Mom is in nursing home and stays in Lift chair recliner all day and night. Staff wants her to sleep in bed at night to avoid pressure sores but she refuses. She says she is comfortable only in the chair and does not like sleeping in the bed. She has been sleeping in a recliner for over 40 years. We have tried everything to convince her, but she flat out refuses. She is of sound mind and says she understands the risk but it's hard to believe she really does as who would agree to such risks. The staff says it is a fine line that they can't force her because of Resident's Rights but we are extremely concerned. She is 96. She is incontinent. She is only moved to be changed and then is placed back in the chair. We are at a loss of what to do and are so frustrated. Any advice?
I want to thank you for your kind words. I am not traveling too well myself at the moment, and my movements are restricted so that sitting on the computer is kinder too me than lots of other activities. It is so good for my own morale to think that it can really help someone else, that I’m not as useless as I often feel. Thank you again.
And while she may be at risk of getting bed sores while in her chair, she also can get them while in a bed.
So why not just let her live out her days(which at 96 they're numbered anyway)comfortable in her own chair.
And if she gets a bedsore, she will have at least done things the way she wanted to and deserves to. I mean....she is 96.
Does she have the type of hospital bed that electronically lifts up the back and can bend at the knees? If the bed can come close to the position of the chair might she agree to go there just to sleep at night?
She doesn't seem to be of sound mind if she doesn't care that the staff is breaking their backs trying to change her and give her proper care. Loss of empathy is a feature of dementia.
backs.
And I just caught the part in the OP that her mom is being moved to be changed and then put back in her chair.
- Electric beds raise up & down making care tasks easier on staff backs.
- Can sit up & go flat
- Person can move/be moved: from side to side, to back.
- Mattress can be pressure relieving foam or air mattress
If the recliner chair is electric, can raise up & down, can sit or lay then the only big difference is it's padding & surface.
There are recliner chairs made to reduce pressure eg contain layers of specialised foam. Alternatively, a pressure relief cushion could be added, made of gel, foam or the roho air type.
If bed & chair are virtually offering the same thing in terms of care, what pros & cons still exist?
In fact, a recliner chair on wheels may be wheeled from a bedroom to a day room. May add to social opportunity?
While every reasonable measure should be taken to avoid painful pressure injuries (bed sores), they cannot always BE prevented.
I had a woman tell me her MIL suffered terribly from bed sores. Had poor nutrition, terrible circulation, always cold hands, slow to heal, many leg ulcers etc. Sat up in chairs & changed position frequently but many bed sores in her last years.
Yet her own Mother, a plumper lady, sat immobile in a chair then bedbound never had bed sores, not one.
I'd use the Do No Harm mantra.
If the recliner chair is offering nearly everything a bed can VS the stress or pain moving Mother against her will onto a bed.
Which has less harm?
I think this is an issue that may have to be forced, but difficult to imagine after all these years how it an be. She may know the risk, but the risk is actually death from sepsis. That IS an option if she is in hospice care, but not a pleasant nor quick one often enough.
If you want to learn more, and more things to watch out for about dementia, you can watch Teepa Snow, on YouTube, she is really informative.
So sorry, best of luck
As most people on the forum know, Mom had mobility issues due to her Parkinson’s disease. I told the occupational therapist that she had issues getting in and out of bed.
The therapist recommended that she have a half bed rail to hold onto. You probably can’t do that in a facility because it is against regulations.
The therapist rearranged Mom’s furniture, making it easier for her to maneuver getting in and out of her bed.
I don’t think she really understands the risks. So then we could conclude that she is not of sound mind.
Around and around we go…..