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We added an egg crate and gel covering but it still sinks. Company says that they don’t have longer beds, only bariatric beds and they are just 4 inches wider- not longer.
One more point about opting for the bariatric bed. The extra width means that you can lie at an angle across the bed, and that cross-ways length is longer than straight down.
1. Get a glide sheet for repositioning her if you haven't already got one. 2. The bed should have boards at head and foot, yes? 3. I assume it's a "profiling" bed? - one that you can adjust at the head, tilt up and down, raise the centre of the mattress (under the person's knees, approximately), and raise or lower the whole bed.
I share your bafflement that they don't make these beds longer - what on earth happens to even taller people I just can't imagine- but they are usually 6'10" or thereabouts. This gives you very little leeway but it does mean it's possible to get your mother comfortably positioned. Once she is, raise the mattress slightly under her knees (this should stop her sliding towards the footboard) and ensure that there is a blanket, pillow or cushion stopping her toes from coming into contact with the footboard.
Does she need to have her upper body raised to aid breathing, or anything like that?
There are longer beds. They have to put an extension on the "spring" portion but there are extra long mattresses. My Husband was 6'4" and had a longer bed. If they truly do not have an extra long mattress and extension I would raise the mattress from UNDER the mattress she is on. Chances are any thing you put on top will not be easily cleanable. A Thick firm foam that you can buy at a fabric store, the type they use for cushions or for a mattress for a baby crib might work. If you can even find an inexpensive twin size mattress at a local mattress store that might also work.
And not sure what you mean by she sinks down in the bed. Is it that the mattress is short and her feet hang off the bed? Or is it that the mattress is so soft that she sinks into the mattress?
One of the other things you can do is place her pillow much higher on the bed. If she is sliding down so her feet hang off the end raise the foot of the bed, lower the head of the bed and use the sheet to help pull her back up to the top of the bed. This makes it easy on her to slide her up without having to "pull" on her physically, you are using the sheet as a "draw sheet" to make it easier. Also placing a wedge under her legs, calves will help keep her from sliding down to the foot of the bed and it will also take pressure off the heels where pressure sores can develop.
I'm not sure if your problem is mom sinking down towards the end of the bed or into it. Hospital beds don't have soft , thick mattresses that can be sunk into. If the problem is she slides too far towards the end of the bed, a board affixed at the foot of the bed can help a bit with that. Patients sliding down in the bed has been a problem since I think from the time beds were invented. All you can really do is keep pulling her back up. You can also ask hospice to give you a special kind of electric air mattress that goes on a hospital bed. It inflates and deflates in different areas to help prevent pressure sores for bedridden people. It also helps with the sliding down in the bed. I had a homecare client who was bedridden. We were constantly pulling her back up. An average day was pulling her up at least a dozen times a day and repositioning her too. What made it possible to do this was that underneath the reusable bed pad under her backside I always laid a thick, long beach towel width-wise under it. Then flatten the bed out and pull her up to the very top. If you make sure the person is pulled up as far as possible towards the head of the bed, it helps a bit with the sliding down. The beach towel laid width-wise under the bed pad makes it easier to slide the person back up to the head of the bed too. We finally got one of the electric air mattresses from hospice. That helped very much with the sliding down problem. Ask hospice about getting one for your mom's bed.
I’ve had three ‘bed’ experiences that might help. 1) I was in hospital 50 years ago with a threatened miscarriage, and my scoliosis back began to be very difficult. They slid two planks lengthways under the mattress – the wide planks that builders stand on to gain some trestle height for brick laying etc. That helped to keep my back flat (not the miscarriage). 2) The small family flat has a double bed that is a bit short. I stand it a little away from the wall, and stuff the gap with a row of round cushions. 3) When my back is crook now, I lie on the carpeted floor. My back and head are flat on the floor, my feet and calves are supported on a footstool that is as high as the couch seat, and my hips and knees are at right angles. I can sleep comfortably like that, it just looks odd to other people. Length and firmness are not a problem, warmth sometimes is a bit trickier.
Why did you reject the bariatric bed? It sounds as though weight is the reason for the sinking, not length. Plenty of 6’ men sleep in a 6’3” bed. Are the pillows too bulky, taking up too much length? Good luck finding an answer.
I entered “firm mattress for hospital bed” on Amazon. They have some there. Maybe one of those is what you’re looking for? If you know someone with Prime, that may get you quicker shopping.
I know that hospital supply companies “should” be able to help, but we know that when it comes to our loved ones, “shoulds” have had to sometimes go out the window. Sigh.
The sinking down in bed is the everlasting non-fixable things that nurses deal with their entire careers, even when the knee can be raised. I wish I had an answer for you and hope others do.
Sinking meaning the mattress is not firm. If so, the provider can get a firmer mattress. Mattresses are normally 75in long but they do come in 8o in. The provider is billing Medicare and should be providing the mattress needed even if they have to order one. Talk to the Hospice Nurse. She can then talk to the provider. If this cannot be rectified, you may want to try another hospice with a different provider.
Your LOs comfort is paramount. Be the squeaky wheel.
Your hospice agency(nurse) should be able to help you with that issue, I would think. I would ask moms nurse if they can provide a water mattress overlay that helps to distribute pressure. A friend of mine gave me hers to use for my husband, that she had gotten from hospice years before. Also perhaps putting a piece of plywood under the mattress to make it more firm, and then add the egg crate and or gel covering. That's all I can think of right now. I hope you get it figured out, as your mom certainly deserves to be comfortable in her final time here on earth. God bless you.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
2. The bed should have boards at head and foot, yes?
3. I assume it's a "profiling" bed? - one that you can adjust at the head, tilt up and down, raise the centre of the mattress (under the person's knees, approximately), and raise or lower the whole bed.
I share your bafflement that they don't make these beds longer - what on earth happens to even taller people I just can't imagine- but they are usually 6'10" or thereabouts. This gives you very little leeway but it does mean it's possible to get your mother comfortably positioned. Once she is, raise the mattress slightly under her knees (this should stop her sliding towards the footboard) and ensure that there is a blanket, pillow or cushion stopping her toes from coming into contact with the footboard.
Does she need to have her upper body raised to aid breathing, or anything like that?
If they truly do not have an extra long mattress and extension I would raise the mattress from UNDER the mattress she is on. Chances are any thing you put on top will not be easily cleanable. A Thick firm foam that you can buy at a fabric store, the type they use for cushions or for a mattress for a baby crib might work. If you can even find an inexpensive twin size mattress at a local mattress store that might also work.
And not sure what you mean by she sinks down in the bed. Is it that the mattress is short and her feet hang off the bed? Or is it that the mattress is so soft that she sinks into the mattress?
One of the other things you can do is place her pillow much higher on the bed. If she is sliding down so her feet hang off the end raise the foot of the bed, lower the head of the bed and use the sheet to help pull her back up to the top of the bed. This makes it easy on her to slide her up without having to "pull" on her physically, you are using the sheet as a "draw sheet" to make it easier.
Also placing a wedge under her legs, calves will help keep her from sliding down to the foot of the bed and it will also take pressure off the heels where pressure sores can develop.
Patients sliding down in the bed has been a problem since I think from the time beds were invented. All you can really do is keep pulling her back up. You can also ask hospice to give you a special kind of electric air mattress that goes on a hospital bed. It inflates and deflates in different areas to help prevent pressure sores for bedridden people. It also helps with the sliding down in the bed.
I had a homecare client who was bedridden. We were constantly pulling her back up. An average day was pulling her up at least a dozen times a day and repositioning her too.
What made it possible to do this was that underneath the reusable bed pad under her backside I always laid a thick, long beach towel width-wise under it. Then flatten the bed out and pull her up to the very top.
If you make sure the person is pulled up as far as possible towards the head of the bed, it helps a bit with the sliding down.
The beach towel laid width-wise under the bed pad makes it easier to slide the person back up to the head of the bed too.
We finally got one of the electric air mattresses from hospice. That helped very much with the sliding down problem. Ask hospice about getting one for your mom's bed.
1) I was in hospital 50 years ago with a threatened miscarriage, and my scoliosis back began to be very difficult. They slid two planks lengthways under the mattress – the wide planks that builders stand on to gain some trestle height for brick laying etc. That helped to keep my back flat (not the miscarriage).
2) The small family flat has a double bed that is a bit short. I stand it a little away from the wall, and stuff the gap with a row of round cushions.
3) When my back is crook now, I lie on the carpeted floor. My back and head are flat on the floor, my feet and calves are supported on a footstool that is as high as the couch seat, and my hips and knees are at right angles. I can sleep comfortably like that, it just looks odd to other people. Length and firmness are not a problem, warmth sometimes is a bit trickier.
Why did you reject the bariatric bed? It sounds as though weight is the reason for the sinking, not length. Plenty of 6’ men sleep in a 6’3” bed. Are the pillows too bulky, taking up too much length? Good luck finding an answer.
I know that hospital supply companies “should” be able to help, but we know that when it comes to our loved ones, “shoulds” have had to sometimes go out the window. Sigh.
Best wishes.
Your LOs comfort is paramount. Be the squeaky wheel.
Also perhaps putting a piece of plywood under the mattress to make it more firm, and then add the egg crate and or gel covering. That's all I can think of right now. I hope you get it figured out, as your mom certainly deserves to be comfortable in her final time here on earth. God bless you.