Wheelchair Experiences

The TV Club

Actual experience gets us closer to the truth of the matter. We were discussing seat belts and lap belts; and how to keep Maggie safe and secure in her present active state; while standing in the dining area.

Maggie was seated at the far end of the TV Club row in a chair just like the one at this end. At least three caregivers  were able to see her. Her head was a bit lower than some of the others. When I walked over toward her, to get her wheelchair, I noticed she was not only a bit lower but also forward of the others. She was sitting on the floor!

All this happened unobserved behind the shield of people and chairs. Falls do happen. This was a slide, not  a fall; but anyone on the floor "got there by a fall" requires a report and vitals. I have no picture, in part, as pictures are not encouranged and my phone ran out of space on the spot.

Tilting Recreation

 So imagine sliding out while leaning back as far as you can. That lands you a couple of feet in front of the chair. Caregivers place Maggie at the end away from another lady who also can be a bit aggressive given the right circumstances. It is good for both of them to be out of their wheelchairs.

A person can overreach and tumble out of a wheelchair but the most common exit is to lean back and slide down the front for Maggie. This does little damage unless you twist and catch your side on parts of the wheelchair. The result is a bump or a long one inch wide bruise that heals in three to five days.

We got Maggie into a "safe" seat and then practiced letting me slide out of a lap belt.

Both Safely Seated, Belt Down

Relaxed with Belt Sliding Up

The Ride Begins

Under the Arms

Under the Chin

Believe me, this was not staged. It was only when I put these photos together that I realized that Maggie was mimicking what we were doing. I did not know she was even in the pictures.

[Coincidences, highly unexpected events, are fairly common in memory care and in religion.]

At any rate I leave it to you, what the next picture would be. Maggie would be sitting out in front  of her chair. I would end up strangled, entangled, dangling, with a wrenched back, or with a bump on the back of my head. We forgot to get a pillow just in case bad went to worse. Taking  the next picture did not seem a good idea with the other residents present.

Several days have passed. Maggie seems to be aware of our concerns. She has not fallen. She can boost herself back into the seat of the wheelchair. She can stand up, when she wants to, all by herself, but needs assistance walking. She can use her walker again as the occupational therapy is working on her right hand.

In the 10:00 am fitness class, the idea that walkers for elderly could be designed the same as children's walkers. Just a bit bigger. Belts with a groin strap and circular walls are restraining but provide the freedom for needed exercise.

Thank you to the caregiver who took the time to hold the camera in one spot long enough to get this remarkable set of pictures.

Conclusion: Wheelchairs are dangerous things, like bicycles, Kids learn to ride bicycles. Caregivers must learn to monitor residents in an every changing state of health. A lap belt is a hazardous restraint for an active overweight resident. So, lose some weight.