Does anyone have to deal with putting someone to bed on their own, when that someone cannot really help much? I wish I could have some evenings where I don't have carers, so that I can have a relaxing evening with mum and put her to bed at our own pace, rather than when carers come to help. But, although I can get her changed, put her on and off the commode with a stand aid, and get her onto the bed with the stand aid, the hardest bit I find is actually getting her from sitting on the side of the bed, into the bed! It's really hard to do alone, and hard on my back too, as I have to lift her legs with my left arm, while supporting and positioning her head with my right. I have Wendylett sheets on the bed and also use a slide sheet to help reposition her in bed, but it's that initial 'swing' into bed that is hard. Does anyone do this, and have a different way? The physio who used to come suggested I get mum to lift her legs onto the bed, so that it was easier on me, but she can't really do that any more. I can't think of any other way to do it, and of course it is much easier with two people doing it together, which is why I have the evening carer call. I could hoist her in as I leave a sling in situ in the wheelchair in case she has more TIAs while sitting, but then I can't toilet her on the commode! Why has someone not devised some better, more technologically advanced equipment, to deal with this. Current systems seem so hard and so, well, out dated, in this age of whizzy technology.
I was chatting to tonight's carer about incontinence, and how much of a challenge it is to manage. We decided someone needs to invent a device that is implanted into the bladder, and which can control bladder function (to replace what the brain used to do in someone with dementia). A remote control, used by the carer, could then be used to open the bladder and at least then we could control the urine flow. In my case, it would be once mum was settled on the commode. I wonder if and when things will advance so that the life of carers becomes a little easier.
I was chatting to tonight's carer about incontinence, and how much of a challenge it is to manage. We decided someone needs to invent a device that is implanted into the bladder, and which can control bladder function (to replace what the brain used to do in someone with dementia). A remote control, used by the carer, could then be used to open the bladder and at least then we could control the urine flow. In my case, it would be once mum was settled on the commode. I wonder if and when things will advance so that the life of carers becomes a little easier.