Will a lift chair help

[Finndoodle]

My PALS is 9 months post diagnosis. His arms have little to no strength and his hands have become useless. The last few weeks he has experienced extreme weakness in his legs especially on his dominant right side. I need to help him out of his recliner as he has become too weak to get out on his own. My question is this: Will a power lift chair/recliner be helpful? When the chair lifts will he be able to support his body on his legs?

 

[Nikki J]

A lift chair can help him into a stand position ,yes. This is assuming he can otherwise stand. However, there will come a time when his legs won’t support him to stand at all. His apparently rapid progression could mean that time is close. Is a power wheelchair on order? If it isn’t it sounds like you should call your clinic and ask to start the process because it takes time to get one after it is ordered. You might also want to look into a loaner chair if there is a loan closet. Power chairs have tilt and recline and may be your answer here.

 

[Finndoodle]

How will I get him in/out of chair and power chair? I weigh 130 and he’s about 240. I see lifts and such but even one of his legs is heavy…

 

[Nikki J]

A lift is the way. Insurance generally covers a manual one which you could do but paying the difference or buying outright an electric one is worth it for almost everyone. There are many people here who are small and transferring their large PALS. When it comes to it a pt can show you some tricks. They do tend to insist that you need two people though. You don’t. Institutions require that for insurance reasons.

 

[lgelb]

As Nikki says, the electric lift will do the raising and lowering. You just have to put the sling under him (first behind his back, then lifting the legs one by one) and with loops it attaches to the lift, which you can press a button to control. The lift also has legs that you make wider to get around a recliner or wheelchair. My husband and I had more of a weight gap than you do.