How many people does it take

abc123

to change mom's diaper today? Four! 

Two to pull her up and hold her up with a gait belt. (Dad & me)

Two CNA's to clean the poop from her butt, apply barrier cream and pull up the diaper properly.

Mom actually asked to get out of bed today. So we(3 of us) used the gait belt to move her to the wheelchair and then to the couch in the den. We are trying to keep her comfortable and also trying to prevent bedsores from developing. So we moved her to the couch and she seemed content. Then she had a BM. The CNA from hospice arrived at the perfect time to help us. Thank God! The entire time all this was going on, all I could think of is everyone here who does this alone, with no help! I don't know how you do it, I don't know how you manage it. I just don't know. My heart goes out to you all. You are always in my thoughts and prayers.

You are always in my thoughts and prayers, always.

Quilting brings calm

ABC-   the realities of this disease are astounding. The blissfully unaware think it’s just memory loss and harmless confusion.  Posts like yours lay all out there. How I wish someone in positions of power to help would be required to read posts like this. 

I’m sorry it’s come to this 

live in daughter

Just a thought- we started using a Sit to Stand machine for my Mom when she could no longer stand on her own. It is like a ski tow lift. You place a sling around the person and the person holds on the handles while the machine lifts the person into a standing position.

We were eventually able to use this with one person when helping my Mom off and on the commode- into chairs etc.  The machine was provided by our hospice service.

abc123

Thank you both for your thoughts and feedback. We just got a reclining wheel chair. There are days when mom wants to get out of bed and she will work with us to stand up with use of the gait belt.

JJAz

Just a suggestion.  Sounds like she is at the stage where she needs to be changed on a bed with tab-style disposables.  There are videos on YouTube on how one person can do this by themselves (I was taught when my husband was in the hospital), but it's far easier with two.

Blessings!