10 replies to this topic

[Muskie]

The engineer that came to our home for recommendations for home mods, drew an overhead lift into the plans. Does anyone have one, if you do is it really needed? If you don't would it be on your wish list of must get one?

[megatrig]

ummmm well no .... but!

more info needed.

Is the lift for a new injury?

carer help?

how "able" is the person? Sliding board user?

etc, etc

[Muskie]

Sorry, my son is a c5 and is 22 injured 6 months ago, uses a slide board to get out of the bed in the morning with an aide, gets in a shower chair with 2 people (afraid of shearing skin with a slide board) at night my wife and I lift him into his bed. He's still getting stronger. The transition from chair to bed is uphill (6 inches). Before the accident he was a lifeguard and a gym rat always working out.

[Tetracyclone]

Muskie,
Overhead lifts are such an American thing. My experience in Taiwanese hospitals gave me such a different view of how to do things.

Carers taught each other how to lift any type patient unassisted if the patient could sit on their bed and hold their arms around the carer's neck. The carer would face the seated patient and clamp the patient's knees between their own bent knees. They would then rock backward, lifting the patient just a bit, pivot (all 4 feet are quite close), and place or land their patient in the chair. I have seen 85 lb girls transfer an obese guy nearly twice their weight this way.

Granted, we do not share this skill set in the USA. Still, if you have a system that is working and your son is getting stronger, I suggest you delay an overhead lift for 6 months. Right now the situation offers high motivation to your son to get stronger and try as hard as he can. A lift will tend to set the present situation "into the walls", and into everyone's attitude.

My doctor swore I needed an electric standing chair. I delayed and delayed and conspired with my OT to learn to push a manual chair that he rigged with push pegs by taping them onto the side of the push rims. He ran a risk because he reported to this doctor. I did not want to accept my current limitations and I did not want a monstrous electric chair in my house. For whatever reason, i was convinced that i was still moving forward and that I would learn to use a manual chair.

Yes, I think st 6 months your son is still moving forward nicely. The engineer came in, took only one look and saw the situation as though it were permanent.

maybe yes, probably no.

Another sweet window into other ways of doing things: Project walk puts people on treadmills and in a harness, then has 2 relatives or physios move the patient's legs to remind them of walking gait. Expensive.

In a Taiwanese rehab lab, a larger physio will stand behind a smaller patient and hold them close around the waist. Bodies are pressed together so that the patient feels completely supported. The patient tries to move their feet as best they may while the physio completes the motion by moving each of the patient's feet with their own feet. It would remind you of an old Marx Brothers movie. It is very cheap and effective.

Good luck with everything. I think you and your son will make all the right decisions.

[cdngrl]

I am a C5 reaching 40. I wish now (almost 9 years later) I had purchased a ceiling lift. I own a hoyer lift it works well for me but storage is a huge problem. I no longer use my hoyer lift but transfer with the aide of another by putting my arms around their neck- although, this works for me now it is wrecking my shoulders and elbows. (Torn muscles, muscle pain and constant pain in my upper torso I transfer quite alot do to bladder functions)The expense may seem too much but in the future you do not have to store it and in the long away future it is ready for use once again.

[mellowgator]

if you can afford the lift i say go for it. my friend has one and i have the best time flying around her house. it would make his shower transfers risk free and would save everyones back in the long run. i am able to transfer indepently but if i couldn't i'd get one in a second.

good luck with your decision.


mellowgator

[duaneblk]

Hi, I'm C5-6 & can transfer independently. However, I do have a overhead lift from toilet to shower. I highly recommend getting one if your able. If nothing else, it will definitely make your time in the bathroom safer & more enjoyable.
Duane

[Aparr]

I would say if you can afford it buy it. From your post, it seems to me, it would help your son and the others helping him.

Go for it!

[Doug]

I Have one and after a while I learned to transfer my self un asisted from my bed to chair and back worry free with it. Now I own my first home and live independantly and could not do so with out it. I love my lift

if you can transfer without it great if not its a great tool for a more independence. Not having to ask for help getting in or out of the bed is awsome.

[Odysious]

It depends, if your a high quad (C4 - C1) and are heavier than 140 or so, it depends on how fit your caregivers are, it's easier than a Hoyer, any caregiver can use it, you don't have to store it, etc. I'm a C2 and did 1 person transfers for about 20 yrs., then I went to a Hoyer for 3 years or so and have had a ceiling lift for the past 9 years.
If I could I would stay with 1 person transfers, but my body is getting weak slowly but surely and caregivers aren't in the physical shape they used to be. If you go to a ceiling lift get one that has a Hoyer type sling holder (4 point spread apart) many ceiling lifts have the front and rear sling hooks together and they're really uncomfortable.
I hope that helps, Randy

It depends, if your a high quad (C4 - C1) and are heavier than 140 or so, it depends on how fit your caregivers are, it's easier than a Hoyer, any caregiver can use it, you don't have to store it, etc. I'm a C2 and did 1 person transfers for about 20 hrs., then I went to a Hoyer for 3 years or so and have had a ceiling lift for the past 9 years.
If I could I would stay with 1 person transfers, but my body is getting weak slowly but surely and caregivers aren't in the physical shape they used to be. If you go to a ceiling lift get one that has a Hoyer type sling holder (4 point spread apart) many ceiling lifts have the front and rear sling hooks together and they're really uncomfortable.
I hope that helps, Randy

Edited by Odysious, 18 February 2012 - 02:30 AM.

[AlaskaOne]

This is a great topic and I find all the different transfer abilities interesting. I am 15 mos. post and my family, even my daughters, who are smaller than I, can transfer me easily, sometimes even a slight uphill transfer, and though we've never used a lift we are all happy w/ the freedom of using the transfer board. I really admire those who transfer independently. I can't lift my butt up, no triceps, and I've worked hard on our boat for years and dealt w/ shoulder injuries so I use this as an excuse for not forcing myself to learn to do independent transfers, not to mention my advanced age . Back to the question though, why not put a lift in if you can afford it and use what finally suits you and yours?