I can't lift him

Luckygirl, I hope you are still managing without doing yourself any harm. All advice given by Gransnetters is invaluable, sometimes just little things, but they make an enormous difference. The Snoozle sheet seems just what I need, so tried to order one, but got stuck at the payment option. Seems they only want PayPal, and I don't do PayPal, so I aborted the transaction. Later I got an email from them, telling me I had left something in my basket!!

Thanks for the info about the Snoozle - I just ordered one and shipping to Australia is free.Will be a great help to my husband! Grandnet is wonderful.

Would having a commode near the bed help?Or one of those lightweight wheelchairs to push him to the bathroom?

GN at its best Lucky! I have no advice but am full of admiration for you and other Carer's!

The pillow between the legs should not be too plump- it works better if it is fairly flat.

Some friends have just come round bearing scones and a Victoria sponge and we have all had tea by the fire - and they have helped me to fit a grab rail on the side of OH's bed which I hope might help him to move about. So knd of them.

Thanks everyone - brilliant gransnet indeed! I will try the pillow between the knees trick too.

So glad I remembered reading about the Snoozle, Lucky, and was able to link it here. I think it may well be something that I will find useful in time, as I sometimes struggle to turn over in bed, with all the arthritic aches!
Good luck with the OT appointment - really hope you get the help you both need.

Luckygirl, when the OT visits, ask her/him about the possibility of a chair riser. My husband has one fitted to his armchair and can easily get himself in and out of it without assistance. I hope this will be of help to you.

Luckygirl it may make it marginally easier to turn DH if you place a pillow between his legs before you turn him. It is placed at the knee end going towards his ankles. He will tell you if it is uncomfortable. If you want him on his side, leave the pillow in situ and place a pillow at his back to stop him rolling on to his back. You can at least try to see if that is comfortable for him.

Oh this makes me so angry!!!

The poor lady trying to lift someone by herself, no matter how much training you get it is still too much for her by the sounds of things.

I knowof an elderly man 83 years old looking after his wife the same age.They are lucky they can afford to pay for carers in the morning and evening to get her up and dressed and undressed and back into bed at night.But he is the one dealing with trying to toilet her, attending to her during the rest of the day and through the night when she calls him. It breaks my heart but what can you do???? There are several of us who sit with her to allow him to go to the chemist for medication, shopping and the library, just so he can get out for a little while, but now with this weather that has ground to a halt as we are all nervous of driving in the snow. I spoke with him yesterday and he says he is coping but my heart breaks for him and her. They are such a devoted couple. Really hope OP gets some more help and i wish her every good wish for what she is doing for her husband.

Lucky, please prod your GP about this issue as they can prod OT and the district nurses as required, and also your GP will want to minimise the risk of injury to yourself also. This can be helpful additional weight in dealing with OT who are of course overworked, but you have additional risks for lifting due to your own health. Please don't try to soldier on in silence, take care of yourself.

Gransnet is such a help! Bathsheba’s post will be helpful to so many people. Luckygirl hope things get better quickly for both of you, as have been said you have to shout for help trouble is that sometimes before you even know you need it.

Just got a snoozle - looks as though it is just what we need. Thanks for the idea. x

I was going to suggest a slide sheet to aid turning over, and I see others have mentioned them. The Snoozle is one such and might help. www.thesnoozle.com/
I do hope the OT will be able to give you more help. You must be very clear that you are physically unable to lift your DH. As others have said, unfortunately if you keep on struggling, they will leave you to keep on struggling - and so often it is the carer who buckles under the burden of caring, long before the person being cared for. You must take good care of yourself Lucky

Lots of good ideas - thank you - I will get googling!

Don't know if it will help but all the beds in my mum's hospital ward have a red nylon sheet thing tied on the end. Mum says it is used to turn people. Don't know if this is the same as NanaandGrampy's slip pad. Take care and remember you are invaluable and looking after yourself is as important. Incidentally the Red cross in my area have an emergency carers scheme for when help is needed at short notice. You could check yours and regster if they have the service

No advice from me Luckygirl - but sympathy. It must be hard.

I looked on YouTube, but a lot of the videos show people lugging their 'patients' around.. not good for your poor old back.
I'm glad you're going to get a bit more help.

I don't know if this is of any use but I saw it on FB yesterday - it was called a slip pad and it was designed to make it easier to move people in bed or for them to actually roll over. I only really glanced at it so it may be totally useless for your needs. I think you would have to google it to see if you could find it.

Just spoke to OT - she is going to come out again next week and rethink the aids etc. And also give me some training on lifting. There is some help on Youtube and I have been looking at that. Also have bought a urine bottle online.

District nurse has been on the phone and she cannot get out today - but I told her to prioritise others as we are doing well here on pressure sore prevention.

Yes - he does have a special bed and, having looked at some Youtube videos on moving and handling, I will make a point of moving the bed up to a more manageable height for me when I have to turn him or try and get him out of bed. He has a special mattress and the district nurses come in and check his pressure areas.

With any luck this will be short-lived and is due to his virus, but I will contact OT and ask about other aids and also lifting training.

Slight problem with the snow at the moment!

Oh Luckygirl I do feel for you and your OH. You are managing alone what a couple of nurses would be doing. Has your OH got a special bed to prevent pressure areas, and to lower & raise to manageable height? My mother who can't move is moved with a slide sheet, but you do need OT advice as others have said. Big hugs to you both.

For changing position in bed, you should be able to roll your husband, (he could also be rolled onto a bedpan) but you need to be shown how to do it. A V shaped pillow is handy as it can be used to prop him into different positions, and ease the pressure on his hips, etc.
Its important, because he may get bedsores otherwise.
Please contact the OT, or ask carers, if you have them, to show you some techniques.

lucky NHS staff are instructed not to lift patients unless it’s safe to do so and they comply with all the training they’ve had etc.
So you shouldn’t either.
Take the advice of the posters above.