My mother (78) is well into dementia. She has reached a point where she almost always wants to lay in bed and watch television.

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Mike6320 Asked June 2016

My mother (78) is well into dementia. She has reached a point where she almost always wants to lay in bed and watch television.

What I am concerned about is how she does this. She places a cushion and a pillow behind her head and lays like that to watch t.v. This puts her head in a very awkward position. I try to tell her that it's really not good for her to lay like that, but she says she's comfortable. I'm worried that if she continues to do this, there will be long term danage to her bones and posture.
What I wish we could do is get a medical-type bed that would raise and lower. I think that would be much more comfortable for her, and I think it would be better for her overall health. The problem is: we do not have the resources to buy something like that. Will Medicaid help with that type of equipment? Even if we could just rent one, if that's possible, that would be fine. I'm just worried about the cost. Any information anyone might have about this would be extremely helpful!!! Thanks!!!! More than anything, I want my mother to be comfortable at this point in her life.

Medicaid

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score 1 · Answer 1

I think you are right that her posture will cause problems for her. My husband does that with pillows - props his head up at a steep angle instead of sitting up or using pillows under his back. Then he complains about headaches. No Duh!

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score 1 · Answer 2

Geewiz gave some good advice about the possibility of finding one used.

Is your mother on Medicaid? Discuss this need with her case worker.

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score 1 · Answer 3

Mike, there are plenty of those beds around that past users don't know what to do with after their loved ones pass. Medicare pays for them and after a few months, they become the user's property. When the patient passes, no one knows what to do with all of the durable medical equipment'. We left my Mom's at her assisted living facility. Others donate to a goodwill or local charity. We just had another to donate and found a church group that had an old building they kept these things in. Then they loan them out for free to those who need the items. While doing a computer search, I found that my local nursing home had a give away program last year for this type of equipment, yes for FREE. Check Craig's list, every local nursing home and assisted living facility, good will etc. This equipment is costing taxpayers a fortune and then no one knows what to do with it. It either ends in a landfill or gets stored for years in a garage and may becomre part of a garage sale or then dumped. (The mattress may need to be replaced or (if in good shape) enclosed in a special mattress cover. )

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My mother (78) is well into dementia. She has reached a point where she almost always wants to lay in bed and watch television.

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