Need carers who can lift

No carer would be allowed to lift due to manual handling - it puts them at risk and you can’t expect them to do this.

theres a falls response here that respond and pick people up using equipment and the correct techniques so save paramedics

Most services/companies have policies in place that won't allow people to lift, however case law has shown that it can be done with the right planning. I cant remember the case, but it was discussed when I did my advances trainers course for moving and handling.

If you mean to get him from the floor using equipment this would be something OT or falls team would look into, best get them involved as soon as possible.

@EmeraldRoulette I feel for you. Maybe you could look into Extra Care schemes in your area and go and visit to see what it's like. Moving is a huge deal whatever your age.

@AnnaQuayInTheUk Thank you, really appreciate your replies

she isn't prepared to move and realistically I think she is right not to. She'd be so unhappy and she's 86 so couldn't manage any of it. I think we're just stuck with it all really.

thank you though. I don't know if it's worth buying the items shown for situations where she's not injured and a neighbour might be able to help etc.

@EmeraldRoulette they may be called by other names in other areas, but basically purpose built flats that have a team of care workers on site 24/7. So there is always support on hand.

There's usually a communal dining room where a hot lunch is provided but all the flats have their own kitchens as well.

You rent the flat, the "Landlord" will be a social housing provider (Housing Association) or similar.

This is a link to one in Suffolk (not where I work so I don't know anything about it but the explanation of how it works is good)

https://www.orwell-housing.co.uk/supported-housing-and-care/housing-and-care-older-people/

@AnnaQuayInTheUk thank you

Yes, all those things are covered. Hasn't made much difference, really.

I hadn't heard of an "extra care" scheme, so I will look into that tomorrow.

Become an Occupational Therapist 😃

@Hairyfairy01 but great of you to take the time to post and to share the knowledge.
I have a penchant for simple and obvious ( only once they're pointed out 🙂) answers to everyday problems.

You can subscribe to a service that they press to request help. It’s not free so not a strain on the nhs.

Thanks. To be fair it is basically my job so happy to help if I can. A good falls service will be asking all of these questions as part of their ‘muliti risk assessment’ (MRA) and referring on where needed.

Wow @Hairyfairy01 , what a post!
You're amazing to think of all that !
What a star!!

When DM fell she was a dead weight and even two paramedics sometimes had trouble lifting her. There’s no guarantee that just because the person hasn’t hurt themselves on previous falls that they aren’t hurt.

@Hairyfairy01That was an amazingly informative post.

Large burly men capable of doing this kind of lifting are not going to be willing to work as carers!

Carers aren’t allowed to lift people in case they hurt themselves or the person that has fallen. Our carers are allowed to use raizer lifts though if that helps

Carers are not supposed to damage their backs lifting.

Has there been a community OT referral and visit to assess the house? Also a referral to the Falls Prevention Service should have been made.

When does your Mum tend to fall? If it's at night when she's trying to get to the bathroom, it may be BP related. Are there potential trip hazards in the house? Would she consider a move to a more appropriate, purpose built property? Has she / you looked into an Extra Care Scheme.

Ask for a social care assessment if she hasn't had one.

In my experience, very few people go into residential care unless they have dementia these days. There are lots of sites which can be taken first.

he would benefit from an OT assessment or possibly a local falls service. A falls service assessment would probably be quicker, ask your dad’s GP if they offer one in his area. As others have pointed out, carers are not trained to assess for broken hips etc, they would not be allowed to get a patient off the floor via whatever means. However, presuming your dad is of sound mind, he could be taught ‘backwards chaining’ which would enable him to get up on his own. Alternatively there are things like Raizers, Elks, Camels which he could be assessed for if falls are very frequent.

However prevention is always better than cure, and at some point if he keeps falling he will break something. So you need to think why he is falling. You mention his legs give way. Is this because of weakness? Has a physio given him any exercises to improve strength? Is he trying to walk too far?would a chair at a ‘half way rest point’ be of benefit? Or perhaps a glide about commode if your mum was able to push it? You may have to adapt his environment to be one he can manage (micro environment). Does he tend to fall at certain parts of the day? Early morning? Evening? Think about why this is. If someone has been laying down all night they can become dizzy when standing (postural hypotension). Or does he get tired towards the end of the day? If so could his activities be adjusted to these factors?
what about the environment? Is it well lit? Have you removed trip hazards eg rugs, wires etc. does he use an aid to walk? Is it in good condition? Has it been measured for appropriate height? Is there enough space for it, especially when turning? Alternatively would some cleverly placed furniture give him something to grab hold of if he had a wobble? Some people ‘rail’ a house, so long grab rails going all along a wall to offer support and reduce falls risk. Third sector organisations such as Care and Repair are excellent at advising on this. I think they are UK wide.
How is he at getting on and off a chair, toilet, bed? Does he struggle and use a lot of energy? Does he fall when attempting to do so? If so he would need an assessment for chair raisers, Mowbray, bed lever etc (by a professional). How does he get washed and dressed? Does he have anywhere to sit to do so? Would he benefit from a shower chair, perching stool, bath lift, rails? Again, Care and Repair are your friends here.
what is his footwear like? Supportive? Make sure they aren’t slip on ones and they have a good solid sole. Does he sometimes catch his toe (foot drop)? If so has he been assessed by orthotics?
is he on lots of different medications (polypharmacy)? If so you could ask his Gp for a medication review and explain the falls (some meds and polypharmacy can cause falls).
is he eating and drinking enough or is he nutritionally compromised?
Has he had his eyesight checked recently? Places like specsavers do home visits if needed. Are his glasses clean? Does he remember to wear them?
I totally disagree that he needs to go into a care home. Firstly, presuming he has mental capacity he cannot be forced against his will to go anywhere. Secondly there are many, many things that can be done to help prevent falls. And thirdly, some people live in their own home, nurse in bed with a carer coming in 4 times a day.

another thing to consider is educating your parents on what to do during a ‘long lie’ eg waiting for an ambulance eg- keep warm and hydrated if possible, being aware of the risks of aspiration depending on position.
other things to do is make sure your parents home is registered as having vulnerable people in it with places like their water company, gas supplier, electricity supplier and local fire service (who will also do a free home check). This way they will go in a priority list if the water was to be cut off etc.
You sound like a lovely caring daughter. I hope some of this is helpful.

The problem is injuring the person as you pick them up. My very elderly neighbour was picked up in the street by a good Samaritan & suffered quite bad injuries.

Advertising for a random person to help is a really bad idea from a liability point of view.

We pick Mil up as it is fairly clear she is uninjured. The slightest bit of doubt & I'd be calling 999, which is roughly a 12 hr wait here.

@SoloSofa24 we don't even have a service

the alarm connects to a call centre who ring me, or 999 if needed.

When my parents were both having frequent falls at home, they had emergency pendants for the local authority call-out service. But the crazy thing was that for some reason it was only the day shift that was equipped with the inflating lift chairs, and the night shift would basically come out and say, oh yes, you have fallen, we can't get you up, we will need to call an ambulance for you (even if they weren't injured) which could lead to waits of 12+ hours on the floor when the ambulance service was in crisis, as they were low priority due to not being injured. Ridiculous system.

You won’t be able to get an official solution. We were in a very similar situation with our gran who would easily loose her balance.

Could you ‘advertise’ on your local FB asking if anyone would be available to pick your dad up? We had a neighbour across the road who would come give us a hand.

I'd really welcome any advice, it's been an issue for mum and we have to call 111.

@HermioneWeasley
I have heard of inflatable cushions you can use to get someone up after they have had a fall.