Hi all,
Just a quick question. As my mum doesn't want to give up hope and put my dad in a wheelchair, I fear he his so close to falling.
I wanted to know if anybody can recommend a belt for him to wear rather than pulling and holding on to his shirt/top when hes walking. Its a matter of time until this happens and I want to be sure that my mum tries to use this belt to prevent the fall. Im thinking if an upper body belt rather than hip belt because hes 6ft.
Thanks very much
Hello there
My husband was a six footer too and I'm only five foot. He wore a strong leather belt on his trousers which was handy to grab onto if he started to topple. There are purpose built
He used a wheeled walker until it no longer became safe for him to do so. He then used a commode chair in the house, and wheelchair outside. The commode chair works better on carpets and was invaluable in the bathroom too.
The NHS also supplied a Sara Steady to help him transfer from bed to chair or chair to chair.
Hope this helps, keep on keeping on.
Anne
Thank you so much Anne. I will definitely look into this
you can purchase a "gait belt " online. I would recommend one that has soft web handles on the sides and backend is about 4 inches wide. They length is adjustable and look for one with quick release clip.. It is a great aid for assisting with walking and getting up in case of a fall. If you Dad has a Physical therapist they can show you the safest ways to use the belt or google it on U tube. How to use a Gait Belt.
Thank very much! I will check youtube videos also to see how to use these belts. Much appreciated
We also use the gait belt and used a walker until my mom couldn't walk anymore. As she could still stand briefly to transfer, the belt is very helpful.
A walker "with wheels" would also aid him when walking and protect your Mom from getting hurt from getting hurt while trying to hold him up.
My wife uses a gait belt and it helps with her walking ability. I alternate between using it and just standing behind her and holding her shoulders. We tried the walker with wheels but that was a no-go as she would tend to speed up and crash into walls. She couldn't coordinate the walker without wheels. I am afraid that the next step is to move into a wheelchair which will probably cause her a bit of additional anxiety.
My dad's condition is very similar to yours. And since my mom has a bit of arthritis in her hands she has trouble physically supporting him.
My dad also has CBD so he has never been able to use a walker properly. Right now we just hold his arm and help him walk when he needs to get up. I don't think he'll be on his feet much longer tbh. We already have a very comfortable wheelchair for him to use at home just for sitting and we'll start taking it out with us at some point soon.
My dad is so impulsive because of the condition he doesn't give much warning and will start to get moving all of a sudden. But depending on what kind of chair he's sitting on he can no longer get up himself most of the time. So that part is no longer an issue that he would set off without having someone nearby to help him.
Whenever he's walking, we try to clear the area ahead of obstacles and anything that would distract him and put him off balance. We try not to have anything in our hands so we can support him on both sides if necessary. It's not ideal but it's keeping him on his feet for now.
I might look into that gait belt as well.
Also from reading through many posts here, it seems like the NHS provides much better support than the healthcare system here in Canada. Assistive devices are partially covered or not at all. So far only the wheelchair was partially covered, I don't think a transfer device would be covered at all.
Hey Cappy,
Yes your right...my dads very similar and no warnings to give us a head up if he's about to try to get up etc.
I just try and support them in whichever way I can which is also a challenge with my job, young kids etc. Time is passing so fast and like all the people on this group they are great guides.
Yes i will research the belts that have been recommended and look into wheelchair also as we need to start taking him out and about.
Thanks a lot
The kind of wheelchair to look for, assuming someone will be pushing him, is an ultra lightweight transport wheelchair which does not have big wheels. They weigh around 15-18 pounds, are not very expensive, and fold up easily to put them in a car trunk. Even if he is still walking, it is good to have one on hand for distances or when one is in a rush, and eventually it will be indispensable. Look carefully at the weights because some so-called "lightweight" wheelchairs can still be 30 pounds and a lighter one makes a big difference!A walker to consider is the U-Step walker which is more stable and less likely to 'run away' from a person. It is expensive and heavy though, and it is not entirely fall-proof. We got good use out of it. My mom used it independently for a while and was very happy, and then eventually needed someone with her to keep her steady and to help when her feet froze. It has a seat for when the person gets tired, and I could even push her when she was sitting on it, which was handy. We also used a very inexpensive travel walker with small wheels on the back and "skis" on the front, and that was stable and pretty good, but my mom being weak on one side couldn't keep it going straight.
Thanks very much Martina!
Im so glad you have given me some great tips and advice on wheelchairs too.
Much appreciated 🙏
Hi Banta123!I agree with AnneandChris, ncgardener, Cappy, Martina,...
A U-Step walker with handbrake and later a wheelchair,better before than after.
Our experiences:
Use mechanical wheelchairs with seat belt and anti-bedsore cushions (our anti-bedsores cushions: SYSTAM and JAY - Sunrise Medical Ltd or similar). Make suitable changes in the bathroom. Set up handrails on each side of the bed. Make use of an articulated bed. Also use a plastic wheelchair (type ETAC) special for hygiene and shower.
During the time that the patient was not in bed, we used an articulated chair (power recliner) with an anti-bedsore cushion that allowed the legs to be arranged horizontally.
To transport the patient we regularly used a wheelchair since June 2016 (abrupt decline four and a half years after the onset of the first symptom and after the hip fracture and the corresponding surgical intervention). The wheelchair is made of aluminum and is foldable, easily transportable in the car trunk (aluminum wheelchair is Ergo Lite 2 from KARMA Brand or similar). Weight supported: at least 70 kilogram.
“Racinlady” (2021-01) suggests a Lumex stand assist that will be a back saver for you and a life saver for your patient.
youtube.com/watch?v=Jq-nc59...
After each fall episode I have perceived a greater fear of falling which produces greater rigidity and some distrust towards the caregivers.
Hoping to be useful.
Hug and luck.
Luis
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