Please help ASAP! Need patient care info!

[Bumashes]

Okay, here's the deal. I'm entering nursing school this fall, and I'll be entering a CNA course in a week and a half, but as of right now, I have absolutely no patient care experience. Now that you have my background (none), I'll tell you what's going on.

A friend of my mom's from her work (who is also the preacher that married me and my husband) is in desperate need of some assistance. I'm talking one bad situation. He is almost a quadraplegic. He dove headfirst into a shallow pool when he was 9, and now he has no use of his legs and very limited use of his arms (can move them and even his fingers a little, but has no strength whatsoever. Can't grasp a pencil or anything.) He is confined to a motorized wheelchair. Anyway, he is currently being "cared" for by a woman who has been attending him for years. However, she is extremely obese and getting worse due to some sickness/disease, and she has a terrible back that prevents her from lifting, bending, walking at a normal pace, etc. She is NOT a trained professional in any way, either.

Anyway, my mom saw the preacher at work one day and asked how things were. She noticed a musty smell upon approaching. Mom was an LPN a lifetime ago, but switched to computers after she got out of the Navy. She recognized an unkempt body immediately. She inquired about it and he broke down and said that his "caregiver" hadn't been cleaning him properly, changing his sheets, washing his clothes, etc. for a pretty good while. He hadn't realized it had become noticeable, because he HAD BECOME USED TO IT! OMG!!! Now, let me explain something. He's not got much money to spare (or family), so that's why he has put up with this crap for so long. Personally, I'd like to drop a brick on this b**** so that she'll have to be taken care of by someone and see how it feels, but I'm just mad :angryfire .

So, mom said she'd ask me if I would take over a lot of the evening help since I'm going into this field anyway. This way, his current imbecile would only have to get him up and dressed in the morning, fed, and drive him to and from work. She still does these things okay (except the dressed part because he's wearing old dirty clothes.) I would then help out with light housework, dinner, bathing, etc. I am perfectly okay with doing this, but I have no idea how to proceed. I'm asking for nurses/cnas to write and give me advice on how to lift someone properly from a bed and wheelchair, how to bathe someone, and any other advice or considerations I might need to think about or watch for. By the way, she will still be there to help with the lifting until he can find someone to replace her (unbeknownst to her.) I am stepping in right now for only a little while until things get better and another person is hired. I feel terrible for him and want to help, but I also want to do it properly so I don't miss anything or hurt myself or him. Thank you so much for your responses.

Update: I have added a post about this woman's character for those of you thinking I am being too harsh on her. It is post #5 on this page.Please, give it a read.

[TracyB,RN, RN]

Awww man... He needs to start calling local agencies for help, ASAP. She needs to get OUT of that man's house. He needs a Hoyer lift!!!

If you are hell-bent on helping this man out, I would start small, by helping him organize his bills, medications, cleaning, taking care of the dog, etc, until you have started your CNA program & learn PROPER body mechanics.. Make sure he gets a credit report. He can get one free from each of the major credit reporting agencies to see if he has any debts that he can dispute.

Granted she may have health issues of her own, but this man sounds like he is pretty much stuck between a rock & a hard place. Maybe you can get some of the other people in your CNA program to assist him? Or he can place an ad at the school that runs the CNA classes to find a reliable person to help him out. He needs to get assertive with his care, but I can understand his fear... he doesn't want to be left with no one to help him out.

Have him call the department of human services in your state. It may take a while, but he obviously needs the assistance.

Good luck on this one. Sounds like a nightmare.

What about your mom? You said she had been an LPN? Maybe she can help out with the basics, showing you how to turn, bathe, & reposition someone.

[ARLadyRN]

I also think that you need to get your CNA training. This is too big of a undertaking for you. (I'm thinking that you are very young). ITs a lot of work and responsibility. (I know I am taking care of a relative). If something goes wrong, you will be held responsible. Like someone said, you could do little things, like errands, washing the dog, maybe just sitting with him, not doing the lifting, bathing etc., if you feel that you want to help.

[Bumashes, MSN, APRN, NP]

Wow! Thank you so much for all of your replies! I will definitely be checking into any and all of the agencies I can find in the hopes of getting him some real help. I'm hoping they'll have a program where you can buy used lifts or something. Or maybe people have donated old lifts that you can get for free? I hope so! Please don't worry about me overexerting myself. I plan on being very cautious of that. If I can't do it, then I won't. I'll be going to the library today to research for anything helpful. Again, thanks so much for your care and concern. It has really made me feel like I'm not alone.

[tattooednursie, LVN]

If it were me being hired to take care of this gentleman. I would definantly get sme education on body mechanics first. On a non-weight bearing person in almost all facilities are a hoyer lift, and if not a hoyer ift a 2 person transfer. The hygene issue should not be too hard. Its usually pretty easy to roll him over in bed to clean him. Be sure to put desatin, aloe vista, or dermagram to keep from further breakdown, and encourage him to lay on his side with a pillow behind him to prop him on his side, and one between his legs.

Best of luck to you, but I would surely get a hoyer lift or another person there with you.