Change of Gear

The arrival of a shower chair has precipitated a change of approach in how I manage transfers.

The shower chair is a Freeway T70 Auto, which has 3 functions:

• to take a shower in,
• to use the loo, as it slides over it,
• to use it as a free standing commode.

In working out how best to use it, I decided to take a shower. Having stripped off, I attempted to transfer directly to it from my wheelchair. While standing between the two chairs, I dropped my undies, which became entangled in my feet. While trying to untangle them, I lost my balance and ended up on the floor. The mistake was attempting the untangling while standing. I should have sat down first.

The last fall was in January, and like then, I was unable to get myself up. My specialist nurse says I shouldn't hesitate to call 999 in such a position. I managed to inch myself along the floor on my back to get to my phone. A call to my neighbours elicited help. She and her teenage daughter were able to haul me on to the bed, one under each arm. A rather undignified situation, to say the least.

To return to transfers. I have been managing to transfer from wheelchair to bed, to loo, to scooter and so on by standing up and moving over. This is getting harder and riskier.  So I am starting to do sideways transfers, using a transfer board. The first instance is using this technique to get in and out of the car. It involves more steps, but is much safer. Here is a picture of a transfer board.