TOOL makes a TASK easier, or safer, then use it. Every now and then, there are MOMENTS when i can stand up and change the thermostat, or shut the blinds. I have learned, as my body declines, that I can choose where to put my energy...letting machines do the rroutine, rather boring work of carrying my body through the OR having the safety and energy to get out now and then and go to the movie or have a friend over for tea, or just sit in the garden and let the sun shine on my face and be alone. :)

carolbb technically, yes, an OT can help, but you need to find one who is certified to fit people for Wheelchairs and DME. check and see if your area has a Disability resource center. They can refer you to a person with the appropriate certification.

How do I transfer my parent now that all use of legs is gone? My back hurts trying to lift her. She can no longer transfer to toilet or from wheelchair to bed or from bed to wheelchair or to commode. Dressing her is so difficult because she cannot stand for me to pull up her pants. She also has dementia. I have the problems that anitahouston sees with her mother taking care of her grandmother.

Can she sit up? there is a thing called a transfer board. it's essentially a board that goes from one thing (the bed, for example) to the WC. and she can possibly be helped to slide from one thing to the next there are videos of how to safely do this on You tube. AlSO. there are GAIT BELTS. these go around her waist and you can hold them the handles that are affixed to the sides. If that is too complicated, there is a website that sells supplies to airplane pilots something like my pilot store and there is a very nice urinal on there that has a female attachment to where urine is diverted into a container. fabulous. no need to get out of the chair if it's just number one. just make sure and clean really really good. Pants..there are some with snaps or velcro on the side. OR it is possible to have the person in the bed, and roll them to pull the pants up...

It is easier to turn someone if they can raise their arm closest to you above their head, and have them roll toward you and put the pillow behind their back to support them. safer to have two people to help.

see also about getting a hoyer lift. it's a sling that she can safely be held in and lifted.

There are also mechanics weight belts that can be bought at a good hardware store that can go around your back that will help save your back. make sure to use body mechanics and try to do a two person lift whenever you can. There are excellent videos on you tube how to lift and transfer. best of luck to you

if you use a transfer board the two things need to be level height so no sliding....

Also, I have going to talk from both sides of my experience at once ....patient perspective:....keep it simple....sometimes, skipping the pants is OK. seriously. nobody and i do mean nobody pays attention to what people in wheelchairs are wearing. They see the wheelchair. a dress will be just fine, even if its "au natural" underneath. use lots of padding if needed. or a disposable. I think, for me, it helps prevent uti's also but there is no science behind that other than personal experience. using a size larger to make dressing easier is OK also.

When i was working, and spent most of my day lifting people and pushing wheelchairs around out in the world and assisting people with transfers, I personally found it easier to lock the WC, get someones bum pointed in the right direction, and let gravity, GENTLY help us. do NOT twist and turn, as that will hurt. As far as doing a single person lift...If I HAD to do a single person lift, and the person could not participate, lift them from behind, and have my back near a wall so if i was going to fall, we could slide down that rather than crash. .

It's also OK to sit front wards on the potty. Sometimes transfering directly from the potty to the shower is easier, and there are ALSO transfer chairs that fit in a shower that have a potty already installed......a one stop shop. one transfer, they can "go" the bucket can be removed there are wheels that can be wheeled into the shower, (or it can stay in the shower, as circumstances warrant) and this self same chair can be used as a "drying station and dressing station" before transfer back to bed or WC. also works as a transport chair. available online. under shower chairs. These are some other options.

Ruthie- thanks for your postings. I have some expertise in mobility related products and have seen many new products at national tradeshows. If you want to discuss please get in touch. Wow- the original posting is from 2010 but the topic will be around forever.

I can see by the expert answers that I know very little about truly caring for my mom in a skillful way. I am going to try everything you all have suggested. I'm printing out the answers, will watch the videos, try, try, try.........Thank you SO much!!!