[Murray]

Hello all -

From time to time, the local sci support group manages to help "newbies" with equipment expenses. A young man recently sustained a C1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & T1 sci (I'd never heard of such a thing!) due to a motorcycle accident. He's about 5 mos post and at home. But, because he has no rotating mattress, his mother is up every 2 hours turning him. Naturally, she's spent. The family's getting some assistance from a local home care provider, but - because his "road rash" injuries are still healing - the turning process is not your standard 1-2-3 toss. Naturally, mom feels like no one can do it correctly, so she's reluctant to "let go." The support group has acquired funding from several individuals and from a community foundation, totalling $1400. The family's health insurance is CCS and MediCal. I don't know how much these companies will contribute toward the mattress, but I will estimate that a total of, say, $2500 will be the ceiling. So, to the point - NEEDED: ADVICE AS TO THE TYPE (BRAND & MODEL) OF LATERALLY ROTATING AIR MATTRESS TO PURCHASE.

If you can provide me with some insights, I'd be very grateful.

Obviously, time is crucial.

Thanks.

Lynn

[Slowlegs]

Murray, on Mar 29 2009, 04:42 AM, said:

Hello all -

From time to time, the local sci support group manages to help "newbies" with equipment expenses. A young man recently sustained a C1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & T1 sci (I'd never heard of such a thing!) due to a motorcycle accident. He's about 5 mos post and at home. But, because he has no rotating mattress, his mother is up every 2 hours turning him. Naturally, she's spent. The family's getting some assistance from a local home care provider, but - because his "road rash" injuries are still healing - the turning process is not your standard 1-2-3 toss. Naturally, mom feels like no one can do it correctly, so she's reluctant to "let go." The support group has acquired funding from several individuals and from a community foundation, totalling $1400. The family's health insurance is CCS and MediCal. I don't know how much these companies will contribute toward the mattress, but I will estimate that a total of, say, $2500 will be the ceiling. So, to the point - NEEDED: ADVICE AS TO THE TYPE (BRAND & MODEL) OF LATERALLY ROTATING AIR MATTRESS TO PURCHASE.

If you can provide me with some insights, I'd be very grateful.

Obviously, time is crucial.

Thanks.

Lynn

I had a similar need because of injuries all sides. At first they put me in a bed which was made for burns, basically it was like a pair of roller blind mechanisms with a net between. It was used for burns originally and made turns easier. Road rash is just friction burns after all. As I had pins two sides they then put me in a stryker bed which allowed me to be turned like a rotisserie for twenty three hours on my stomach and one on my back per day. Sorry for not being more specific but it was 23 years ago and morpheine aint that conducive to a photographic memory. A burns centre may be able to help better with the names.

[Murray]

Thanks, slowlegs - I'll check into it. This is new stuff for me. We (the sci support grp) haven't taken on a chore quite as spendy as this, but - hell! - the kid needs it badly, and I know that mom is about to drop, having to turn him every two hours. She's been doing that for a couple months now. Insane! Hasn't gotten much help from the home care folks. (I'm not sure what the deal is there. But she sure needs to do something asap!)

Sounds like you had a helluva a time "back in the day". Glad to have behind ya, no doubt.

Have a good one and thanks again.

Lynn

[StillFingers]

Murry, check out the links below, I'm looking at both, not sure which one to get yet...bedsores on my bum, healing slow. Hope the links help.

PressureGuard® Turn Select®
http://www.spanameri...turn_select.php

PressureGuard® APM 2
http://www.spanamerica.com/apm2.php

PS. Both are medicare reimbursable/rentable, check the bottom of the pages for medicare issues.

This post has been edited by StillFingers: 31 March 2009 - 09:24 PM

[Murray]

StillFingers -
Great! Fantastic! You have helped a bunch, bud. I was just trying to finalize some details for the kid's mattress today - this is perfect timing! Thanks again.

[Slowlegs]

Murray, on Mar 29 2009, 06:06 PM, said:

Thanks, slowlegs - I'll check into it. This is new stuff for me. We (the sci support grp) haven't taken on a chore quite as spendy as this, but - hell! - the kid needs it badly, and I know that mom is about to drop, having to turn him every two hours. She's been doing that for a couple months now. Insane! Hasn't gotten much help from the home care folks. (I'm not sure what the deal is there. But she sure needs to do something asap!)

Sounds like you had a helluva a time "back in the day". Glad to have behind ya, no doubt.

Have a good one and thanks again.

Lynn

Good luck with the beds. I remember the bed was actually donated by a trust named after a girl who had terrible burns. They bought it for her because there was nothing for her then. Apparently it arrived too late and she died. I can still remember seeing her name on the plaque attached to the bed. Yes, it was "memorable" if nothing else. The work my Mum did was something I remember the most. Be good to see the Mum of the guy have a bit of a rest too as I don't know where Mums get all the energy from sometimes. Good to hear there is a good group such as yourselves out there to help others. Hope the guy is OK and the turning bed helps them both. Tell him hi from a guy in NZ who knows a bit of what he is going through.

This post has been edited by Slowlegs: 01 April 2009 - 10:16 AM