Life With ALS.com
+ Diagnosed Aug 2005
+ Bipap March 2007
+ PEG July 2007
+ Trache and Vent July 2008
Still Living, Loving & Laughing
As a person with ALS gets more unsteady and weak it becomes necessary, for safety reasons, to use a lift. Either a portable or a stationary.
We have a portable Hoyer Lift, provided by the ALS Society, and we have also installed a ceiling lift that was donated to us. The ceiling lift is a Voyager brand.
I am often appalled at the price of anything labelled as handicapped. I will not expand on that! But it is definitely one of my pet peeves.
The above picture shows the ceiling track above our bed.
And yes, we installed it differently than the normal. We have more room at the foot of our bed than beside it. Also, this way I can be placed high enough on the bed without a fight. I would like to have done the same thing over our bed that we did in the bathroom but the track was prohibitively expensive.
The ceiling track in the bathroom allows me to get from my power wheelchair to the toilet and into the shower. I am really glad we did it this way as it is very functional and convenient for both myself and my caregivers.
This is the portable Hoyer Lift that we use in the living room or anytime the ceiling lift is not suitable.
The biggest challenge we have experienced is finding a sling that works properly and is comfortable. We are currently using a Large Hammock Sling. It needs some modification before it will work properly. The one major concern I have is there is no way to get my pants down, or up, in order to use the toilet. Right now my caregiver has to struggle to get my pants down before using the sling. Then, after I am finished my business on the toilet, I am put in my power wheelchair, the sling is removed and the fight begins to get my pants up. As I continue to get weaker this is getting harder and harder.
Update; October 2009. Since I am getting weaker we no longer worry about pulling my pants up. We pull them up to my knees and cover me with a blanket. We leave the sling on 24/7, it is just too hard to get it on and off. We have also modified a medium Hammock Sling so it is easier to get on & off. My backside protrudes out the bottom so I can be set on the toilet without any adjustment. I sit in a more upright position than you see in the picture below.
If anyone reading this has any advice I would certainly appreciate hearing from you! Just click on the “Contact Us” link at the top of this page.
