I'd like to hear from others about that transition time of when their elders could walk, to when they couldn't anymore.
Within the next few months or one-year my dad will likely be there - I'm probably environment, assistance, financially prepared, but not emotionally. To be frank, how long was the "bedridden" period? Does it just vary all over the place? I think I'm more prepared to for the day he passes, rather than the days, weeks, months, years (?) just before.
The docs seem wholly unprepared with advice or info about this, but I think other caregivers will have plenty to share. Thanks "in advance."
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.
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.