Living with disability

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ChemGal said:
Too bad, was hoping that was a decent solution. It's actually one thing I wished the soaker tub had, maybe I should talk to Chemguy, see if that's an easy swap but most are intended for shower heads, not sure what's out there for stand along baths. I do quick sponge baths on occasion, especially before working out (saving the full shower for after) because I do have such dry irritated skin. I never really feel all that clean from it though. Sounds like it's suiting you better.
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I'm very thorough. I like to be clean too. I also have baby wipes and alcohol wipes - as well as soapy water. A nice long soak would be relaxing though.
 
I wonder if a couple of garbage bags and duct tape could make your walker water proof. Especially as you are house bound so don’t need to worry about it for work

Or I wonder if you could rent one or borrow one. A nursing home perhaps?
 
aaah, kimmio. i had a seat for in the shower for in my dad. Got it from shoppers home care.
@Lastpointe , i offered to give it to the retirement home or ask if there was someone else that could use it, but they said "no, health rules". I guess coz it was used, so would have to figure out a way to clean it. (given that, i doubt there are any at retirement homes, but, worth trying).
 
haha - my Irish friend used to refer to a sponge bath as "tits, pits & naughty bits" :oops:

Here in Ontario, it is often possible to have a publicly funded homecare service provide a personal service worker to come to your home to help with bathing where safety and mobility are issues. Doctor usually needs to order it & there is no cost to user. Is there anything like that in BC? Also, the same agency could send an OT to the house for a safety assessment, particularly re bathroom equipment in your case. A tub transfer bench, possibly with a back on it might be helpful to you. Sometimes these can be rented. Sometimes at the hospital, people who have to wear zimmers prefer to use a wheelchair with elevating leg rest - gives good support to the leg while sitting & makes getting around a little easier in many situations.

Did this particular fall occur at work? If so, Work Safe BC should be covering the expense of any equipment, attendant care, etc.
 
Carolla said:
haha - my Irish friend used to refer to a sponge bath as "tits, pits & naughty bits" :oops:

Here in Ontario, it is often possible to have a publicly funded homecare service provide a personal service worker to come to your home to help with bathing where safety and mobility are issues. Doctor usually needs to order it & there is no cost to user. Is there anything like that in BC? Also, the same agency could send an OT to the house for a safety assessment, particularly re bathroom equipment in your case. A tub transfer bench, possibly with a back on it might be helpful to you. Sometimes these can be rented. Sometimes at the hospital, people who have to wear zimmers prefer to use a wheelchair with elevating leg rest - gives good support to the leg while sitting & makes getting around a little easier in many situations.

Did this particular fall occur at work? If so, Work Safe BC should be covering the expense of any equipment, attendant care, etc.
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A nurse agency called me, arranged by the hospital. An OT will be coming in about a week but we don't know whether it is best to have them assess here or my place. I will have to move soon because they are going to do airbnb for the summer (yes, sucks - I can come back in the fall and be their regular winter tennant but I want something more permanent - that is a whole other issue I was working on resolving before this happened - apartment hunting is just not 'a go' right now) and so I think I will have them come here if my parents can handle me for 7 weeks - just for safety it is best to have others around if possible even if I am managing a lot of things myself.

Anyway, the nursing service said the OT will assess - in the meantime they said because I have CP I might qualify for community living BC. I called them and left a message. They called me 2 days later and said I have to have an IQ of 70 or under to qualify. I told her I don't think I do. (People may disagree but I think it's higher than that) Community living BC told me to call the health authority to see if I qualify for some special nurse aid funding - which is who I though called on behalf of the hospital in the first place. What a maze of red tape. My mom's friends have been telling her about all sorts of equipment they borrowed from the Red Cross after various injuries. I need to have my doctor fill out their form which I can print online. I can do that this week - at least get someone at the same clinic to sign it. Just have to keep slogging along.

I fell tonight in the bathroom and had a little accident - I almost made it before I fell. I fell when I let go to pull my pants down. I didn't get them down - I slid into the floor - tried to catch my fall by putting my hand on the laundry hamper but the lid wasn't secure - down I went on my butt and my bladder let go a bit. Oh well. Didn't injure myself again. Maybe too much information but that's how this is going. You never know. One minute I'm managing. The next I am on my butt in wet pants and need help up. So I need people around. Wetting myself is not a tragedy - but I don't want to break another bone.

My mom and step dad managed to help me up, on each side of me. They're too old for this, though. I managed to go to the toilet successfully the second try. Then I had to go get changed again and that took another 1/2 hr. This was all just before dinner earlier.
 
