Advice about wheelchair cushion to prevent lateral leaning

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Hi

I need advice about products or other solutions to prevent leaning in a wheel chair. Our grandmother had a stroke and she is leaning in her wheelchair. I was wondering if the product in the link below actually worked or if there was something better out there to help her to sit up.

Thank you for your time

http://www.1800wheelchair.com/asp/view-product.asp?product_id=650

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Wow. I feel like a complete moron. I didn't know such a thing existed. I'm not sure how it would do in terms of helping her sit up straight, but if her arm is impacted the way my Mom's right arm is, this thing would be a Godsend.

I'm just a pre-nursing student so I have to ask if there would be any cons to keeping an arm somewhat immobilized like this?

We have massive problems with my Mom's arm slipping off the arm of the wheelchair...she's not gotten it tangled in the wheel...yet. We're constantly reminding her to pull her arm up.

What do you LTC nurses think of this device?

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Specializes in Rehab., Home Health, Geriatrics, MR/DD.

Hi,

I used to be a wheelchair mechanic for an MR/DD facility, and the clients there had custom built wheelchairs...

I have never ever seen that piece of equipment before...it would seem to me, given enough weight and pressure against it, that it would roll out laterally.....

Typically what they do with customized chairs is add to the seat back a part called a 'lateral'...haha...it is attached to the seat back and comes around to the lateral sides of the wheelchair and holds the person up from under their arms...they can be adjusted as well to the area where the individual needs the most support....

Anyway, don't know if she has a regular hospital chair or a customized chair, because I am pretty sure one needs a customized seat back to have a 'real' lateral attached....and if at all possible I would have her assessed by someone who is a RESNA certified equipment provider...that is the most ideal situation to get the most optimal wheelchair arrangement...however if that is not possible or it is too expensive, there is a velcro lateral here:

http://www.sammonspreston.com/Supply/Product.asp?Leaf_Id=562546

Well don't know if that helps you any, but I wish you the best of luck!!

Nazarite, RN:nuke:

ps; to the other poster....there are laptrays that can be attached to wheelchairs that go on just one arm...so if say she needs support for her right arm, one can buy a laptray that slides over the right arm rest, and it gives a place for her to rest her arm....now keeping the arm on the laptray...that is a whole other story.....good luck!!

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Specializes in Government.

Rehab nurse here...this is really an OT question. That's what they are expert at. Can your MD refer to an OT for postural support?

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Nazarite and Penny

Thank you for the response. I was also worried about it immobilizing the arm as well. She is a very tiny lady so I think it does not have to be too supportive. I do not think she has a custom wheelchair but probably could use one. We have tried pillows to keep her more upright but it does not seem too help. She is 91 and alert and oriented but very frail and I think fighting to sit up all day just wears her out. So if anyone else as any other suggestions please respond.

thank you again

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Quickbeam

She has been in Rehab and OT and PT have worked with her but nothing has really been done. Sometimes these facilities just do not have the time to really research the problem. I posted it here because since you guys work with these types of clients everyday you might actually have better solutions for this sort of problem. They make all sorts of devices but are they actually functional? Since you take care of people everyday that are recovering from strokes you might know what works best.

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We have used both devices and they do help with positioning.

Is she in a LTC, at home or where? You can suggest these devices, but some can be considered a restraint (lap trays, etc)

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

We've used variations of that arm rest and sometimes it worked. Some are too big and tend to squish (a technical term) the resident's leg. Just be careful about pressure areas.

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Specializes in geriatric & childrens psych, rehab, woun.
We've used variations of that arm rest and sometimes it worked. Some are too big and tend to squish (a technical term) the resident's leg. Just be careful about pressure areas.

I too have to agree with cape cod, they work but you have to watch the pressure points. if they are too low in the chair they cause a wind swept positioning of the legs not a good thing either.

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I really appreciated your post, this would really provide the great information .Thanks for sharing.

wheelchairs

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