Three months ago Hospice dropped off a Hoyer lift and said "eventually you will need it". First time was last week and I called our "sitter" for Sharyn for assistance. She has used them before. So it was good to have help the first time. Sharyn slipped out of her chair to the floor ( no injury). Today Sharyn again slipped slowly to the floor while I was transferring her to potty. So she voided bowels on the floor in her depends. Then cleanup while she was on the floor. Then my oppotunity for solo usage of the Hoyer. What a struggle but also a great sense of accomplishment. Hope I wasn't too graphic. Good thing these things pass, get put behind us, and we have short memories. LOL
Jimbo
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jimandsharynp
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I am grateful for your willingness to share, always. I know I'm heading down the same path, and your experiences will help me be better prepared. I'm interested that hospice gave you the lift before you had need of it. I have been told that hospice may be of help sooner than I expect; may I ask when and how you were able to call on them? Thanks, and best to you and Sharyn. Easterncedar.
I wanted to get involve with Hospice sooner rather than later. With the new healthcare act you never know when changes may occur that kept us out of Hospice care. We need them in a few ways at this time. Our neurologist approved it. You won't get it without doctors approval, until end stage of course. Of course they had no clue about PSP. Once they knew it was progressive with no drugs or treatments they took us in. I mentioned in one of their visits I slightly injured my back (not bad) so they delivered the lift. They realize that as only caregiver my back health needs to be good. The nurse comes once a week to check all vitals, chaplain once a month, social person once a month. The give you a drug pack for your fridge. This stays sealed unless you have a crisis and Hospice tells you to open it and administer a drug. Hospice has its own pharmacy so they can supply some drugs at NO cost out side of the emergency pack in the fridge. Hospice does not bill Medicare for individual services. They receive a fixed amount each month from Medicare. Hope that helps.
I had his dr write up a prescription that he needed a hoyer and she even called the medical equipmentlace to have them do it...i think they delivered it the next day....
The first time I used my hoyer, I used my mom as a guinea pig...she's always up for a challenge or something new....she's as healthy as a horse and lives just next door...figured it out before I had to use it on my husband , as the medical health equipment guy that delivered it and sat or up for me had never used one...also looked at YouTube on how to use it...
I had also bought one of those transfer slides to use...mom again was a guinea pig....transferred her onto the floor...needed more practice...we All had a good laugh ...no one was hurt...haven't really used the board that much ...can't get it far enough under his butt to feel safe transferring....use the hoyer ALL the time now for transferring...except in the bathrooms...too small for it..put him in his wheelchair and I have to pull him up get him turned around and try and keep him jacked up with my knee long enough to get his pants down...basically all within 5 seconds or his legs give out....OH WHAT FUN!!!!
o dear !!, been there done that lol . While removing the potty from beneath to check it happened and other occasions when we haven't made it in time . I now keep a puppy trainer sheet underneath in case . I hope you get use to using the lift I am sure you will . as with so many thing we have to get in a routine don't we . Do you transfer the lift to your wife or wheel her chair to it . I cannot move it so I have to transfer him into the wheelchair if he is not already in it , wheel him to to lift raise and transfer to commode chair , Reverse when finished .
You might find it helpful if you line the potty , I use three sheet of tissue , I find this a great help when emptying it when finished . I do it straight away then ready for the next time .
If like me you find you are using a lot of tissue , I also use moist toilet tissue to cleanse with . Might find that it doesn't flush away easily I keep a bottle of soapy water beside the toilet ready, this usually helps to flush away cleanly and not get blocked . Works like magic .
I am thinking of writing a book of helpful tips lol. It would be a best seller between all of of us i am sure .
You say Sharyn slips onto the floor while transferring , so pounds like she hasn't got the strength to hold herself up or grip the floor when transferring same as my John . This is why I have now asked if they would supply us with the ceiling lift so that he can be hoisted from Chair or bed onto his chair . Will have one over his bed the other over his armchair . that is if they think my ceilings will hold it . I do hope so I will never have to lift again then . They also have hoist on a frame but these take up more room .
John use to slip when getting out of bed usually ended up up under the dressing table . Sometimes better than others I find he is worse sometimes when his feet become twisted and rolled inwards so cannot grip Is this Dytonia . The same goes for when he .feeds himself with his fingers and wrists .
Had had two of his if you can call it better days but today hasn't lifted his head very much and very switched off , He said he didn't sleep too well last night.
We live in Wales UK . the hospital bed and hoist has been supplied through the community nurse in our case . Don't do like we did and keep struggling hurting yourselves and getting so tired and stressed ask for any of the aids available , don't be out off by them telling you you have to keep going or will lose it . If you could do so you wouldn't be asking in the first place .
We were stubborn and kept going for far too long
Generally you will have to wait but we are starting to get better hello for which we are grateful . In fact this morning we had a visit from a community dentist they are at last making him a new set of dentures . It has been a long time in coming but once started is great . Waiting now for a speech therapist .
the sling is a bit thick and will make keep him to warm . I wonder if we can get some thinner softer ones . Waiting for them to access the option of ceiling hoists . We had to give up on using the toilet if was far to difficult for me to manage him anymore getting him through the doorway and turning . Everything is so much more difficult in small spaces isn't it . He now uses the wheelie commode chair .If I go out for a short time he will wear a pad .something i wished we had started to use much sooner .
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