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Parkinson's Disease
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Posted 7/29/2011 8:39 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone know of a way to lift someone off the floor that has fallen and won't or can't assist in helping you to help them? My mom's legs give out quite often and will drop to the floor when walking or standing. It takes me a very long time before I can finally lift her off and it's usually by her pushing herself up while I pull. This last episode she was very sleepy and didn't assist me at all. I ended having to get someone to help me. I will not be so lucky the next time.

Is there a machine or maybe even use an inflatable bed and have her sit on it while it inflates her up? Is that even possible?
Posted 8/10/2011 1:01 PM (GMT 0)
Bella, you may want to seek the advice of an inhome physical therapist or nurse. There are many ways using chairs, beds and gait belts to get someone off the ground but without seeing your Mom it would be hard to determin what she can passively assist with. There is a lift called a Hoyer that can go to the floor, it uses a sling to raise the patient up to a seated or laying position. This however may frighten your Mom, a PT would be the best to determine if she is a suitable candidate.

Good Luck,
Shell
Posted 8/10/2011 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your suggestions Shell but... gait belt is useless, chair and bed is only useful if the patient helps you to help herself up. In my mom's case she's usually just sitting there not knowing what I'm trying to do so it's unassisted. Someone mentioned the fireman way where you sling someone over your shoulder. If my mom weighted 50 pounds then maybe.

I know about the hoyer belt. It costs thousands of dollars. I was wondering if an inflatable bed will inflate if someone is on it? This would elevate her high enough to get her off the ground and into a chair. They only cost about $100 and would at least be used as a temp bed too.
Posted 8/25/2011 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the input. My mom isn't injured when she falls. It's more like she gets weak legs and just drops without getting hurt or slips down to the floor from the couch because she doesn't sit back far enough. The suggestions given sound fine but.... they all require the attention from the person and my mom will not do any of the things mentioned to make it easier for me to lift her up. The easiest way of course is to have her sit up too her knees and get up that way or roll to the side and bend her knees but she won't do them. Or even move her to the side of the bed or sofa to have something to lift herself up but no. he article references an assistant. Well, if I had another person then I wouldn't have any problems.

The hoyer lift is very expensive. Do you know why it costs so much or why there isn't something cheaper and more practical? Again, I'm thinking about the inflatable bed. Thank you again.
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