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I. How We Work in Washington. Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services. APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
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VI. No Waiver of Your Rights. APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.I agree that: A.I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information"). B.APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink. C.APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site. D.If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records. E.This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year. F.You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
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She has been able to stand enough to transfer with assistance from wheel chair to toilet, and back- and to bed but now she's so weak she cannot stand up straight, her legs are too weak. I cannot lift her and even the gait belt is not helpful.
Your profile says that you are a private caregiver working for a person in an Independent living facility.
You are struggling to do this job adequately. I think that I would resign from this position and move onto working with another client. Don’t risk harming yourself or the client with a dangerous fall.
This person needs to be in a skilled nursing facility where they can receive proper care instead of an independent living facility.
Unless there's a Hoyer lift on the premises, there isn't much you can do, and even that thing isn't a solution for everything. My mother's nursing home had to stop using it with her because sitting in the sling was causing her skin to tear.
Your client has moved to the bedridden phase, I'm afraid, and either you do all your care there, or she needs to be in a skilled nursing facility.
You could ask for some in home PT to see whether she could regain the ability to stand and transfer. This is the point when I fantasized about installing a lift... but it would have had to be two lifts, one for the bedroom and one for the bathroom (because a portable wouldn't have fit). But before I got to that point I came up against the reality of how much more difficult every. single. task. had become; from dressing to bathing to prepping pureed meals to feeding to dealing with incontinence and getting her medical care and more... and all that wasn't even considering her social and emotional needs and dealing with health crises.
Oh holy heaven please do NOT use a gait belt to assist with transfers.
Call an occupational therapist, you should be able to get one to visit straight away in this situation, so with any luck tomorrow. There are various stand aids you can use for transfers from bed to wheeled commode, then you can push the wheeled commode over the toilet if there's room, or she can use the commode on its own if need be.
Has the decline in mobility been very sudden? Do you need to get medical advice as well?
Cici, are you working for an agency? If so, report to your Suprvisor. A new needs assessment for mobility will be needed. As CM asked, any other medical issues or changes? Report these too. The agency can inform NOK or POA, so they can arrange medical appointents as required.
If you work completely independently, call the NOK or POA yourself to report the changes & discuss.
When a friend caring for her Mother became too weak to stand & transfer safely, the family hired a lifting machine. This usually is a 2 person task in a facility but many trained & confident caregivers operate solo in a home setting (very much depends on home set up, weight of patient, strength of caregiver - no injuries etc). My friend choose not to use the lifter solo & risk injury to either, so Mom stayed in bed from then on. For meals on trays, sponge baths, bedpans & changing continence pads. A hospital bed was provided by Hospice.
Caring for bed-bound people is best done with an electric hospital-type bed - to raise to your working height for your own occupational safety.
Speak to Supervisor, NOK/POA so they can obtain the right equipment for you to continue your job.
Your communication skills will be needed here: - To inform the person with authority - Ensure they SEE the issue - Ensure they ACT on it
Also to inform them of what your actions will be if they do not eg Firstly, not getting the lady out of bed if not safe to do so.
Time to rent or buy a lift device. Hoyer is the most recognized name. Electronic lifts are very expensive; manual crank lifts cost less. My father used a manual lift for my mother for 47 years. She had no weight-bearing ability at all.
Please let her Physician know about the decline and, get referrals for help BEFORE you are injured also.
You do not say whether you are caring for her in your home, or if you already have some type of in home care support services . If not, get some and, I suggest from your description have her assessed by a hospice of your choice for possible hospice admit. This will give you a broad interdisciplinary team support in the home and manged care for the patient. If you just want to talk to hospice and learn more about service and describe your situation, call one of your choice , they will be glad to speak with you. Then you can contact physician and tell him/ her you want hospice services and the order can be provided. Or, get referrals from physician for another type of pt. " Level of care needs" assessment and go from there. Look into facility options as well.
Or call 911 and have her transported to ER for decline and safety reasons and your inability in provide safe care ; once there they can better assess status and you can confer with social services at hospital for referrals; possibly placement or placement in respite while decisions are made.
When my mother reached this point at her home we transferred her to a higher skilled nursing home. She had reached the point where cognitively she could not even remember to hold on to the person transferring her. We even tried a pivot disc on the floor. It did help for a while.
She also was completely incontinent.
She had caregivers at home and it was a matter of time before someone got seriously hurt. Mother was 5 ft but weighed 180 lbs, no frail lady.
Sister and I were not able to transfer her either.
We both had hoped she could remain at home but it was not possible with the care she needed.
No. I would be very cautious about this recommendation.
A caregiver will be putting themselves in jeopardy of an injury. Most caregivers do not have workers' comp. Certainly a strong, larger man may be able to manage her although this is a 24/7 job. Most people cannot afford 24/7 care, and the risk of injury (and the client may be financially responsible should an injury occur).
Hoyer is a possibility although it likely would not be recommended to get a person to a toilet using a hoyer (they are large and I don't even know if they would 'fit' into a bathroom.
