How can I help my parents with mobility when I have health problems limiting my strength?
I have several issues with my tendons and muscles that limit my strength in my arms, I also have fibromyalgia that can make it painful to try to assist my parents (in their late 60s) when they have trouble getting up from a seated position. Does anyone have any suggestions for helping them up from a chair or the toilet? My mother has severe bouts of vertigo that makes it impossible for her to stand up on her own for several hours, but she gets severe vomiting and diarrhea when the vertigo occurs so I have to help her on and off the toilet. Are there any very narrow wheelchairs that you have used? Our bathroom has an extremely narrow door so a normal wheelchair can't fit. But I think being able to slide her over onto a wheelchair could be easier than trying to support her. Although I am not sure if I would then be able to push the chair with my arms?? Is it very hard to push a wheelchair?
I had not even thought of asking their Dr. For an in home assessment by a physical or occupational therapist. That would be a very good idea.
We have a commode, I will have to see if it can fit around the toilet. That would save them having to buy a toilet safty frame, i think it would be just as sturdy.
That would be very helpful. Especially when mom has vertigo It may make her more secure feeling as she would have the arms to hold and reassure her she is not falling off if I have to step away to get something for her.
It's funny how I didn't even think of the camode... it's just sitting right there in the bedroom, and it could be easily moved back and forth to the bedroom when needed in there :-) I'm I newbie, Lol!
I was looking at the space in our bathroom, I think a small wheelchair could be manouvered around. I could wheel it in and leave the door open while getting mom from it to the toilet, then turn it around and it would be ready for her to get in and leave the bathroom.
A friend was showing me that they had moved their walker wheels to the inside recently that seems like a very good idea.
I will have to get out the measuring tape and take it with me to look at walkers and wheelchairs (or make sure any I get online can be returned locally if the measurements are not as described...)
Thanks again everyone!
Our regional hospital has these plastic wheelchairs which are easy to use. The wheel brakes are at the back of the chair. I tried to look for one on the internet but couldn't find it among the 100's and 100's of wheelchairs posted. These are white with a light blue seat.
With a wheelchair, you have to consider not only the width of the door but the space inside the bathroom to maneuver the wheelchair. It's tricky to turn a wheelchair in a tight space, especially with someone sitting in it. Pushing a wheelchair does take strength, how much depends on the type of wheelchair and the weight of the patient. The transport wheelchairs with the small wheels are lighter, but with a heavy person sitting in it it's still tough. My mother weighs 200 lbs and I can move her fairly easily on level ground -moving up a wheelchair ramp and over raised doorways takes some oomph. I would not recommend it to someone with compromised upper body strength, in all honestly.
When I lift my mother, I use my back. I lean over her, have her put her arms around my neck, grip her around the waist, and stand up. A lot of times I have to hold her upright for a minute or so while she gets her balance before transferring her to her walker or wheelchair. Maybe this maneuver would help you if your back is stronger than your arms.
Good luck!