Not WDW, but need suggestions on lift systems?

[shovan]

I have finally convinced my DH (50 with limb-girdle MD) that "our system" is not working any more. Thankfully (due to my griping) we now have a new lift van, which is really wonderful. The problems lie with the at home lifting equipment. Because we met with the MDA physical therapist, we can now get an RX for practically anything, this does not mean we'll have anyone to pay for it.
We were first they sent a test hoyer type lift, the brand was invaracare. It is very tipsy on our carpet & just plain old he** to use. I let them take it back today, when they brought the EasyStand for us to try. Well, DH feels a lot better using it, helps him to stretch out while standing, But the darn thing won't fit thru our bedroom door! Of course we couldn't find the specs on this before they sent it out!
So it looks like we're going to have to get two types of lifts, a hoyer type lift-to help me with moving him aroung the house ( which I find difficult to manuever, tipsy & just no much help) & the EasyStand which helps DH to physically feel better but does not fit our whole house.
As anyone else had these dilemmas? My house is going to be filled with this huge equipment! Tomorrow, with a crowd of people here I will need tio push the stander outside on the patio, just to fit everyone iin the house.

 

[dclfun]

I would go with the tracking system, this way he can be moved throughout the house and you don't have to worry about the width of doorways. It's also safer than a Hoyer which as you already found out, tends to be tipsy!---Kathy

 

[SueM in MN]

The EasyStand is not really meant to be a lift, it is meant for standing but if you have one with wheels, you might be able to use it to move him from one place in your house to another. The main purpose of it though is to get the benefits of standing. If you can get both the EasyStand and a lift, that would be very good for him.

The hospital where I work has put in some Arjo ceiling lifts (which I believe are the sort of thing Kathy was talking about as a track lift). You do need someone with expertise to put them in and to make sure before they are put in that the ceiling is strong enough to support them. You might also be limited in where one can be put depending on where the ceiling framing is located.
I've never seen these in person, but this site has wall mounted lifts. They also show some mobile lifts on that same site and a way of attaching a ceiling lift with using uprights to support it rather than actually attaching to the ceiling. .

Arjo also has items similar to Hoyer lifts. The hospital I work at has some of those also, which are battery operated. Most of the hoyer type lifts are fairly wide (for stability) and many of them may feel sort of 'tippy' on carpet because carpet doesn't provide a firm surface for them to be used on. If you can get any home renovations done, that might be helpful I know of people who have had doors made wider and who replaces carpet with tile. I don't know how it was paid for, but doing some things like that might be a helpful option.

 

[dclfun]

I also wanted to mention that there are ones with electric controls that the person IN the lift can operate themselves..of course once the sling is under them. The tracking system is installed in the ceiling and once the person is in the sling...they can go anywhere the track goes. ---Kathy

 

[dclfun]

I just thought of something else. You might want to do a search in back issues of Quest. I'm pretty sure they've had discussions about lifts and tracking systems along with vendors who supply them. ---Kathy

 

[shovan]

Thanks guys for your input! As it stands right now, it looks like we'll have to have a hoyer type lift & a stander. Just don't know where to put it all! The stander really is helping him feel better! I wish we had known about this stuff years ago, I think he would have been able to maintain more movement & thus be less disabled than he now is.

We'll eventually be able to get some state assistance to install a ceiling lift in our bedroom & maybe the bathroom. It won't work in our living room because we have a cathedral type ceiling in there.

We would go out & buy everything we need now, but if we don't wait on the state to do it they will not reimburse us for anything purchased OOP. So, the ceiling lift system is probably at least a year away.

Just wanted to get some advice from those of you, who've been there!! Thanks!!