I am losing the ability to get out of a chair or out of bed by myself. Currently need assistance from wife or carer on about half the occasions. Neuro OT have scheduled a trial of a Stand-Aid called Oxford Journey.
Has anyone got experience of this or similar equipment ?
Hello,
Sorry to hear this, my wife lost her mobility completely and we now use a Sara stedy.
We were a bit reluctant to start with as it's fairly big but now we couldn't manage without it.
Looks a bit like the Oxford Journey you're talking about.
We use this in the lounge and in the bedroom we use a turntable, I'm sure your occupational therapist will explain more.
Hope you get the help you need.
Derek
Hi Derek, thanks for the info. I have heard the Sara Stedy mentioned at MSA Trust meetings,I will look it up. Bed turntable is new to me, will ask OT about it.
Hello Ken
Jackie has an Oxford Journey which as Derkie says is similar to the Sara Steady and is quite large. As you know Jackie is somewhat lighter than me and so most of the time I manage to 'handball' her from the bed or from the chair. Jackie's physio uses it every visit to hold Jax up whilst doing some exercises.
The issue with all these devices is the time it takes to get the sling on and in position. Of course should you use it all the time you can leave the sling on for some of the time when your on your chair.
You know where we live, if you want to see the Oxford Journey, you are very welcome or we could bring it to you with pleasure. You know my email - get it touch should you want to arrange something.
Take care, Ian
Hi Ian, thanks for the offer but the suppliers moved fast after OTs order and it's being delivered Thursday with a selection of slings for OT and Physio to trial on the following Monday. Sometimes the NHS moves fast for me ! Not so for the power wheelchair though which is still being built despite a supposed fast track order on the MND system and Sunrise saying about a week.
Probably see you both at an MSAT meeting soon I expect.
Best Wishes, Ken
Hi
I'm sorry about this. I don't know if it'll help but I use my arms and the overhead handle in the car and from the bed l just pivot and slide into my wheelchair. I can't stand at all due to lack of balance.
H
😊
My balance is poor and degrading weekly but I can move carefully using a wheeled Zimmer frame. The difficulty is getting up from sitting to standing. Using car handles, bed frame,bed pillow lifter and bed rope ladder all worked fine for a while but no longer succesful due to loss of muscle strength in my arms.
I have good riser recliner and a hospital bed which works for now
Hi, we have, and use a Mo Lift which is a simpler version of the Oxford journey. It works well for my husband, but he does still have he ability to pull himself up with a little help from me.
I would heartily recommend the Sara Stedy, I first saw it at the hospital where my wife was treated for a broken hip after falling out of bed. It was used in the care home as well where my wife stayed while we were having our home adapted for her return. The OT recommended one for her return home and our council provided one as part of her return package.
It is simple to use, very safe and perfect for bed-wheelchair-toilet-commode-armchair-rise & recline transfers. Altogether indispensable for MSA sufferers with mobility issues
we had a molift stand aid, which was invaluable for a long time and went on several holidays with us, as well as a turning aid initially. We then had a ceiling hoist in the bedroom and a molift Mobile hoist which also folded and came apart and it too enjoyed a few holidays!! You need a decent size car! Whatever you get, get the training for it and be sure that it works in your particular situation. One size does not fit all!
Etac website for molift products, but your OT may not supply this brand
We have been using a Sit to Stand for three years and I have been able to keep my husband at home because of this. I was literally tearing my shoulder ligaments trying to get him out of the chair to a walker to move to the wheel chair, and I had a Dr recommend it for ME.
It was/is such a game changer. There are several kinds and hopefully you can find a previously use one. I use it for getting him in and out of bed, dressing and toileting him and moving him to the recliner. I did have to cut a huge hole in the bedroom carpeting to use it on the hard wood instead of the padded carpeting. Totally worth it.
MSA is a complete bugger!
I've a profiling bed with a bedrail and grab handle and, a recling chair at present.
Sorry to this mate.
Yours,
Alec
I have had a rise recliner for around 10 months and until recently it was fine but now I struggle even on full height tilt to stand upright or transfer onto the zimmer, wife has to provide some vertical liftto my body to get me up. Same issue with the bed.
I’m really sorry to hear this, it’s a complete barsteward! ( pardon the sweary pun )
This bloody disease is absolutely relentless.
Yours
Alec
The swearing round here is about 4 levels up from yours (and that's just from the wife) so no apology needed. Relentless indeed.
Am now losing the ability to suck through a straw and as that is the only way I can take liquids due to head drop its a rather serious potential problem. PEG operation looming rather sooner than expected but I am OK with that.
Hospice have already offered a week or 2 of post op in-patient care should I need PEG. I joke that it will be this year's all inclusive luxury holiday but although I have had a tour of the accomodation I have yet to find the bar.
Apart from coping with health issues I find there is always something else to attend to when you have a terminal disease, This week I am making sure my wife is not left "in the shit" (her phrase ) when I am gone. Bills and finances ? Funeral plan ? Nope - I'm having the septic tank emptied on Thursday.
FFS mate, your going through the wars just now! I had to Google PEG!!!!
It's a strak reminder to us al with MSA whats haead and also highlighting how MSA effects those around us too.
Bloody hope you find the bar, it has to be there somewhere? i hope!
My, and others, thoughts with you and your loved ones.
Yours,
Alec
If there is no bar I have a cunning plan involving saving empty Ensure bottles and use of the fridge in the in patients/visitors kitchen. What could possibly go wrong ?
I am newto the forum I am rapidly losing mobility I tried twice to send a message about Sara Stedy. At a little Over 6 feet i found it was too small to get proper leverage. It has been taken away, and replaced with an Oxford that appears to have potential, but it’s early days Definitely on a learning curve
Ken
As usual, I don’t have experience or words of wisdom but know I’m thinking of you x
Thanks. I'm smiling now !
Hopefully, there will be some sort of solution 🤞
Yes, but it will probably need thickener.
That`s the sort of situation we are in too. We have the Molift currently but G has a problem standing up on it sometimes, and is unsafe and so the OT is ordering the Sara Steady as that has a semi sitting position. We`ll see how that goes.
Mary
I think we are at the end...
Shopping shocker Part 11
Electric wheelchair for Multi System Atrophy sufferer.
First time posting on this site.
