New To Me

[gness]

I spent some of last evening sitting with my mother. Her condition and the type of bed means she slides down and has to be lifted back up, which does cause hurt to fragile bodies no matter how careful we are.

Yesterday the staff brought in an aid for this. It's a long strip, made from nylon...just like overall material, about 3ft wide and the ends stitched to form a loop.

It's slid under the patient and by holding the top layer....one person either side of the bed....the patient can be quite gently slid up into a comfortable position with no painful body contact.....the top layer of nylon slides so easily over the bottom layer.

In the past moving my mother would have caused squealing and often violence.....her....not me.

When MrG was ill and had two ankles and one arm in plaster this would have been a godsend for me....wish I had thought of it!

This is the first time I've seen these used. Are they new and are they in common use with immobile people?

Gx

[pixie373]

Slide sheets- yes. They've been used for years- I'm not aware of any other method of lifting someone up the bed. Please don't tell me they lifted her by her arms...xx

[gness]

Pixie.....I have only seen her lifted by her arms in the last home....I asked about these yesterday as it's the first time I have seen one and was led to believe that they were fairly new!

[pixie373]

That's highly illegal and very painful. I was taught with slide sheets when i started 20 years ago and they certainly weren't new then.

[gness]

Well I never! I guess that's the difference between the care home and the nursing home.

My visits are usually in the morning when she has been hoisted into a chair and in the sitting room until early evening so I rarely see her in the bed.

Gosh...we do need to find out things for ourselves, don't we.....I wonder why the care home didn't use them though.

[pixie373]

I don't know- they really should have done. They would be in a lot of trouble ignoring the moving and handling rules. There is no reason why friends and relatives should know, but a care home definitely should. How is she getting on? Xx

[RATTER15]

Slide sheets are the only way to move people in bed, they have been in use for many years and all manual handling in these establishments must include their use. The slide sheet almost eliminates any pain from moving and lifting.

Also, you say that //Her condition and the type of bed means she slides down and has to be lifted back up,//

You can also get a one way slide sheet, so that she can be slid into the upright position but will not slide back down as the slide sheet is only slippery in one direction, they arent terribly effective but worth a try. http://www.beaucaremedical.co.uk/hoists--patient-handling/slide-sheets/bed-one-way-slide-sheet-80cm-x-70cm/434

[RATTER15]

Gness //Gosh...we do need to find out things for ourselves, don't we.....I wonder why the care home didn't use them though.//

Because it is much quicker to drag them up the bed by their arms which is considered very bad practice and abusive and could lead to serious injury. These slide sheets will be found in every home , care or nursing, I should imagine, not always used though!

[pixie373]

Also, if they aren't already, raising the knee part of the bed might stop her sliding down.

[gness]

Physically she is better since the move though still immobile. The Alzheimers has now destroyed the long term memory and caused utter confusion... she knows if she knows you but not where you fit in.

Yesterday I was her mother for a while...then her sister but you can see from her eyes and her excuses that she does know there is something wrong with her....and from somewhere she still finds the ability to blame that on me!

She has also lost whatever it is that tells you that you are hungry or thirsty and is only taking liquids.

We thought she was dying last year.....but I think she'll be around for a while yet...and I find that sad.

[pixie373]

It's hard, gness. She's very lucky to have you. Best wishes to both of you xx

[gness]

Hi, Ratter and thanks for the one way sheet tip. The mattress is of course plastic because she is doubly incontinent...that in itself is slippery.

The bed is one of those that moves the position of the mattress automatically every few minutes.

I did wonder if it was because it's quicker to just haul the person up under the arms...especially if it has to be done often....shame.

[pixie373]

Even using the undersheet would be less harmful, while still being quick. Don't tell them i said that, though;-)

[gness]

I won't, Pixie...☺....but sliding on anything has to be better than the pressure on fragile arms.

[pixie373]

Yes. People have had dislocated shoulders that way- not designed to be lifted like that once you're bigger than a toddler. Sounds as though she's being moved properly now, though- which is good.

[gness]

She is....and the awful part of me hopes it's not just because I was there.... I shouldn't think like that but.......

[pixie373]

I understand, yes. It at least shows they know what they should do. Perhaps if you let them know what was happening at the other home, they'll realise you will find out.... To be fair, the carers i know don't treat people any differently whether a relative is there or not. I really hope that's the case here- i would expect so x

[RATTER15]

Pixie //Even using the undersheet would be less harmful,// perish the thought lol.

Gness, it sounds like she has an electric airflow matress to help prevent pressure sores developing. If this is the case, make sure that they are not using "fitted sheets" they should only use flat sheets and definitely no Kylie. If you dont know what a Kylie is see here. http://www.incontinencechoice.co.uk/kylie-washable-bed-pad-3-91-x-91cm-with-tuck-in-flaps-3000ml-pink.html?gclid=CjwKEAjw8_idBRCExfC15My3owwSJACSDX_W-riNMog8E4nVAfeaFrI9UVMdifb3yApMSfyy_StuthoCcVrw_wcB

Fitted sheets and Kylies prevent the mattress from moving properly and a Kylie separates the person from the specially designed surface and action of the mattress.

[gness]

Thanks, Ratter....I did notice yesterday that she had a fine airtex type sheet and only tucked in at the sides....x

[woofgang]

Regarding one way slide sheets, they should be used with extreme care on people with fragile skin. When i retired from the NHS nearly 7 years ago now, they were falling out of use in elderly care because they increase the friction and shear force on the skin of the bottom and back of the thighs. the resulting damage is painful and a total b. to heal.
Slide sheets aren't new :-)

[gness]

Hi, Woof...so I see....and there was me thinking what a good and new idea!

I can see how they could damage the skin.....my mum has to wear quite thick nappies and she always has a long sleeved top so I guess that will help minimise damage....and the fact she weighs so little now....x