We tried once with large couch pillows when my Mom slid off her bed once during the night. (Before her Hospital bed.) It didn't work at all, because her legs weren't strong enough to get up that way. Plus, the pillows were unstable.
I don't think inner tubes would be a safe way to try this.
Where we lived, our local Fire Dept. charged $175 per lift assist. Which insurance would not cover. Not free everywhere in the U.S., so that's why I researched this issue.
So, after much thinking about this subject, we wound up having her Doctor order a rental Hoyer Lift. It's pretty easy to use one to pick someone up from a chair, a bed, and/or on a floor. I used it on her Hospital bed mostly to reposition her and put her in a wheelchair. It was very inexpensive, insurance covered most of it. After she passed away, the Medical Supply company came out and picked it up.
It was nice to know it's there if you need it. We both felt more peaceful knowing that it was there.
Why would you invest in inner tubes(which honestly makes no sense to me)when you can call 911? If your loved one doesn't have to be transported to the hospital there is no charge for the EMT's to come out and pick them up.
That’s almost as wacko an idea as having four dogs crawl under the person and then having them stand up. Or using carjacks to lift the person into a recliner.
Just call the fire department and be sure to buy their latest calendar when it comes out.
With inner tubes, it depends on how many people you have pumping. If you could have 4 tubes, one person on each tube, each pumping with a bicycle pump, maybe you could inflate all of them before the person on the floor expired of old age.
On the other hand, if you had 4 people to pump, why wouldn't the 4 people just lift Grampy off the floor and toss him into the recliner? Then go out for a beer.
There actually are inflatable lift devices already, the problem is they cost several thousand dollars - I'm no engineer and I don't know your diy capabilities so I have no idea if you can macgyver a device that would actually work safely.
I think the main problem would be that the extra work to inflate inner tubes (or an inflatable chair or mattress) while lifting the person's weight would strain the pump motor.
When my mom fell it was like trying to move a sack of wet cement, she wasn't able to help AT ALL, not even to remain sitting upright unassisted. My strategy was to lift her onto a series of progressively higher stools until she was high enough to transfer into her wheelchair (at that time it was just on hand for outings). But unless you are very strong it's not something I'd recommend.
Fortunately no one has yet suggested pumping up the person with helium like a Macy’s parade balloon.
SnoopyLove
Plus, the pillows were unstable.
I don't think inner tubes would be a safe way to try this.
Where we lived, our local Fire Dept. charged $175 per lift assist. Which insurance would not cover. Not free everywhere in the U.S., so that's why I researched this issue.
So, after much thinking about this subject, we wound up having her Doctor order a rental Hoyer Lift. It's pretty easy to use one to pick someone up from a chair, a bed, and/or on a floor. I used it on her Hospital bed mostly to reposition her and put her in a wheelchair.
It was very inexpensive, insurance covered most of it. After she passed away, the Medical Supply company came out and picked it up.
It was nice to know it's there if you need it. We both felt more peaceful knowing that it was there.
SnoopyLove
Just call the fire department and be sure to buy their latest calendar when it comes out.
Having a lifting device, is a handy thing. Having a safe device, safe for both user & faller to use is obviously important.
Is your loved one falling a lot?
What fall preventative strategies & equipment do you already have?
build a pulley system into the ceiling.
inner tubes might take too long to inflate.
fire dept might get aggravated if you call too many times.
On the other hand, if you had 4 people to pump, why wouldn't the 4 people just lift Grampy off the floor and toss him into the recliner? Then go out for a beer.
I think the main problem would be that the extra work to inflate inner tubes (or an inflatable chair or mattress) while lifting the person's weight would strain the pump motor.
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