Moving into place in bed

[Oumarusk]

After receiving the Mo Lift last week I was so relieved as it has made moving my husband to the side of the bed a lot easier.

However he cannot help himself to move into place once on the bed. I lift his legs up but need to have something to slide him further over as he needs to sleep on his side.

The OT has ordered linen which she says might/should assist and we're waiting for it to be delivered.

He is in so much pain, both in the right hip and the ongoing pressure sores on his heels. Few hours of sleep for both of us.

Has anyone used something else to assist with moving into position in the bed?

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Bergenser]

Hi

Since my husband had a heel fracture early in his PSP journey, he needed help to get into and out of bed. We used a combination of a handling sheet (with 8 handles) and a tubular slide sheet. With this combination I could help him turn from sitting on the side of the bed to lying down with his head on the pillow and legs to the foot end. I could move him side to side or up/down the bed as well. I could do the same motion in reverse to turn him and get his legs over the side of the bed and then help him sit up. I would sometimes use a soft sling if he needed even more help to get to standing. We also had a "bed handle" and a grab rails on the wall by the bed so he would always do the heavier part himself. The OT watched my routine and made sure I was not straining my back. He should strictly speaking not be lying on top of the handling sheet/slide sheet but I couldn't have handled him alone otherwise. I would later put a waterproof cotton mat on top of the handling sheet so he wasn't lying directly on it - particularly when he occasionally wet the bed. Your OT might teach you how to do this with just the tubular slide sheet, depending on how heavy your husband is and how much he can help.

The OT also provided a contraption (heavy pole with counterweight underneath the bed) with a handle hanging over the bed above his chest level. This was meant to help him adjust himself and help with the bed transfers. I was not happy with this, it didn't give him much traction and he pulled a muscle a few times. I removed it for good when he got frustrated and took a swing to my head with his fist holding the handle 😢. It might work for someone less impulsive.

Good luck. 🌻🤗

[Oumarusk in reply to Bergenser]

Hi

Thanks for the suggestions. The linen is arriving tomorrow and then the OT will be back to show me what to do, but I'll ask about the slide sheet.

The Frail Care team will now be assigned to my husband after the Nurse did an assessment today.

She also mentioned that I should consider getting some Carer help to give me some respite. My husband told her that he didn't want a Carer!!

[Bergenser in reply to Oumarusk]

It is very natural that your husband doesn't want a carer. It is a threshold you may have to cross soon, and it's worth starting the conversations (as I'm sure you have) - about how you are willing to care and support him - but also that you have to stay healthy to be able to do so. Getting external carer(s) involved wouldn't be instead of you, it would be to help &protect you- which he needs to accept is in his best interest. I would say "here is how you can help me" or "there is something you could do for me".

And of course there would be times I would scream "I can't do this anymore". Much as I tried not to cry in front of him, I sometimes let it slip how hard things were and that I needed help, too. My husband didn't like all his carers, but he came to appreciate that days were better when we had carer(s) in place. 🌻🫂

[Harshacceptance]

my dad has WendyLett sheets which the OT / GP can prescribe - they have been a must have to reposition dad in bed.

Regarding the pain, are you getting the reviews from the GP etc to manage his meds to keep him as pain free as possible?

[Oumarusk in reply to Harshacceptance]

Thank you for your reply. We haven't spoken to the GP about pain management. The Frail Care Nurse will be visiting again next week and I'll chat to her about it. We are really having sleepless nights as he can't lie still in bed, constantly moving his feet due to the pain, besides his hip being painful as well.

[SunriseLegend]

My husband was given slide sheets about two years ago. The OT showed me how to use them - both on his own and with he and I using them. He then got me to try to use them on my own and I couldn't move my husband at all. He couldn't understand why and nor could I. My husband uses a hospital bed so we adjusted the height and angles etc every which way. He then got his colleague - a slide sheet "expert" - to come and observe my attempts and she said straight away that I could, and should, not attempt it alone. I think I am not tall enough and my arms are too short. Ever since he has had double handled carers to move him to, from and in bed.

I also agree with what has been said already about protecting yourself from harm.Until last spring I was still moving my husband from his wheelchair to the commode and back using the ambiturner in between carer visits. Inevitably I hurt my shoulder. I had been moving him when I should have stopped probably months earlier but my husband wanted to maintain that last scrap of independence to weight bear himself and use the commode . So also inevitably, since then he has been fully hoisted and uses pads and the carers change him on the bed. It was embarassing at first but he now takes it in his stride. We are lucky that his carers are lovely and he has great relationship with them - lots of banter and laughs - so he actually quite enjoys them coming. The movement from his chair to the bed and back again is also helpful for him as it saves him being in the same position all day. (Even though his chair is fully adjustable we find the lying flat while he is changed provides a bit of a stretch for him) I fully understand why your LO doesn't want carers but perhaps introducing them gradually might ease the process

[Oumarusk in reply to SunriseLegend]

I can understand that one feels a loss of dignity when having Carers to attend to personal stuff. But we will definitely get to a stage where I will no longer be able to manage it all on my own and mostly because of being unable to move my husband. With the aid of the Mo Lift and him still being able to hoist himself up and stand on it, I can push him into the bathroom and to sit on the commode. I have been unable to push him while seated on the commode itself.