Friends
and family
It’s hard
to measure the importance of good friends and family members.
Realize
that you’re tired and may feel like you’d rather be left alone, but please
allow friends to drop in. It will do both of you good. Frequent visits help
keep your loved one’s spirits up, and you can use that time for a quick nap or
shower or other self-care.
Sometimes
people will visit on their own. Other times you’ll need to invite them
specifically. We’re always afraid of intruding in this culture of ours, but
don’t be shy about what would work for you. It also helps you keep connected and expands your world
beyond the sick room.
My
husband and I were blessed with a steady stream of caring people coming over or
calling. It kept him from becoming depressed and really helped with the whole
recovery process.
Copy
the experts
While
visiting my husband in rehab for Hip #1, I had the opportunity to observe
what the nurses and techs do. Those absorbent squares—the uncomfortable but
necessary ones—that they put under patients? They rolled up half of it, wedged
it under my husband while he was on his side, then turned him to the other side
and voila! The sheet unrolled easily and they got it under him without having
to haul him out of bed. You can remove and replace entire bedsheets the same
way.
For
dressing his lower half: they slid briefs and pants on as far as possible, then
rolled him from side to side to get them over his hips and rear. From a sitting
position, you can slide shorts as high as the thighs and then finish the job
when he stands. Later, when stronger, have
him on his back, plant his feet and bridge an inch or two—that’s all you
need—to get those pants up.
For bed
positioning, have another person stand on the other side of the bed. Put a
half-sheet under him (by rolling if necessary). Now, you and the friend grab
the sheet with both hands and count—one, two, three!—and pull him up to where
he needs to be. When stronger, install some bedrails and he can pull himself
up.
While
your loved one is in rehab, ask for a family session with the physical or
occupational therapists for advice and practice with transfers from
wheelchair to bed, etc. We used a combination of walker and foot pivot to get
him in and out of the wheelchair, so ask about equipment needed as well.
The most
important thing about wheelchairs/transport chairs is to lock them when the
patient is moving in or out of them. The hospital/rehab staff will be happy to
show you how, as well as deal with the removable footrests.
The
difference between the two contraptions? Wheelchairs have huge wheels that the
patient can theoretically propel himself, while transport chairs have little
wheels and require another person to push. Transport chairs are cheaper,
lighter, and smaller—so they may fit better in your house and will be easier to
pack into car trunks.
Just be
sure to get one that fits the patient’s height and weight. We had a transport
chair that was too small and it tipped over—although any wheeled device can
tip, so be careful. Tell the patient: No plopping down, or you’ll end up
tipping over into a dead bug position with your legs in the air and possibly
hurting yourself. And you, dear caregiver, will be calling the fire department
again to pick them up from the floor! Not that this happened to us, you
understand. Or that the same guys who originally took him to the hospital
showed up again. Thankfully, he wasn’t hurt. And also thankfully, the EMTs
didn’t laugh.
