Follow
Share

What was the item that was a total game changer?


Besides the hoyer lift, I think it was a shower wheelchair.

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
I was lucky.
When I moved into this house, it was built by the previous owner as Handicap accessible. So I guess the best "piece of medical equipment" was the house.
Bonus was he left the shower wheelchair!
I got the Sit-to-Stand from Hospice so that I did not buy. Later I got the Hoyer Lift through Hospice. And the "State of the art" alternating pressure mattress was Hospice as well.
It is amazing how a piece of equipment can make all the difference when caring for someone. It make the job easier and SAFER.
Helpful Answer (8)
Report

A bottle of wine.
Helpful Answer (8)
Report
Kantankorus Aug 2021
Absolutely, Bobby, thinking the same way...
Ear plugs for mine!
(3)
Report
See 1 more reply
Not really medical equipment, but for us it was a video camera in my moms apartment while she was still in IL. We were able to witness a bad fall out of bed, call 911 and in-house staff, saw and assisted EMTs with pertinent medical and general info and learned they were taking her to the trauma center. She received 120 stitches to her forehead. After that the best piece of DME were bed rails. She’s now 95 and in residential assisted living. She loves it there.
Helpful Answer (4)
Report

For my mom, it was a shower chair that pivots and slides into the tub. My mom could transfer from her wheelchair to the shower chair with some assistance. She loved it. I'm 64 and live alone so I use it too. Before my mom passed, I couldn't risk a fall in the tub, I don't want to take that risk now.
Helpful Answer (4)
Report

For my mother, it was a Merlin Desktop Electronic Magnifier. She had terrible macular degeneration, and that thing helped her stay sane a little longer as her vision began to deteriorate.

Prior to her vision issues, she was a librarian and an artist, and she read a book almost every day, so losing her ability to read was devastating. Once dementia kicked in, though, the machine didn't help much because her comprehension skills were decreasing as well, so it didn't get much use in the past couple of years. However, she died last month, and I was able to give the machine to an eye doctor for one of her patients, a man who also has macular degeneration and is slipping into a deep depression over it. The doctor sent me a photo of him trying it out in her office this morning, and she said he cried. (I did, too.)

Best purchase ever, and it keeps on giving.
Helpful Answer (4)
Report
Michelle2828 Sep 2021
awwww, how lovely of you ( :
(0)
Report
It was for my 97 yr old father and it was an automatic Recliner that he ended up choosing to sleep in too.
He felt more comfortable in it and staying in the reclined position mostly, Helped him to keep his feet elevated so as not to have his feet swell and being reclined helped him not get bed sores.

It was also much easier for him to get in and out of then his bed.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report

Just for the benefit of the forum readers. A hoyer lift seems to be most prominently ordered patient lift because hospitals usually have them. If your LO has some standing limb mobility look into a Invacare Get-U-UP Lift. It uses a sling which more easily wraps around the person’s back (on/off) and has color coded attachments. It is just easier to use than other lift. Medicare covers it too.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report
Grandma1954 Aug 2021
this works well if the person can stand and support their weight. This is what I was talking about when I mentioned a Sit To Stand. Once the person has limited strength a Hoyer Lift is STRONGLY recommended
(0)
Report
For my Mom in her current condition, the Acorn stairlift was the best investment. Her bedroom and bathroom are on the second floor.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

A SuperPole™ with swing arm attachment allowed me to place a sturdy grab bar in front of the toilet where there was no wall, it gave my mom something to hold while I attended to her needs and could then swing around to be used as she stepped the 3" into the shower.
And the tilt in place wheelchair was absolutely the best investment ever, mom spent all her waking hours in that chair for over 2 years.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
aj6044 Sep 2021
Do you have a link to a similar wheelchair? My mom is bedbound / wheelchair bound
(1)
Report
See 1 more reply
For us (and my bedridden mom), it was the Purewick external catheter.

I believe Medicare has started covering that now - pretty sure they started covering it like the day after my mom passed away. But even paying out of pocket for it was worth it.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
aj6044 Sep 2021
They no longer cover it.
(0)
Report
See 1 more reply
See All Answers
This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter