My 91 yr old mom lives in LTC. She cannot walk and is in her lift recliner 24/7 because she cannot comfortably lie in a bed. Her spine and neck are severely deformed and bend forward so she can't lie flat. She's getting weaker and losing her ability to use the EZ stand lift to get her out of the lift recliner to toilet or change her. She's incontinent and sometimes they stand her up and change her on the spot, sometimes they wheel her into the bathroom. The nursing home staff has told me it's getting to where it will no longer be safe for her to use the stand so they will have to move her to her bed. Depending on who's working, I don't know that staff would take the time to arrange all the pillows and cushions that would be necessary to make mom remotely comfortable. She won't be able to move or reposition herself once in the bed. Are there any other options besides moving her to her bed? Any other experience with this level of kyphosis and end days? Mom seems to be getting closer to the end, and if they move her to the bed, I think she will decide that's it, she has lost all control. She's not on hospice but I will bring it up again when I am there today.
Talk to the nurse that is assigned and discuss the bed. There are alternating pressure mattresses that are designed to inflate and deflate so that it eliminates, or minimizes pressure points.
There are medications that she can be given to minimize pain. That is the goal of Hospice to manage pain.
get the support for her and you …
I would look at moving her though. To say she needs to be in bed with it being so miserable for her sounds like they are not doing their job. A hoyer lift can easily be used to get her changed and moved around.
I would tell them they need to find a different solution and not make her miserable to make it easier on themselves. Then get busy finding a facility that actually cares.
I do wonder with the question of being in the chair - do they have a Hoyer lift? Mum had been in a wheel chair for the last 5 years (other issues) and couldn't comfortably stand, so they had to use a Hoyer to get her back and forth from the bed to the wheelchair. You probably want her to keep moving on her own as much as possible, but if it's becoming a safety issue with her standing from the lift chair, then it would at least offer options to move her around a bit.
Good luck, I sympathize!
My mom was a side sleeper all her life plus along with a mild dowager hump she had a high degree of forward head posture, severe enough so that with only one thin pillow her head was tilted back to the headboard. Whenever I came in if she was in bed staff invariably had her flat on her back with one pillow (I provided several extras), I know they must have repositioned her periodically (because there were no pressure sores) but I never saw her in any other position unless I put her there myself. IMO if you want any degree of compliance having this noted on her medical chart as a necessity is a must...
I think she should be able to rest comfortably in bed so long as they know that putting her flat on her back is not an option and that is written prominently in her chart.... I imagine changing her while in bed should also be simpler. Get an OT (occupational therapist) involved, there may be devices to help.