Annoying hospital bed issues - a little long. Help!

Olly_Bake

Dad has been home from the hospital for five days now.

First thing DH and I noticed after getting to dad’s home was the bed. He was placed in the bed by the ambulance drivers. Problem one - the bed had a tilt. If we didn’t do something I’m certain he would have rolled out. We looked at the floor in his room, although we did not pull out a bubble level, and it appeared level. Then we glanced at the bed itself and all seemed up and up. We ended up raising the mattress on one side with sofa foam type material. 

Next issue before leaving, he ended up with his legs between the rails and the mattress on one side and we had to help him get it out. So then we grabbed as many pillows as we could find and stuck them between the mattress and rails - one end to the other. 

Now that he is feeling better, he is slinging the legs across the full rail. I believe if the upper strength kicks in just a bit more, he will be out of the bed. So the only thing I’ve done so far is put the bed down really low for the night. I know they have the fall mats, but they just get so dingy looking from people walking on them and goodness knows whatever else (speaking from hospital and nursing home experience so far). 

Thought of the bed alarm but have not purchased just yet.

Thinking of washable bed pads for the wiggle worm because most others I’ve tried so far, even the ones from previous hospice, are not staying in place. Sigh I prefer disposable but going to give it a shot.  

Biggest issue of all. We pull him up high in the bed and then we raise the bed to sit him up to eat or drink and then it pushes him back down in the bed. Dad is a tall guy. So DH suggests tomorrow I try to raise his legs up just high enough and see if I can raise the head without it pushing him down.

He did help me get himself out of the bed and in his wheelchair for a little while today while I got his bed changed out but then was terrified when it was time to get back in bed. Don’t let me fall he kept saying. I finally muscled up enough to get him in bed from the wheelchair. The lift and I are having a love hate thing going as well right now trying to learn how to use it on the days needed

PS: Do you find it hard to change diapers with the air pressure mattress? I swear I can't seem to get it positioned in the middle so he does not have to roll as much. If I don't position it just right and give it a tug, it rips. Might me going back to tranquility (just diapers for a while). Med supply company gave us prevail.

May flowers

Olly, I feel your pain! My FIL cannot lay normally in the bed, legs over the rails, between the rails, feet at the headboard, etc. he also scrunches to one side and it is so hard to turn him to change him. Sometimes, I just have to wait for him to get into a position I can do it. 

We put a twin mattress on the floor  in case he manages to get out, but an air mattress would work just as well.

The paper bed pads do not work for my FIL. We use large pads with handles  (like this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KWQ96FQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1) this helps with both keeping the bottom sheet dry and with turning or scooting up.

We also have the issue of scooting down in bed, he tries to get flat no matter what. I posted about this dilemma a while back. https://www.alzconnected.org/discussion.aspx?g=posts&t=2147560964  We have had no luck feeding him in bed, so we have to feed him in the Geri-chair which has a tray. 

As for the diaper, we roll to one side and I attach it there, shove the other side as far as possible under him and roll to the other and attach it there. If DH is home, he can just lift him like a baby and we slide it under. On a good day, FIL will lift his hips for me, which really helps.

When we transfer him (for the past 5 months) he has said every time “don’t throw me”, which we finally figured out meant don’t let him fall. Just keep reassuring him that you won’t let him fall (even if you’re not so sure yourself!)

It is really hard, hugs to you as you adjust. I would hospice for a gerichair. It reclines a lot and he can nap in it too, saving some transferring.

Also, Can he stand at all? If so, I’d consider a portable toilet which you can put right next to the bed or chair and then it’s just stand and pivot and sit. That is the easiest way to change a pull up in our experience (but we are getting past that now) just tear the sides, stand up (let the diaper/pull-up fall off) sit on the toilet, go if he will, put the other pull-up on him while sitting, wipe him there, stand up and pull up the pull-up and pivot back to the chair.

LicketyGlitz

I was hoping I could offer some tips or strategies, Olly, but reading your post just threw me back to the issues we had when our mom was bedridden (she was very near to the end), and I realize I struggled just like you! I never really found any solutions, just did most of it all wrong unless hospice was there to help guide me.

So it turns out this is just a drop in comment to say, I know you'll get it figure out and I'm rooting for you and your dad!

janhu

I decided to forgo the hospital bed for my loved one.  Yes, I know it makes things easier for caregivers, but really, would you prefer to sleep in a hospital bed or in a regular bed with a premium mattress?  My LO has a California King, so plenty of room for him to stretch out.

To raise his upper body, we got the Contour Mattress Genie Adjustable Bed Wedge System (as seen on TV.  As with hospital beds, he will slide down.  Make sure you have room to stand behind the headboard, so you can pull him back up from there (using the transfer sheet). Bending his knees, if possible, will also help prevent sliding.

I place foam mats on the floor in case of a fall, and also purchased a Wave Medical adjustable bed rail/assist bar. One side of the bed is up against the wall.

I put the alternating air-pressure mattress under a fluffy comforter, a transfer sheet, and a washable absorbant mattress pad (Linenspa 44x52" skid resistant waterproof sheet and mattress protector). Then I add a Ridex-brand chux for extra protection. Diaper changing doesn't seem to be impacted by the air mattress.  I use Depends Night Defense during the day and Dry Direct Ultimate at night; both are pull ups, which I find are easier to get on because "no assembly required."

