Has anyone devised a good way to transfer an ALS patient, who's legs are totally useless for standing on, from the wheelchair, to the toilet, and back.??

We had a lift system installed in our bedroom. The track runs across the ceiling into the bathroom. I can go from the bed, chair, toilet, or shower easily. I think mine is called Sure Hands and our insurance company paid for most of it. If you still have use of your hands, you can operate it your self. Without it, life would be crap.

I've never worked with ALS patients, but, I HAVE worked with stroke patients -- back when I was still working (around the time the dinosaurs were roaming the planet ).

I was a certified home health aide. I was taught by the local Visiting Nurse Association how to transfer a patient safely.

Even though the patient cannot control his/her legs, the stability of the legs because of the long bones, together with the bracing that you would provide, should allow you to do a safe transfer.

If the lift, as mentioned above, isn't feasible for you, you might want to give your local VNA a call and ask them to show you how to perform a safe transfer.

Take care. Bless you.

Barb

The closest I could come in our area is the Home Health Care association, who said they would have to come out, and Medicare would pay for it. Well, she doesn't yet have medicare. I wish I could just go to someone and they could show me. Right now I try to lift her, from the front, from her chair, but then have to get behind her, hopefully without dropping her, so I can walk her to the toilet, then must again get in front of her to set her down. All pretty precarious as I'm moving front to back to front. Can someone verbally describe to me the correct way to do this? Thank you so much for your assistance.

((((((Comforter)))))),

I was assuming, from your original description, that you were transferring from the wheelchair to the toilet -- a 'short-distance' transfer.

It's sounding to me like you can't/don't take the wheelchair into the bathroom. Is that correct?? I got that impression because you mentioned getting behind her and walking into the bathroom.

What I was describing originally was the stand-pivot-transfer which is exactly what it sounds like. You stand in front of the patient and pivot and then assist them to sit down again. Sounds like you're already doing that, except for the little bit of walking in between the standing and the sitting.

Let's see if I can work this out for you a little better.

If you cannot bring the wheelchair into the bathroom so that you only have to transfer a 'short distance' from the wheelchair to the toilet, then we've got to figure out another way of doing this.

Here's some thoughts:

1. use a potty chair instead of the toilet-- I have the same reaction as you do -->> forget about that one.

2. put something inside the bathroom close to the entrance so that you can transfer her from the wheelchair to the 'something' and then to the toilet. This 'something' should be arm-less and have lockable wheels -- that could be something as simple as a small office stool with a rubber wheel chuck to prevent the wheels from moving while you're transferring.

3. If you are now able to get behind her and walk to the toilet from the bathroom entrance, I'm thinking this might be a good, inexpensive, safe way of doing it: Easy Up Caregiver Lifting Aid This would allow you to use your own weight as a counter-balance to her weight -- so that you could stay IN FRONT of her and facing her the entire time that you're transferring her. Your weight as a counter-balance and your physical strength holding onto the handles would allow you more control than what you're feeling now in the moment when you switch from being in front of her to in back of her.

Let me know if that is what you're looking for. Hugs.

Barb

Geia hara
I have made an extra toilett sit for my wheelchair.
If your wheelchair is a stander, is very easy.
Fotios

[QUOTE=moose53;20967]((((((Comforter)))))),

I was assuming, from your original description, that you were transferring from the wheelchair to the toilet -- a 'short-distance' transfer.

It's sounding to me like you can't/don't take the wheelchair into the bathroom. Is that correct?? I got that impression because you mentioned getting behind her and walking into the bathroom.
No. She drives her motorized wheelchair right up to the toilet. It's getting her from the chair to the toilet. If I lift her from the front, now I'm between her and the toilet. I've got to somehow get her turned around. That's why I've been getting behind her and walking her the few steps to the toilet, then getting in front of her to set her down. It's not a long distance, but we have landed on the floor a couple of times. Then it is impossible for me to get her back up.

[
stand-pivot-transfer which is exactly what it sounds like. You stand in front of the patient and pivot and then assist them to sit down again.
Let's see if I can work this out for you a little better.

I think this is the procedure I need described fully to me. Would you please try to do that. I appreciate your help so much. I looked at the lifting aid, and don't think it would work since she has no strength whatsoever in her legs. I'm not just lifting her up so she can stand. I have to hold her in that standing position.

Hi Comforter,

Sorry to hear your having such an ordeal, is space limited in the bathroom?
You could try using a transfer belt and transfer disc combo?

If the belt & disc can be used....you would place the disc on the floor then place her feet on the disc....then lift her using the transfer belt and pivot her around.
I used this technique when I worked in a care home.

Or alternatively use a commode.

Good luck
Jeannie x

Hi Comforter,

In my research for my own future needs of transferring throughout my house I found Access Unlimited lifting systems to be very diversified.

Jeff

http://www.accessunlimited.com