Wheelchair belt that can't be undone

[Breathmiller]

I wonder if anyone can help me find something that can help in this situation.

My mum has Parkinsons and Dementia. Pretty advanced for both and she is in a nursing home.

She is wheelchair bound and has figured out how to open her new belt buckle. Unfortunately, this means she gets up and has had two falls in 3 days. She is very frail, 5 and a half stone with severe osteoporosis so we need this not to happen again. The fall today has been quite serious and she is being taken for a brain scan at the hospital.

The home are a bit useless and we are in the process of trying to get her moved but that's another story. Has anyone come across this before and found a solution?

One of the extra difficulties is I'm trying to support my dad from afar so trying to help him to find a solution basically. Someone suggested that you can just put the buckle round the back but he said that's not possible.

There must be a solution to this.

There are wheelchair harnesses available that should help with this. I would suggest speaking to your mum's Occupational Therapist as it is very important that any restraint is fitted properly and safely.

My dad used one to prevent him slipping out of his wheelchair.

There are things you can get but it isn't as simple as just being allowed to use them particularly in care homes.

She will almost certainly need a Dols assessment done (deprivation of liberty) to show that it is a reasonable and least restrictive step to keep her safe. Other less restrictive options should be looked into such as crash mats etc.

The home can't make this decision in isolation, they're not allowed to restrain your mum with a wheelchair belt like this, it's depravation of liberty and they shouldn't do it without the proper assessment, safeguards and authority in place. The same goes for things like cot sides. It has to be assessed and deemed in the person's best interests and that all other options have failed.

Is it only from the wheelchair she tries to get up from? What about when she's in a normal chair?

Assuming that your mum lacks capacity to make a decision regarding the belt you need to find out from the care home if she has a DOLs in place (family should have been involved in the process and be sent a copy of the authorisation). If not they need to apply- if it's necessary for her safety they will then be able to make a best interest decision and act while waiting for the local authority.

How is she in other chairs? Could the wheelchair be uncomfortable and she'll be better off in a recliner?

Thanks everyone
My mum doesn't have capacity unfortunately. She can no longer walk or stand safely at all but doesn't understand this.

She has crash mats at the side of her low bed.

She sits in her wheelchair most of the time as it gives her a last amount of freedom as she can scoot about. She won't sit in a chair, she just gets up. She's not distressed in her wheelchair just that she fiddles with her strap and if it comes undone she stands up as i think it's just the thing to do. She then falls instantly.

There was a conversation in lockdown about the fact she had to be restrained, they tried to hold off as long as possible because of the freedom of liberty but it was agreed by all parties that it was in her best interest and safety, as sad as that decision was. I don't know if anything was signed by my dad, i can ask him. It is the right thing though sadly.

She doesn't have an occupational therapist anymore. I thought that was wrong and thought it because this nursing home was lacking but in all the other ones we have looked at I asked and they all say that she is past that stage, they don't have an occupational therapist at this stage.

We have a new social worker as we are looking to mive my mum so i will ask her advice too.

Thanks

Wheelchair belts are a form of restraint and people can topple forward onto the floor while still attached to the chair. The nurse has to do a risk assessment and gain consent either from poa or the representative. Maybe a tilting recliner chair would be safer and more comfortable for her but they have to be made to measure. A wheelchair should be the right size, with the right seat and pressure cushion and someone who falls and is confused should never be left unattended in it and allowed to scoot around.

Sounds like she needs 1-1 care to me. You can't physically restrain someone like that. I wouldn't be happy having someone scooting around in a wheelchair in my home either as its a risk to other residents. You'll have to speak to the social worker regarding her having funding towards 1-1.

I don’t think a nursing home will allow this. My DF had Parkinson’s and dementia and was doing the same as your mum. They wouldn’t even use the belt the chair came with. They just watched him like a hawk!

I understand this actually as one of the things that haunts me is trying to stop him from crawling off the chair and across the floor when he was living with us and could no longer stand. I realised I couldn’t restrain him or stop him safely and he wasn’t to be persuaded. He was so frail that I ended up trying to hold him up once he’d ‘stood’ and was slow motion toppling over in space. I felt I could have really hurt him and myself - after that I felt I had to just let him do it even if we had to call the ambulance. It was heartbreaking as mid Covid and actually no ambulances.

sadly your mum may not be able to push herself up or stand much longer. I also can’t imagine she is very safe wheeling herself around. Maybe she needs a ‘transit’ wheelchair without the big wheels?

sounds like she needs more supervision.
is she left unattended, that sounds very risky.
her care needs have increased.
needs not to be left alone.
the belt issue is subsidiary.
all the best.