Does anyone use a Manga Elk?

[Peter3]

Hi Everyone,

I have been doing my evening scan of the blogs and tonight I notice there are a few mentions of falls (not unsurprisingly) and the need to call an ambulance.

Falls was one of the biggest problem my husband had initially and it was very problematic at times getting him up for wherever he fell. The occupational therapist got us a Manga Elk to assist with the lifts and it has been an absolute "God send". With it so far, I have managed to get him out of situations such as falling down the side of the toilet, sliding out of bed to the floor, falling over whilst getting up from his chair, falling on the stairs etc. The other thing I did was a half day manual handling course which was very useful in looking at techniques to move people whilst remaining safe oneself.

Having written the above, it is getting more and more difficult to move my husband as he is becoming very rigid albeit the number of falls have greatly reduced due to increasing immobility.

If you haven't tried a Manga Elk and falls are a big issue it could be worth a try.

Best wishes

Peter3.

[NannaB]

Hi Peter3, Our Elk has also been a God send and is frequently used. Like your husband, mine has become increasingly more rigid, especially at night. We have recently had a hospital bed delivered but the sides hadn't been ordered ( a mistake ). Two nights ago, when the bed was put down low, and with chairs along the sides to keep him in, my husband managed to slip gently to the floor. Out came the Elk. It took me ages to get him on it but he was so rigid, I couldn't sit him up. Eventually I had to call an ambulance. The strong young men soon sat him up and got him back to bed. The bed sides were fitted yesterday so hopefully my husband will stay in bed at night now.The ambulance men were surprised when they saw the Elk and said I'd done the hardest job getting him on it and they wish more people had one but they are very expensive. As you said, it's well worth trying to

get one.

Best wishes.

Nanna B

[Peter3 in reply to NannaB]

Hi NannaB, We have so much in common. Peter has a hospital bed, again, a great relief when it was delivered a couple of months go because we had got to the point where getting Peter in and out of bed was a great struggle for both of us. We are now awaiting a visit from the OT next week as once again, even with a hospital bed, getting in and out of bed because of rigidity, has become very difficult.

It is late and I need some sleep!

Best wishes

Mary aka Peter3.

NannaB which part of the UK do you live in?

[cabbagecottage in reply to Peter3]

we live in Newport S Wales , the OT has been assessing my husband . We already had a hospital bed it was arranged by the district nurse . The OT has had a hoist delivered now along with a wheelie commode chair . . we have recently brought the bed downstairs because he couldn't turn the corners to get in and out of the toilet or get off the stairlift.

It all takes up room but I am slowly getting rid of some of the dining room furniture books and ornaments . I no longer have time to read and I can find anything I want on my I Pad I am going to buy a smaller folding dining table and a new sideboard where I can also place the TV and the ornaments I want to keep .

our bits and pieces are lovely memories but after all it is only STUFF can soon replace them but I cannot replace my husband .

[Peter3 in reply to cabbagecottage]

Hi Cabbagecottage, I have converted our dining room into a bedroom but at the moment my husband is refusing to sleep downstairs and so we do the perilous trip up and down to the bedroom. There is no aspect of family life that doesn't get sucked into PSP.

Do keep some of the Stuff, memories will be important.

Best wishes

Peter3.

[cabbagecottage in reply to Peter3]

Yes I will do ,

It sure does affect every waking AND SLEEPING HOUR . it's one long round .

My husband is diagnosed with Parkinson's . I am sure he was fighting it all his life without knowing .

[NannaB in reply to Peter3]

Hi Mary, I replied to this but it doesn't appear to be here. Perhaps I forgot to press reply. We live in Kent near Tunbridge Wells. Anywhere near you?

[Peter3 in reply to NannaB]

Hi NannaB

Sadly not. We live in Bristol. I've missed a couple of days blogging, however, the Elk has been in good use. My husband's mobility has taken another nose dive recently both literally and metaphorically.

The OT and physio are doing a combined visit on Thursday to see if they can come up with some ideas of how to cope with the rapidly decreasing mobility.

Mary.

