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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

OT thinks that there is no 'hoisting solution' for dd - hoisting experts I need your help please

36 replies

saltyseadog · 14/07/2010 18:47

DD is 6 and has CP and PMLD. Despite this she is very mobile, and can get from one side of the room to the other bu commando crawling.

We're currently going through the DFG process (ugh) and had a visit from the OT today. She reckons that there is no hoist solution available for dd as she is too wriggly, and that we will always need to have two people present to get her into a sling and hoist her from the floor (which she likes to move about on independently). So if she is right both DH and I need to be around all day to hoist dd as and when required.

I'm not convinced that there is no solution - I personally think that if dd had a climbing harness stylee sling then she has enough head and trunk control to just be hoisted slightly off her feet into her chair etc (I can at the moment get her to stand with support for 5 - 10s).

I'd love some advice please from fellow hoisters. DH can't be around all day to be a second hoister, so we have to find a better solution. At present I just want to cry about it tbh .

OP posts:

colditz · 14/07/2010 18:52

If she can commando crawl, could she use a ladder that isn't too steep? I don't mean a normal ladder, I mean a flat piece of wood with some firm sponge graded upwards for her to wriggle up?

2shoes · 14/07/2010 18:56

sorry but rubbish,
dd has cp and has lots of extra movements, but we can hoist her(and I can do it alone)
we have an over head ceiling hoist in the lounge, she "crawls" over and lies on the sling.
it has taken practice but your OT is talking rubbish.
beware of slings that are too complicated though, hoisting takes time, so the simpler the sling the quicker it is

Original poster

saltyseadog · 14/07/2010 19:00

yep - that is what I was thinking 2shoes. AT present the OT is suggesting some giant parachute style sling - which just seems OTT. What sort of sling does your dd have if you don't mind me asking? I'm sure that dd could be rolled over/ encouraged to one area of the room to be hoisted.

colditz thanks for the suggestion. Sadly I don't think she's got the learning capacity to work out how to use a ladder (hope that doesn't sound ungracious - I really do want to hear all the possible suggestions ).

OP posts:

colditz · 14/07/2010 19:14

Doesn't sound ungracious at all.

how about this brochure?

Original poster

saltyseadog · 14/07/2010 19:39

Will get dh to print that out. The DLF may well have some ideas, so I will give them a call - thank you.

The OT is claiming that dd's needs are totally unique and that she has never met a child like her - I am finding this hard to believe.

OP posts:

glittery · 14/07/2010 21:47

maybe there is no hoisting solution, but a number of solutions?
ds currently has 3 different slings and we are about to try another type too, when we had the hoist fitted originally we were just sent two bog standard slings, one for dry and a mesh one for wet, neither of them was suitable for ds and almost a year down the line we still havent found the perfect solution and we are going to have to use different slings for different chairs/situations/degrees of tone or lack of!

most of our slings have came from here
but i have heard good things about Liko slings and they have a lot of standing type slings which might be suitable

Original poster

saltyseadog · 14/07/2010 22:07

Thanks glittery. Those Liko slings look like they may have the answer - something like the 'LiftPants' (love the name!) may be part of the solution.

As you say, she may well need several slings for different occasions, and we may need to keep tweaking which slings we have, but having 2 people permanently on hand is a ridiculous solution!

OP posts:

glittery · 14/07/2010 22:20

yep know how you feel, after failing miserably the hoist an extending ds, SW OT told me it should always be two people hoisting for H&S reasons....err single parent here!

2shoes · 14/07/2010 22:25

both us and dd's school use Glove slings
we have tried all kinds and find these give the best support, we have it adapted with a waist strap.
we use them for all hoisting(have 2 so we can use for bathing)

2shoes · 14/07/2010 22:25

should have said, dd is nothing like the obviously nt child in photo

glittery · 14/07/2010 22:38

we have 2 Trotec slings, that was the rubbish ones, we also have the glove in black
the sas para and we are getting an in chair glove made up without the fleece lining so its easier to tuck away in the wheelchair.
we also tried a new ribbed type one made from the same material as police vests but ds was sliding all over the place in it!

Original poster

saltyseadog · 14/07/2010 23:04

God it's depressing. I can't think of anyone who could have two people around all of the time - it's such a stupid, stupid thing to suggest.

