Love this geri chair but…

May flowers

How in the world do you slide someone back up who has slid down? It’s a 3 position chair.

I have no problem when it’s 2 people, only when I’m alone.

I am too short to reach over the back like I would a wheelchair. In the past, I would use a seatbelt but I worry about it cutting into his legs now because he pushes hard against it. The tray helps keep him upright most of the time but he is just determined sometimes and will scoot nearly down to his neck. Take the tray off and he will slide right out.

I have tried a gait belt around his chest to do it, but again, I am too short and it really hurts my arms and back.

I have tilted the chair all the way to the ground so he’s almost on his head, but obviously this is not ideal!

Any suggestions? Should we be considering a broda  chair?

Debdg

I am not familiar with this chair but just wondering if you could put a non slip pad (such as one puts under a throw rug) on the seat so he won’t slide forward as easily?

May flowers

That’s a good idea, I’ll give it a try. Thanks

​fesk

I've seen harnesses for wheelchairs. Would something like that work? It doesn't look like it would be uncomfortable. 

May flowers

Fesk, thanks for the idea. Unfortunately, we’ve tried a few harnesses but he wiggles down until they cut into his armpits. If it had a strap between his legs he would scoot so hard down against it that it it was cutting into his crotch and causing sores. 

He can only scoot down, he can never scoot himself back up, so we were having to continually pull him up to keep him from creating sores from the straps. As soon as we unbuckle the harness he scoots down.

He starts scooting as soon as we put him in the chair before we can even get the sling off. We have to have one person put pressure against his knees to keep him from scooting while the other puts the tray on. The tray helps as long as he cannot get his feet on a stool or something, then he pushes up with his legs and down he goes.

Bulldog, thank you too. We have tried it all. Anytime the footrest is up, he scoots down more (he’s not just sliding but actively trying to scoot down). He kicks off the pillows and turns sideways to get his feet off the foot rest. 

It is not nearly as bad as it was before as he is getting weaker, but when it happens, it is a real bear to get him back up as he is a dead weight. 

mommyandme (m&m)

May Flower, gosh darn it, that just sucks! I have no experience that helps, I’m just really sorry!

May flowers

Thanks M&M, we are trying the rubber that goes under a rug that deb suggested. I do think it’s helping a little. Time will tell! 

I asked the CNA to show me how she does it when it is just her, she just reaches over and pulls him up, lol. Oh to be young, tall, and strong!

Olly_Bake

I've been trying to picture this since you posted. I am scratching my head as well. Can you tell what FIL may be trying to accomplish or doing? What happens once the destination is reached? Could it be a comfort issue? Both chairs don't seem to offer much padding.

I wonder if a trapeze bar would help if your FIL still has some upper body strength or if some form of entertainment over head (like we do for the babies) would keep him occupied or even refocused. Bed bumpers maybe or would he consider it an obstacle to get over?

Your FIL is finding strength from somewhere so I don't know if the broda chair would work.

Hugs MayFlowers

May flowers

Thanks Olly,

This has been an ongoing issue for us for probably 7-8 months now so it’s not new but what has changed is he has zero strength and cognitive ability to help me slide him back up by pushing with his legs.

I don’t know what it’s all about and never have. The few times he has been “successful” he is on the floor and of course really hates that. But there is no learning. He has done it every chair, recliner, sofa and bed we’ve tried all this time. He’s done it wet, dry, happy, upset, before eating, after eating, bored, not bored, pain, no pain, UTI, no UTI, we’ve never seemed to find a trigger for it. He’s just squirmy, lol.

Before his fall, and loss of mobility, this looked like continual pacing for hours on end. I think it’s related somehow.

Anyway, I’m kind of used to it now. Hopefully, we can come up with a way to move him up easier. I mentioned a Broda chair because it reclines more I think, and might be easier to reach him.

sunnydove

Try a pommel cushion. It has a wedge that goes between the legs to keep patient from sliding down.

May flowers

Sunnydove, thank you for the idea. We tried that a while back. He scooted himself right up and over the pommel every time. It’s crazy.

I have a closet full of tried and failed gadgets. I could open my own used medical device store

sandwichone123

He's sliding before you get the sling off, which implies using a lift. Can you leave the sling, or reposition him on it, and use the lift to pull him back up?

May flowers

sandwichone, thanks for your reply!  I don’t  leave the sling under him as it’s not very comfortable but I did end up using the sling and lift to reposition him. I think that is going to be my method of choice!

sandwichone123

Oh good! I'm glad that worked!