I'm finally getting more adept at the Hoyer to chair routine, but seems like that should be on another thread.

Hope these tips are helpful.

Olly_Bake

Thanks for your comment Mayflowers. Yes, also have to wait it out if he is scrunched to one side (he scrunches to the right — right now). Thankfully no feet to headboard because I would have to sit and study how to freaking get him turned around safely rofl.

The supply company sent us two large non-paper bed-pads to try after a complaint about the brand sent. They definitely keep the bed from getting wet and don’t move around like the paper ones. But, I'm finding myself having to wash way more than desired. So today, I washed the non-paper ones back up and added a Walmart assurance brand paper one.

The supply company sent us a brand called McKesson Super Underpads. If your LO gets soaked, you may as well get ready to pick cotton off your loved ones backside because it just shreds to pieces. Asked the supply company to change us out this month and if we have the same results, I’ll have to purchase different brands until a decent one is found until and if we go back hospice.

So far, putting his feet high in the air and then raising the head works to keep him from sliding down. Once the head is high where I need him, I lower the feet and put his bed tray across his lap, so he can feed himself. The lift is first though to help me get him to the highest point in the bed, then I raise the feet as high as needed, then raise the head, and then lower the feet slowly as he adjusts to his comfort.

You were spot on May Flowers. Attaching one side of the diaper first, and then shoving the other side as far as possible before rolling to the next side has been a game changer. If you had not posted this, I would still be having a rough time with diaper changes. Now I can, on most days, hit it on first try.

We are not on hospice just yet. He is still regular home health and finally getting, can’t believe this is the same man, from the team this week. Either way, I’ve been torn between a Geri chair and another recliner. The last hospice gave us a Geri chair and it seems so low. But I have to do more research.

Right now, he does not want to stand long. Still, way too afraid. Will stand long enough to get from bed to wheelchair. Yesterday was the first day he was actually able to do some physical therapy and participate in speech therapy today. Surprised how he was able to answer some questions. 

I almost refuse to put a portable toilet in his room. I can put money on it that it would be left for me to clean. My nose would fall right off when I hit the door and probably would have to scrub the contents out. Nope, nope, not going to do. At least, fingers crossed hoping not to.

LicketyGlitz: Thanks for your comment.

Janhu: Love the hospital bed but can’t stand the mattress. The room he is in now is not the ultimate room to maneuver the lift. Can’t get any of the other seven siblings to come and help me clean out the one that is large enough to handle any move thrown at it and any equipment. I will not do it by myself and deal with the hoarder tendency person that lives within. They can be very confrontational about their stuff even stuff that has not been used, worn, or whatever in ages. Right now I plan to get pest control to just come on out and spray. If I wait for the others to do as said, that also would never get done. 

Maybe I’ll get around to starting a hoyer lift thread for some tips.

Thanks again all of you that commented.

May flowers

Thanks for checking in, Olly, sounds like your getting the hang of some things. Are you having to go everyday? How is home health working out?

I hear you about paper pads they are not all created equal! The toilet situation makes sense. We were using the commode liners and just tied the bag up and put it in the diaper pail. But I can only imagine if you couldn’t trust someone to do that. Idk what others do, but we use one of those small metal trash cans with a lid as a diaper pail to keep smells “contained” and then empty it every night. 

We’ve had some interesting thing going on here, the other day my FIL pulled off his diaper during his “nap” and was head to toe covered… it was even in his ears. Ew ew ew. DH and I took him straight to the shower. Back to the onesies for us.

Olly_Bake

Yeah me, finally getting the hang of some things. I was doing four days and then go with my daughter for one more day. Due to past major family issues, I will not allow her to come alone. Right now, I have taken one day off each week trying to give the company time enough to get me help. Next week will be three weeks of workers applying for the position but not following through. Trying not to put dad off on the sibling that lives here but more or less vice versa. Having dad just under her care would not be a good thing.

Home health has been good to us. So no complaints. Physical therapy has been lacking a bit but speech therapy and the regular nurse services wonderful.

No I don't trust anyone else to care for bedside commode. I don't want to catch a case either lol so I just keep it in the regular bathroom in hope that one day he will get strength enough to walk a short distance again.

OMG on FIL!

jfkoc

We got one of these from amazon. It can be held onto getting in/ out and helpful pulling up. I would also suggest a walker or maybe ever a rollater. The rails, I felt, were really dangerous.

For a bed pad we used the kind that the hospital uses. We also used crib waterproof mattress pads. Yes, there is a lot of soiled bed products but with a supply we only ran the washe 2-3 times a week.

Olly_Bake

Thanks jfkoc for the suggestion to help dad get in and out of bed. I was planning to order the stander security pole and curve grab bar but may add that one to the order as well and see what works best for him.

I feel the bed rails pose a danger as well. I've considered taking them off but he keeps to one side. I feel he would roll right out at some point. So as of now, I’m stuffing large pillows down between the mattress and rail. Over half way on the side he loves to keep.

jfkoc

I like the one I posted because it is anchored under the mattress. If you decide to try the rollater you have to remember to put the brakes on. One good thing about the rollater, there is a seat which also can be used for transporting stuff.