I realize we / most of us /l talk from personal (and/or professional) experience. Every situation is different and each need must be considered based on the unique situation people are in / how to resolve. In other words, what works for one may not work for 101 others.
I try to speak in broader terms vs solely personal (professional) experience. Although I do appreciate everyone's input as one never knows what will work. This is what this forum is about. Gena / Touch Matters
In regards to a Hoyer lift make sure you measure the clearance between the bottom of the bed and the floor. Our bed was too low so we couldn’t use it.I found it also very cumbersome to use. buying a new bed was out of the question because they already had a very fancy bed where it could either lift the legs or lift their backs up for comfort.
so that’s another thing. You might get a bed that lifts their backs up into a sitting position to assist with the transfers.
I agree with others, gait belts as useless. I think it’s more dangerous to try to use it than not.
also it may be the way that you’re trying to do the transfer that works or doesn’t work. No offense meant here because I can’t see what you’re doing so I don’t know exactly how you’re trying to do the transfer.
I set up the two items that require the transferring obviously as close as possible then putting my arms underneath her arms acting as if my whole body was a machine using arms, legs, back & feet etc lifting her up just for a few moments to transfer. I usually used my arms completely underneath her arms as high as I could go because her forearm skin was too frail to hold onto. fortunately I was strong enough to do that but I must admit it did take a toll on me but it worked
And maybe this is not an issue at all but I’m throwing it in there because my Mrs. did this. Some days she just didn’t wanna cooperate and it would go on for a few days to a week where she would just try to be dead weight. Is she having an attitude? Might need to address that as well; but anyway good luck to you!
I think it’s time to keep her in bed for the remainder of her life and take care of her like you would an infant-personal care, feeding, changing, etc., unless you can have her go to a skilled nursing facility. In my younger years when my husband’s handicapped brother would come for the holidays, we used a hydraulic lift. Later he had an aid with him as his health seriously declined to help. We could not care for him alone. The lift was helpful but cumbersome. It’s relatively inexpensive. All the best!
Sounds like she needs 24/7 care. Disposal underwear is used - as toileting needs happen in a bed. I believe we need more information here to assist you - 1. is she home 2. how / how many caring for her? 3. Relationships? 4. Finances - if she isn't in a facility, can arrangements be made to get her in one?
I really do not understand the question. If a person cannot stand / move / walk with support, they are bedridden. Hoyers are very difficult to use although this is possible, depending on who is managing the hoyer. (This is how my friend in a nursing home is transferred into a wheel chair).
It sounds like unfortunately she has not had enough activity & maybe nutrition to keep her strength going. For an immediate solution, you may need to give her bedridden care. That is a huge feat in itself as bed sores and such can happen quite rapidly.
It just sounds like transfers are too dangerous. Unless you can get some professional in home care to help with transfers. Or unless a bedside commode is a doable step. But again, transfers. And then unless you want bedridden to be permanent, nutrition and physical therapy is pertinent. Strength can be rebuilt however it just depends on her determination and other health/emotional/spiritual factors. Once bedridden, and once scary transfers take place, a person gets not only too scared to transfer, but their blood pressure is affected. Inactivity also makes their bp go crazy when they go to transfer, making them weak. You need help in this, guaranteed. Those are all thoughts based on staying in-home.
I am a keep them home advocate however experience tells me otherwise. Probably the best thing to do is move her quickly to a skilled nursing home, at least temporarily. They can do all this safely, show you, and do therapy with her as well. You can visit often or maybe stay with her. Praying it all works for the best. God bless!!
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
You are struggling to do this job adequately. I think that I would resign from this position and move onto working with another client. Don’t risk harming yourself or the client with a dangerous fall.
This person needs to be in a skilled nursing facility where they can receive proper care instead of an independent living facility.
Your client has moved to the bedridden phase, I'm afraid, and either you do all your care there, or she needs to be in a skilled nursing facility.
This is the point when I fantasized about installing a lift... but it would have had to be two lifts, one for the bedroom and one for the bathroom (because a portable wouldn't have fit). But before I got to that point I came up against the reality of how much more difficult every. single. task. had become; from dressing to bathing to prepping pureed meals to feeding to dealing with incontinence and getting her medical care and more... and all that wasn't even considering her social and emotional needs and dealing with health crises.
Call an occupational therapist, you should be able to get one to visit straight away in this situation, so with any luck tomorrow. There are various stand aids you can use for transfers from bed to wheeled commode, then you can push the wheeled commode over the toilet if there's room, or she can use the commode on its own if need be.
Has the decline in mobility been very sudden? Do you need to get medical advice as well?
If you work completely independently, call the NOK or POA yourself to report the changes & discuss.
When a friend caring for her Mother became too weak to stand & transfer safely, the family hired a lifting machine. This usually is a 2 person task in a facility but many trained & confident caregivers operate solo in a home setting (very much depends on home set up, weight of patient, strength of caregiver - no injuries etc). My friend choose not to use the lifter solo & risk injury to either, so Mom stayed in bed from then on. For meals on trays, sponge baths, bedpans & changing continence pads. A hospital bed was provided by Hospice.