[NannaB in reply to Peter3]

Hi Mary,

I hope the OT and physio help. I'm dreading the time when my husband loses his mobility. Like yours, he has become less mobile very recently. Until a couple of months ago, he would walk round our small supermarket holding onto the trolley but now he just shuffles around indoors with me behind him. I've started getting my food shopping on line. He would always push his wheelchair a little way if we went out but he won't do that now. He can still transfer from chair to stair lift, to bed etc but it is getting increasingly more difficult. I'd be interested in knowing what the experts say.

Best wishes.

Nanna B

[denmob]

I have been looking at the manga elk and am pleased with your post on the subject. Unfortunately it is expensive (over £1000.00) and although invaluable by the sounds of things, we don't have any agency who would be prepared to source it for us. My husband is over 13stnes and my old back is beginning to suffer. But thank you for your info. Denmob.

[LizzieF in reply to denmob]

If he was in the forces apply to the Royal British Legion, or the charity arm of his work's union if he was i one x

[denmob in reply to LizzieF]

Unfortunately my husband has never been in the forces so can't go down that route but thank you for the suggestion.

[NannaB in reply to denmob]

Hi denmob, The neuro OT at a local hospital sorted out the Elk for us as I told her I couldn't lift 16 + stone. I had no idea what it was before it arrived. Have you spoken to the OT? My husband is now 15 stone but still too much for me.

Nanna B

[denmob in reply to NannaB]

Thank you for this info. We have a hospital visit set for the physio and I will ask for their help but I don't hold out much hope. So far we have bought the equipment ourselves because we have been told there is no money available for anything except handrails and a wheelchair. Being disabled is very expensive! Denmob.

[Peter3 in reply to denmob]

Hi Denmob, Do you live in the UK? If so, you maybe able to get one on loan via your Occupational Therapist or Community nurse. Good luck.

[denmob in reply to Peter3]

Thank you for responding. I will investigate but have been told to call the ambulance service! From the posts I read on this site there is such a variation in what equipment you can get through the NHS. I have even been told to contact my local MP! It seems we are battling local health services as well as the disease. Denmob.

[Peter3 in reply to denmob]

I agree with you about battling the various services. I feel we have been fortunate with the OT from the NHS my husband has, the same cannot be said for social services OT to whom we were referred when we needed to get some advice about a downstairs bathroom.

Now we are in the process of trying to get continuing health care funding. Not a very good experience to date. Almost for sure my husband will be rejected even though he can't do anything for himself, has spells of altered levels of consciousness and no longer makes any decisions for himself etc etc. The assessor told us after the assessment we had requested consideration for funding too early, but we could appeal any decision!

Life is like swimming in treacle isn't it with PSP.

Peter3.

[cabbagecottage in reply to denmob]

I wake in the morning and wonder why who much of me is stiff and aching ! lol

[marytea13]

What is a manga elk please ? I have no idea what they are!

[Hidden in reply to marytea13]

have found a link to show you one. Mangar who make them are currently offline for some reason but this was in a different site. I wish we had known about them with mum.

completecareshop.co.uk/disa...

[marytea13 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks I have been on line but found most equipment is available in Australia from Independent Living Centres but I think my OT wood get things I may need Marytea13

[LizzieF in reply to marytea13]

It's a blow up stool which you place under the fallen person, then you blow it up and it get's them up off the floor. I've got a Mangar Camel which is the blow up chair (better I feel than the Elk as it stops people falling off the sides). It was absolutely invaluable. If you live in the UK and you or the person with PSP was in the forces you can apply to Royal British Legion. Or the charity arm of a trades union will help (providing you can prove membership!)

[Christine47 in reply to marytea13]

The Mangar Elk is a nifty inflatable series of "cushions" that raise a person off the floor. Boy, it sure could have helped CarlaL48 awhile ago. prismmedicalinc.com/mangar-.... It is expensive (for me at least) at $2400USD.

[LizzieF]

Hi I got my mum a Mangar Camel (the chair) through Royal British Legion and the RAFA. It was extremely useful and probably saved thousands of pounds for the NHS as I used to have to call paramedics out each time mum had a fall!