i am 79 yrs old and physically and medically in good shape. I acquired a patient lift but find it cumbersome to use as it requires multiple lifts too and from her wheel chair as part of our care routine. The lift is difficult to maneuver in our bedroom or down a hallway.
I have done some research on overhead lift systems which seems more practical for our needs. I did hav a system quoted for our bedroom and bathroom but have deferred the decision and have decided to continue lifting and transferring as I have. I do wear a weight lifting belt to minimize the possibility of back injury but know I can’t continue this long term.
I have looked at a ceiling mount and freestanding overhead system and feel the freestanding system may be a better fit as it could be more easily moved if we decide to relocate and it can be easily disassembled and reassembled where a ceiling mount would require a contractor to remove and reinstall as well as some potential modification.
I am curious if anyone has had experience with an overhead system and could offer your thoughts and possibly a recommendation?
Also, stop lifting her yourself. Regardless of how fit you may be at your age, it's going to take a toll on you.
You've got 30 years on me and my back and body is shot from so many years of the lifting.
Your best bet would not be to start calling in contractors and spending tens of thousands of dollars modifying your house, but rather to start looking into handicapped housing or AL where you and your wife can live together.
You don't necessarily have to put her in a nursing home, but if you both were living in a handicapped accessible apartment, outside help (people like me) could work with that and relieve some of the caregiving burden from you.
Please think about that.
I have made the decision to care for my wife at home. When that becomes difficult for me I plan to bring help.
Fortunately I am in very good physical condition and in no way ready to consider accessible living. I live in Florida and had some roof damage from hurricane Ian. In dealing with insurance adjusters and roofing contractors I was able to climb the ladder and walk the roof as quickly and easily as men half my age. I play golf and hit from the longer tees when men much younger than me hit from the forward tees.
Clearly our situation has had an impact on our lives. Our relationship is now patient and caregiver. There is no conversation other than a simple response to questions I ask. I do miss conversation and the intimacy we once shared. I am doing what I can to show her in caring for her.
When he declined to the point that the CNA did not think it was safe, he could not support his weight and began slumping so the sling was supporting him, the Nurse then ordered a Hoyer Lift. Honestly I thought it would be more of a pain, more difficult. Was I wrong. Once I got used to it, it took a weekend, It was so much easier. I could tell he was more "comfortable" as he was being supported fully by the sling.
I never even thought about one of the overhead tracks.
I don't know if it makes a difference but both the Sit to Stand and the Hoyer Lift were electric and that made it very easy to operate them. I have seen hydraulic/manual ones and I do not think I would have liked either one for very long (although it would have been better than trying to transfer a 6'4" 275 pound man from bed to chair to toilet and back multiple times a day)
all of this takes time and there is some potential risk to maneuvering a patient in tight spaces while suspended. I have discussed this with potential home care companies and they prohibit the use of a lift. Nursing homes require at least two people when using a Hoyer.
As I noted I have a lift but I have found it cumbersome to use. It would take about 10 - 12 minutes to lift and transfer from chair to toilet or toilet to chair with a lift. I can lift and transfer her myself in seconds. I takes me about 20 seconds from bed to chair and that includes sitting her up from a laying position.
https://www.agingcare.com/questions/what-are-pros-cons-for-ceiling-lifts-199288.htm
What worked for us (for 4+ years) was a Hospital Bed in the Living Room, and a Port-a-potty. The kind with a bucket that you dump in the toilet. They're pretty stable too, and were easy for her to use.
Easy for me to clean.
Those two things gave me and my Mom tons of room, and was easier on both of us. (Less lifting) Eventually, she wound up bedbound and in Depends in the last year or two of her life. But, she liked her Hospital Bed in the Living Room and stayed there until she spent her last week in a Hospice facility.
Like you, I didn't have any help & the lifting was hard on me. And having everything in the Living Room made it easier for her wheelchair, etc and for visiting PTs, and an occasional Nurse to see her. Plus, it allowed her to relax on the front porch, too. Plenty of room for supplies nearby. It worked out great. We donated some of the furniture to make room for her stuff, and put some of it in the family room.
Now that she's gone, I returned the rented bed and Hoyer Lift, and turned the living room back into a living room again.
This is difficult for me to write.
I always said I would keep my Husband at home as long as it was safe for both of us.
There are ways that caring for her might be made easier.
Have you thought about moving her bed to a larger room. A dining room, a study or den if you have one? Would that make using the lifts easier for you?
And possibly forego the bathroom and use a commode that you can set up. You can get privacy curtains if you wish. That would just mean bathroom for a bath or shower if you need to although bed baths can be just as effective.
If your equipment is all "manual" or hydraulic switching to electric might be easier for you.
Also if you have carpet in the bedroom and or hall you might want to either remove it or I know someone that got a room size sheet of vinyl flooring and put that in the bedroom her husband was in. It made using the Sit to Stand much easier.
One other step that you can take is to eliminate 90% of the bathroom trips. using incontinence Tab Style briefs (aka "diapers") you can clean and change her in bed. Once you do it a few times it is pretty easy to do. As are changing the sheets while she is still in bed. (Oh, the things you learn as a caregiver!)
And the reason this is difficult to write is...
At some point it may get so that it would be safer to place her in a facility that can meet her care needs.
I know none of us want that but in a facility there are people that can care for her 24/7. Since she must be moved using equipment the facility that you would be looking into would be a Skilled Nursing facility.
The last thing you need to do is hurt yourself while trying to care for her. What would happen then? This is a thought that all caregivers wonder/worry about.
They report much easier to use, much easier than pushing a hoist machine, especially on carpet. The sling part works the same - the sling placed under & around the person. (This may be awkward or heavy for some).
Do you have an Occupational Therapist to advice you?
I have actually had several Occupational Therapists visit to evaluate what I am doing and to offer options. In each visit I have discussed with them all of the options I have researched and they have concluded I knew as much as they did. I also demonstrated my lifting procedure and they agreed I am doing it as well as they would recommend and we agreed that in time it will get more difficult. Eventually a lift device will be needed.
You are a wonderful husband. I admire your dedication to your wife. I’m sure that she is a very special lady. I am wondering if she expects this from you.
If I ever get to this point I would not expect my husband to care for me.
I would hope that he would find a facility for me to be cared for. Then he could visit simply as my husband and advocate.
If I were in your wife’s shoes, I would prefer that my husband would be free of the backbreaking work as a caregiver.
Please take care of yourself. Your physical and emotional health matters equally to your wife’s needs.
See All Answers