Caring for bed-bound people is best done with an electric hospital-type bed - to raise to your working height for your own occupational safety.
Speak to Supervisor, NOK/POA so they can obtain the right equipment for you to continue your job.
Your communication skills will be needed here:
- To inform the person with authority
- Ensure they SEE the issue
- Ensure they ACT on it
Also to inform them of what your actions will be if they do not eg Firstly, not getting the lady out of bed if not safe to do so.
Best of luck.
You do not say whether you are caring for her in your home, or if you already have some type of in home care support services . If not, get some and, I suggest from your description have her assessed by a hospice of your choice for possible hospice admit. This will give you a broad interdisciplinary team support in the home and manged care for the patient. If you just want to talk to hospice and learn more about service and describe your situation, call one of your choice , they will be glad to speak with you. Then you can contact physician and tell him/ her you want hospice services and the order can be provided.
Or, get referrals from physician for another type of pt. " Level of care needs" assessment and go from there. Look into facility options as well.
Or call 911 and have her transported to ER for decline and safety reasons and your inability in provide safe care ; once there they can better assess status and you can confer with social services at hospital for referrals; possibly placement or placement in respite while decisions are made.
Take care of yourself.....
She also was completely incontinent.
She had caregivers at home and it was a matter of time before someone got seriously hurt. Mother was 5 ft but weighed 180 lbs, no frail lady.
Sister and I were not able to transfer her either.
We both had hoped she could remain at home but it was not possible with the care she needed.
A caregiver will be putting themselves in jeopardy of an injury.
Most caregivers do not have workers' comp. Certainly a strong, larger man may be able to manage her although this is a 24/7 job. Most people cannot afford 24/7 care, and the risk of injury (and the client may be financially responsible should an injury occur).
Hoyer is a possibility although it likely would not be recommended to get a person to a toilet using a hoyer (they are large and I don't even know if they would 'fit' into a bathroom.
I realize we / most of us /l talk from personal (and/or professional) experience. Every situation is different and each need must be considered based on the unique situation people are in / how to resolve. In other words, what works for one may not work for 101 others.
I try to speak in broader terms vs solely personal (professional) experience. Although I do appreciate everyone's input as one never knows what will work. This is what this forum is about. Gena / Touch Matters
In regards to a Hoyer lift make sure you measure the clearance between the bottom of the bed and the floor. Our bed was too low so we couldn’t use it.I found it also very cumbersome to use. buying a new bed was out of the question because they already had a very fancy bed where it could either lift the legs or lift their backs up for comfort.
so that’s another thing. You might get a bed that lifts their backs up into a sitting position to assist with the transfers.
I agree with others, gait belts as useless. I think it’s more dangerous to try to use it than not.
also it may be the way that you’re trying to do the transfer that works or doesn’t work. No offense meant here because I can’t see what you’re doing so I don’t know exactly how you’re trying to do the transfer.
I set up the two items that require the transferring obviously as close as possible then putting my arms underneath her arms acting as if my whole body was a machine using arms, legs, back & feet etc lifting her up just for a few moments to transfer. I usually used my arms completely underneath her arms as high as I could go because her forearm skin was too frail to hold onto.
fortunately I was strong enough to do that but I must admit it did take a toll on me but it worked
And maybe this is not an issue at all but I’m throwing it in there because my Mrs. did this. Some days she just didn’t wanna cooperate and it would go on for a few days to a week where she would just try to be dead weight. Is she having an attitude? Might need to address that as well; but anyway good luck to you!
Disposal underwear is used - as toileting needs happen in a bed.
I believe we need more information here to assist you -
1. is she home
2. how / how many caring for her?
3. Relationships?
4. Finances - if she isn't in a facility, can arrangements be made to get her in one?
I really do not understand the question. If a person cannot stand / move / walk with support, they are bedridden. Hoyers are very difficult to use although this is possible, depending on who is managing the hoyer. (This is how my friend in a nursing home is transferred into a wheel chair).
Gena / Touch Matters
It just sounds like transfers are too dangerous. Unless you can get some professional in home care to help with transfers. Or unless a bedside commode is a doable step. But again, transfers. And then unless you want bedridden to be permanent, nutrition and physical therapy is pertinent. Strength can be rebuilt however it just depends on her determination and other health/emotional/spiritual factors. Once bedridden, and once scary transfers take place, a person gets not only too scared to transfer, but their blood pressure is affected. Inactivity also makes their bp go crazy when they go to transfer, making them weak. You need help in this, guaranteed. Those are all thoughts based on staying in-home.
I am a keep them home advocate however experience tells me otherwise. Probably the best thing to do is move her quickly to a skilled nursing home, at least temporarily. They can do all this safely, show you, and do therapy with her as well. You can visit often or maybe stay with her. Praying it all works for the best. God bless!!