I have a 94-year old, 130 lb grandfather who is quite stubborn and tries to walk from the bed to the bathroom. We have a commode but he refuses to use it.
In any case, the other day he fell near his bed and my mother who is 63 years old herself had to work hard to try to get him back onto the bed. He has no energy left in his legs due to his energy and age so it's essentially 130 lb of dead weight. She is only one caring for him with no one else in the house to help.
Are there any belts, slings, devices that we can purchase to make it easier for him/her?
Here is some examples but I'm not sure if they work or if there's other creative solutions that we're not thinking about: https://imgur.com/a/GihLHgn
Thanks!
#1 check he isn't hurt
#2 reassure him and allow him to recover - don't let him panic and be in too much of a hurry to get up again
#3 prompt him verbally to move himself into a sitting position, and then rest for a minute or two. If he can get himself onto all fours, so much the better.
#4 from there, see if he is able to move himself to a sturdy piece of furniture with a flat surface (by crawling or bottom-shuffling, for example) and pull himself up to his knees, onto one foot, onto both feet and sit - you can guide his hips onto the bed or place a chair ready for him - there are plenty of YouTube videos showing how.
Do not pull on any bits of him, do not hold him round the waist and yank at him, do not use any physical strength to assist him. As he begins to rise, you can place your hands to support his balance and to prevent him coming into contact with any corners or edges on his way up.
If he can't get himself up after one or two attempts, call 911 or your local falls response team (these are gaining in popularity - it's a waste of resources to send a full paramedic team out to a straightforward fall with no injuries).
There are falls cushions commercially available, but a) these are not cheap and b) it would be best to get some training in how to use them properly.
But whatever happens - you Do Not Lift.
He needs to be in a wheelchair if he has no strength left in his legs.
What may work better is to leave him on the floor (a pillow and a blanket for comfort) until someone is available to help. Your mother shouldn't be trying to pick him up. Three or four hours lying on the floor won’t do him any harm, and may help him to change his mind about the commode versus walking from the bed to the bathroom. ‘Stubborn’ may not be ‘stupid’.
(Teaching any person depends on their open mindedness, physical ability & memory or course).
I'll look for the 'MacGyver style' video link:
https://youtu.be/4ETgQD8QhZs
Back injuries are no joke and she may find herself imobile and in a lot of excruciating pain. Not to mention long term damage to her back down the road.
The only safe way for her and him is to call and have the paramedics get him back up.
The safest way is to call 911 or the non emergency number and ask for a "LIFT ASSIST"
In most areas without transport to the hospital there will be no charge.
The paramedics are trained to properly lift someone AND there are usually 2 people that will assist.
You, or another will be asked to sign a waiver declining transport to the hospital. But if there is a noticeable injury they may strongly encourage transport. (during the time I was caring for my Husband he fell 8 times, each time I called and there was never a charge. 7 of those times he was on Hospice so I would have declined transport anyway, if there had been an injury I would have called Hospice although I did notify them the following day)
There is another advantage to calling.
They will be aware that there is a vulnerable person in the house that may need more assistance in an emergency.
Many time this was done when my dad and mom fell. No transfer is done to the hospital unless needed.
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