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Mom was doing well, but confined to a wheelchair and needs assistance with ADLs. Found out her brother was dying and insisted on seeing him. Good visit but next day went into a tailspin and had a hard time standing, talking etc. This has happened before when some big change (moving into AL a year ago or other traumatic life events. She is on hospice. AL aides were lobbying for a Hoyer lift. Hospice brought one in for facility to have in case they need to try it. Now not 24 hours later the facility is demanding it to be used or family has to toilet her or she has to be changed in bed and they can no longer even pivot her into her wheelchair. Help! Please!

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Just a suggestion, you may want to consider a Get-U-up (by Invacare) sit to stand lift (or something similar), as opposed to a Hoyer if the Hoyer doesn't work out.
We tried one for my mother and it was extremely easy to get her from a sitting position on the bed, for example, to a toilet or chair. The Hoyer was much more complicated (straps, etc). Just our experience.
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Reply to pharmgirl05
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Jeanmarie, you have now had a lot of answers saying that yes this is a good solution and there are no better alternatives. It costs what it costs, as your M’s condition deteriorates. You can’t do it yourself, and neither can carers. You say that you ‘weren't receiving care we have been paying for prior to all of this’ but it sounds as though your expectations about that you ‘were paying for’ might have been unrealistic for Assisted Living. Just because they only provide 'assistance', it doesn't mean that is all your mother needed.
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Reply to MargaretMcKen
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Sorry you are going through this. Your mothers care might now be too much for the AL staff if she needs a Hoyer lift. AL is for people who are mobile and require assistance with everyday activities, not this.

My mother (95) is in a SNF
and a Hoyer lift is needed in order for her to be moved from bed to wheelchair and back. My mother must now weigh what your mother weighs. Moving my mother cannot be done safely without it and it still takes two people to do the transfer despite weighing less than 100 lbs
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Reply to Hothouseflower
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BurntCaregiver Jun 9, 2024
Hothouse,

As you know I was a caregiver for a long time. I don't like Hoyer lifts. I always refused to use one unless there was assist of another person.

The Get-U-up device that pharmgirl05 talks about are a real game changer.
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Many topics have been discussed - about care, decline in mobility, continence, how Hoyer lifts work, patient & staff safety.

Do you feel you have better understanding or would like deeper info on any particular area?

I guess my next question would be: What outcome do you want for your Mother?
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Reply to Beatty
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The AL my parents were in would not allow a Hoyer lift to be used period. Which was very unfortunate because i very nearly had to separate my parents after 68 yrs of marriage. So dad would have to go into Skilled Nursing care if you so against using the lift, would you prefer that???? The cost would likely double too.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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BurntCaregiver Jun 9, 2024
The AL I worked for did not even allow wheelchairs. A person had to be able to walk. Canes and walkers were all right but that was it. If the resident got to the point where they're in a wheelchair and need a Hoyer lift, they went to a nursing home.
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I would ask the RN in charge if the CNAs know how to use a hoyer lift and if not, I am sure hospice can get someone to train them.

You are expecting too much from an AL. They do not have the staff to care for Moms health decline. Assisted living means just that, they assist. Seems Mom may be a 2 person assist now and ALs usually do not allow that. People who are bedridden do not go to ALs. They are not skilled nursing. I have to agree, maybe time for a LTC facility with Hospice.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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This is a decision for the caregivers at the facility to make.
There could be no help from a Forum, other than to offer our sympathy to all involved.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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Aids at my local NH would probably be fired for NOT using the lift, it is safer for both staff and the patient.
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waytomisery Jun 7, 2024
Exactly .
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I am concerned that staff are not trained, that mom won't be able to use the toilet as the lift isn't designed for that. Care Plan was updated to another Care Level and now will be paying more when we weren't receiving care we have been paying for prior to all of this. The question is whether this is a good solution? are their better alternatives?
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Geaton777 Jun 7, 2024
My MIL is bedbound in LTC. They use a hoyer lift for her, and she wears Depends, no going to the toilet anymore. I don't think you understand that even 95 lbs is a lot of "dead" weight for even 2 people to move without the risk of back injuries. They use the lift for a reason, to prevent injuries. Many a retired RN on this forum can tell you all about this, including my own mother, an RN for 40+ years. It's hard to watch the decline of a LO, and the older they get the faster it happens. My Mom is 95. These last 18 months she's declined a lot and it's picking up speed.

I'm not sure why she's in hospice. Maybe LTC would be more appropriate for her if she isn't actively dying but is now immobile. Medicaid covers LTC if she qualifies for it medically (sounds like she would) and financially (and there may need to be a spend-down period).
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I’m not sure that I am following your post. What exactly is the issue?

You said that the assisted living ordered a lift. Did they try it? Why aren’t they using it? Do you have any objections to her being changed in her bed?

I don’t care if your mom is only 95 pounds. That’s still heavy for her to be lifted manually and I doubt that they will do that.

Can you explain this situation further please?
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Reply to NeedHelpWithMom
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Hoyer lift transfers are easy & very safe.

Try some video searchs online. Look for a well known hospitals or videos by an Occupational Therapist.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DZlwkx2e-mtI&ved=2ahUKEwiGxNuSsMiGAxXFS2wGHZ0iC_4Qo7QBegQICxAG&usg=AOvVaw11xG4hZ5CfYZzo405go0xN
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Reply to Beatty
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Mom is no longer standing or pivoting .
Why not let them use the hoyer ?
Are they not trained properly to use it ?
What is your question ?
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Reply to waytomisery
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Your Mom has had a change in function. I am sorry for that.

I'm not sure I follow what the issue is. Does either she or family have a fear of using the hoyer lifter?

If Mom cannot stand or pivot, then there are 2 options;
1 Lifting machine (ie hoyer lift) used for transfers in/out of bed or chair
2. Remain in bed & be cared for as a bed-bound resident

Option of manual lifting is against any workplace occupational health & safety code. For good reasons: Resident safety + staff safety.

If family choose to manually lift they do so At Their Own Risk. Also being fully liable if they drop or injure Mom. (Eg holding underams can dislocate elderly shoulders).

Have you seen how the hoyer lift works? Maybe seeing it being used will put your mind at ease.
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