Help Please, transferring wheelchair to toilet and back
 

Has anyone devised a good way to transfer a patient, who's legs are totally useless for standing on, from the wheelchair, to the toilet, and back.?? I've been lifting her from the wheelchair, standing in front of her; then moving to the back, to walk her to the toilet, hopefully without dropping her; then moving back to the front again, to set her down. There has to be a better way. Can anyone verbally describe the best way. Thank you so much.

I have been doing this for my wife for about 5 years now and you really have to be careful that you don't injure her or you. The slightest mistake could result in a big problem.

I bring the chair as close as possible to the toilet, lift my wife from under her arms and carefully swing her over to the toilet seat. Use the reverse procedure to place her back into the chair. I had someone from the March of Dimes train me on how to do this quite some time ago and there is a definite way on how to stand and use your legs to bear all the weight.

You can install a ceiling track and attach a special motorized lift to this which makes the lifting easier. They have a special harness for using the toilet but I'm not sure just how much time this takes to get on the patient and when it comes to MS and bathroom needs, you often don't have a whole lot of time.

I hope this info helps you a bit.

Harry

I think it would be a good idea to get her doctor to refer you to an OT (Occupational Therapist). It's amazing how they can help and they know about all the different gadgets, rails, etc. It's important, too, for you to learn the best way to do it so that you don't get injured.

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I bring the chair as close as possible to the toilet, lift my wife from under her arms and carefully swing her over to the toilet seat. Use the reverse procedure to place her back into the chair. I had someone from the March of Dimes train me on how to do this quite some time ago and there is a definite way on how to stand and use your legs to bear all the weight.

Does your wife's chair have arms? Ours is a motorized one with arms. She drives it up so it's facing the side of the toilet. So she's getting up facing east. Toilet runs north and south. So I have to get her turned so she's heading north. HOw do you place your feet...? I really need help with this.

lifts .....
 

if it is feasible, a safer way (for her and your back) might be a patient lift? does she have either medicare or medicaid coverage or a private medical policy with durable medical coverage? if so, they would pay to rent or buy a lift. read here for more info. on patient lifts:

http://www.just-patient-lifters.com/
check out the chart at the bottom of this page

http://www.spinlife.com/category.cfm?categoryID=108

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...=patient+lifts

i have next to no leg strength but i can still use the type of lift (sit/stand lift) that is primarily only for people who can bear weight, which is a bit less time consuming to use than the hoyer type lifts. both have advantages/disadvantages.

then thery make manual ones or battery operated ones that require no exertion by your back. there are also the kind that attach to the studs in the ceiling.

i found a slightly used portable lift for $1,000, orig cost was $4,000. it has been a lifesaver for my husband's back.

i know you weren't inquiring about mechanical means of lifting her but this is just a 'fyi' for the future, if need be.

My wife still uses a manual chair because she has upper arm strength and can still propel herself. Although the arms of the chair can be removed, I haven't found that necessary as yet.

I place Marg's feet in such a position so that when I lift her, her weight will be centered on her feet. Sometimes, she has some strength in her legs and she can take a fair amount of weight off of me. Other times, she becomes total dead weight and that's when you have to become very careful.

I'm going to strongly echo what Moonwolf stated and that is to get an Occupational Therapist into your home. They are excellent at analyzing the situation and making recommendations to help the both of you. The last thing on earth you need is to injure your back...if that happens, you won't be able to offer your wife any assistance at all and that is the kind of problem you really don't need at this point in time.

Harry

I have good upper body and arm strength. When I lost all use of my legs, a PT and several rehab nurses worked w/me to make me independent in the toileting dept.

The smallest differences in physical ability, environment and assist tools can make a huge difference in a best solution.
I hope you get knowledgeable help.

You are posting on the MS forum, but your wife has ALS; is this correct? The MSAssociation of America offers (for FREE) a tub transfer thingy. I went looking through ALS sites to see if any had similar offers but got really bogged down.

Just wanted you to know that "tub transfer thingies" exist.
I hope you can find something to help.

I did find this website (http://www.care-givers.com/pages/resources.html#Anchor). Perhaps you can find what you need there?