We recently got a new resident in our AFH who is not weight bearing at all. She came with her own sit-to-stand machine. The caregivers, myself included, were given no guidance at all in how this particular machine works. So, the owner of the home who has no medical or nursing background, decides to ask the family what they can tell us and between them they decided on the following: This sit-to-stand sling has four straps, two long and two short. The two shorter straps go under the resident's armpits and hook to the side bars and the longer straps go under the resident's legs, one each, and hook to bar that's directly in front of the resident. So, when we pump up the sit-to-stand the resident is lifted off her feet and is dangling in mid-air in a kind of buttless sling. We are suppose to be able to remove her pants and brief, and get her onto the commode for BMs,(she has a catheter for urine), or just go from wheelchair to bed and vice versa in the am/pm using this thing. My thoughts are I thought a sit-to-stand device is meant to aide with standing up and then sitting down, not being lifted clear off the ground and swung around into place. Isn't there another device like that called a Hoyer that's more safe and effective!? It's gotten so that myself and my other co-workers will only use this device if our backs are killing us as we are too scared of injuring the resident and the owner refuses to look into getting a Hoyer because one; they scare her and two; the family has said that since insurance paid for the sit-to-stand they won't allow it to be exchanged for a Hoyer and pay for it. To me, it all sounds like a big mess and I've spoken my concerns with my boss about how this isn't right but so far all she says about it is she's trying to find someone more professional to teach us how to use the device and to just continue to transfer her from chair to bed and change her in bed and vice versa without the device until then. I don't understand why her insurance can't pay for a different assistive device; don't they realize that a person's needs may, and often do, change!? She might have been find with a sit-to-stand two or three years ago but now needs a Hoyer! Grr! Thanks for listening...reading!
PS I Also forgot to mention that there is only one caregiver at a time on shift so we have to be able to use this device by ourselves.
Very happy to hear this!! It can be very difficult to move someone by themselves with a hoyer but with patience and taking things slowly it can be done when you need to.[/quote']
Oh, it's sooooooo much better! Easier and safer for both parties.
Skayda
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