Re: Help getting out of bed

Hi Barry

Thank you – that sounds sensible. I’m not an OT and it really hadn’t occurred to me to get her to see one.

I thought I might need 2 mattresses – although my Dad being tipped out of bed might not always be a bad thing! ;-)

Jackie

I’d recommend seeing an Occupational Therapist first, as there are lots of low tech strategies that might help, before going down this road.  Apologies if you are an OT or you’ve done that already.

A recent client was singing the praises of IKEA electrical beds which enabled them to have one side electrical & one side standard & at what they thought was a good price.  I couldn’t give any recommendation.

Don’t forget that you need two separate mattresses.  If you put a lifter under one half of a double mattress it tips the other occupant out of bed.

-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals. [mailto:ASSISTECH@...] On Behalf Of Jackie Champion
Sent: 30 June 2009 09:44
To: ASSISTECH@...
Subject: Help getting out of bed

Hi

My mother has osteoarthritis in her spine and is suddenly finding that on occasion she is unable to get out of bed without help from my father. Occasionally they sleep separately due to her back problems which keep them both awake. This can cause problems for her in the middle of the night if she needs to get up and is alone.

I’m pretty sure there are beds/adaptations to beds out there with remote controls which will ‘sit you up’. Ideally I want to find one that will fit a double bed but do only her side (or both sides independently).

This is my first foray into this area and so I haven’t visited Disability North yet although I intend to. However, some direction would be greatly received.

Many thanks