My 96-year-old mother is unable to stand/walk and has advanced dementia. Her caregiver is here for 2-3 hours each morning, and transfers her between bed and commode, bed and wheelchair, wheelchair and recliner, returning her to bed before she leaves. The caregiver lifts her, bearing her full weight (my mother is short but weighs about 140). I want to be able to move her from bed to wheelchair in an emergency, but don't know how to do that safely, as she has very limited ability to help at all. (I am a little taller than she is, in good health). We have a gait belt. I don't want to use a lift. I was thinking to have a physical therapist come to evaluate my mother and, if possible, teach me how to do a "dependent transfer" correctly. Does anyone have experience/advice with this?
He gave me a lot of great tips on ways to maneuver her. They have served me well as my own mother will also allow me to "move her" on my own. Doesn't matter what they weigh, you go deadweight on somebody and knees will buckle.
Don't be like me and think you're superwoman. I ruined my back working elder care and now am limited to 40lbs of lifting and even that seems like a lot--esp when I used to hoist sheetrock, 50 lb bags of cement etc w/o even thinking about it.
My father made slide boards for my mother; we used them for in-home transfers from chair to chair to wheelchair and wheelchair to car and reverse transfers.
Although my father made the ones we used, you can also buy them. Google "Patient Transfer Boards." The ones shown are much larger; and some appear to be of heavy cloth. Dad made his of wood, sanded them well and beveled the ends for easy "scooting" on and off. I don't know what kind of finish he applied to the wood, but it was smooth so there wouldn't be "pokes" from the wood.
I don't know if Medicare would pay for them for home use, but you can call one of your mother's doctors and ask about that.
Your caregiver, or one of the therapists at the agency for which she works, might also be able to help guide you to finding a good board.
You do absolutely need to have someone show you how to do a transfer. The aide can show you the best way so neither you nor Mom get hurt.
Whatever technique the therapist shows you, though, I'm pretty sure it won't involve your lifting 140lbs. Keep an open mind about what the therapist recommends.
We rent the lift from a medical equipment company along with dad's hospital bed and alternating air pressure mattress. Dad's insurance pays for most of it.