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I heard crocs being called “ lady killers”, because they slip on wet/ moist floors but also suddenly stop when walking.
People wear them anyway. I think socks with non slip soles are better.
The Red Cross might give the equipment out if yourdoc faxed the prescription to them. You might also benefit from a raised toilet seat with arm rests ( depends how tall you are). Those raised seats often fit only either round or oval toilets, so you need to know when you go pick one up. Here, the Red Cross doesn’t have any for oval toilets, so I usually get people to pick up a commode chair for over the toilet ( no bucket), which is also useful if a 4” raised toilet seat would be too high for you, ecause it adjusts in smaller increments.
 
Aah, kimmio.
Not fun.

Nothing like having to get help in an embarrassing circumstance

Glad no further damage
 
Thanks. Not really embarrassed - could've happened to anyone with a broken knee in an immobilizing brace - more frustrated and concerned about getting adequate help and equipment - and getting through the red tape more efficiently - because my parents can't be lifting me.
(Also, I was wearing my most comfy leggings under the brace and they were just washed - I was frustrated about that too. And because I had to get changed.)
 
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Re Crocs: There are lots of women's shoes that are dangerous to walk in and/ really bad for feet and back. I have to wonder if part of the negative publicity is to find some way to get people to stop wearing the unsightly things! (They look like they are made from floor hockey balls or hockey masks)...because they are comfortable but 4/5 people surveyed say they are ugly footwear (joke about the survey). Also they are available for men too - again, I think they just had to find an angle so people would stop wearing them :whistle:. I think it worked. Really, not many people wear them. But Crocs went on to make other more fashionable styles.
 
Mrs.Anteater said:
I heard crocs being called “ lady killers”, because they slip on wet/ moist floors but also suddenly stop when walking.
People wear them anyway. I think socks with non slip soles are better.
The Red Cross might give the equipment out if yourdoc faxed the prescription to them. You might also benefit from a raised toilet seat with arm rests ( depends how tall you are). Those raised seats often fit only either round or oval toilets, so you need to know when you go pick one up. Here, the Red Cross doesn’t have any for oval toilets, so I usually get people to pick up a commode chair for over the toilet ( no bucket), which is also useful if a 4” raised toilet seat would be too high for you, ecause it adjusts in smaller increments.
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Thank you. Would you happen to know if RC requires the doctor to specify exactly what equipment I need or just that I need equipment? Because I might not know what might help until I see what they have - then I will have a pretty good idea of what I can use - and i doubt my doctor really knows. He knows less than I would what would help me specifically (like I said I'd have to see what could help in terms of what I can manage) - for writing it on a form.
 
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Another option people have done, at least here in Ontario, is short term Nursing home respite. My moms place had a young guy , about 30 , live with them for 2 months because of his leg/cast/wheel chair use.

I do think crocs are tricky to walk in, though I have some I garden in. Personally I find bare feet safest when I am unsteady. I was on crutches for three months with no weight bearing due to a break. And bare feet were great. I agree, trying To put on socks and shoes is very tricky

Sorry you slipped in the bathroom. All the things that might help you like grab bars and raised toilet seats and wheel chairs seem to be available to rent. I would get your doctors office onto this and see what they can do to help. The OT assessment will help too

Hopefully a long stay with your folks will be ok. You will need to carve out some alone time I expect
 
There are some designated Convalescent beds here in Ontario as well. Mostly located in nursing homes. The maximum length of stay is 90 days.

I believe this is a different kettle of fish than Respite.
 
I know someone who stayed at a nursing home with the old ones for a while. She lived alone and couldn't cope alone following major leg surgery. She got a room, meals, company, a welcome to spend time participating as and when she could.
 
Liking what I'm hearing about being able to stay at nursing care facilities. I'll have to look into that. :)
 
I am not sure if all Ontario facilities take respite patients, or disability issues patients. The one my mom stayed in was a private home

And of course there is the cost issue


Hope you get somewhere with finding assistance Kimmio. In Ontario I would expect there are several options for care, so hopefully you can figure out what works best for you
 
Lastpointe said:
I am not sure if all Ontario facilities take respite patients, or disability issues patients. The one my mom stayed in was a private home

And of course there is the cost issue


Hope you get somewhere with finding assistance Kimmio. In Ontario I would expect there are several options for care, so hopefully you can figure out what works best for you
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What do you mean, "cost issue" Lastpointe?
 
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