That In Chair sling looks excellent. We have a glove sling so far - I'm not too sure why it's not going to work for dd tbh. Yes she's wriggly, but generally can be persuaded into one position.

As for why they use NT people to advertise slings......

OP posts:

glittery · 14/07/2010 23:18

our glove sling is fine for ds's toilet chair, bath seat and comfy chair but too padded for his supportive seat, powerchair and wheelchair which are a much snugger fit. the para sling cant be used in the toilet seat etc as it has a pommel but is ok in the others but not perfect, hence we are trying the in chair one next, we'll get it right sometime hopefully!
we looked at a few different ones, there is quite a difference in the leg positioning in a lot of them, some cross over themselves, some go thru a band, some have pommels...its a minefield!!!
you cant really tell till you try them out for longer than the half hour the reps in or whatever, ds sat beautifully in some but the next day they wouldnt work at all!

2shoes · 14/07/2010 23:20

we don't leave a sling in her wheel chair, it makes her too hot

glittery · 14/07/2010 23:30

ds always has a bit of a sweaty back but it wasnt too bad with the SAS Para one, i was quite suprised, definately no worse than usual and actually i think his clothes dont feel as damp as they normally do

glintwithpersperation · 15/07/2010 22:08

What total bollocks that there is no hoisting solution because your daughter is too wriggly. They are talking nonsense! As everyone has suggested every child is different and there are loads of manufacturers out there.
Firstly I would recommend that you get a number of different companies around to do assessments, there have been great suggestions in the thread. Just from the top of my head, silverlea will make something bespoke with waist supports/straps and high backs for example - glove have got head shells and waist straps and optional integral slide sheets to make them easier to get in, the liko slings are a bit bulky and difficult to get into a seating system but the liko mastervest is great for getting from floor or chair to standing (can use it for walking/therapy as well) or sitting (it can be a little uncomfortable for some). The lift pants work for some children, for others it isnt so good.
I would suggest that you ring all the companies direct, find out who the local rep is and ask them to come along and try things out/get their opinion. YOu may prob have to invite the OT. Also your daughter may be less wriggly if she gets used to it, or you may find a routine which calms her - music/singing etc?

Re the 2 people to hoist - perhaps if your daughter is very wiggily it would be advisable to have to have 2 people around whilst you get used to the hoist/the routines, but you are right it just isnt practical. You could choose to ignore the 'health and saftey advice' or insist they carried out a risk assessment (the risk to your health lifting your daughter may be much worse than if you were hoisting alone). Once you become competent in hoisting there is no reason that you cant be safe on your own if you think ahead, eg where the chair is, is the route clear, do I have everything I need to hand before I undo the lap strap on the wheelchair, all that sort of stuff. It all comes down to them covering their arses Im afraid and you cant really blame them, any health and safety violation and they come down on you like a ton of bricks.

Hope that helps and best of luck!!

mariagoretti · 15/07/2010 22:40

Tell her your nan/ the lady next door/ the carer you're recruiting will be the second person but they have a bad arm/ weak back/ poor dexterity so you need a sling that you can manage with minimal help. That should get the health and safety concerns signed off and then you can get the manufacturers in as suggested above

Original poster

saltyseadog · 15/07/2010 22:42

Thanks everyone. I feel much more positive about it all - glint, you're right - it is total bolleaux.

Good idea r.e. phoning the companies directly. I wish I could completely circumvent the OT tbh, but I guess I need her to be there. At least I will be taking control of the situation and finding out for myself what is available. I can't believe dd's hoisting needs are truly unique!

OP posts:

mariagoretti · 15/07/2010 22:42

Oh and then say you've unfortunately fallen out so they won't be helping you any more, and you need a letter about more care funding cos of the hoist

Original poster

saltyseadog · 15/07/2010 22:47

Thanks mariagoretti .

I know it's not a laughing matter but just showed dh the 'Liftpants' and he remarked that it looked like a mankini. Who designs these slings??!!!

OP posts:

2shoes · 15/07/2010 22:58

don't forget to tell them that is they don't solve this, you will sue them if you hurt your back(always works for me)

Original poster

saltyseadog · 15/07/2010 23:02

Thanks 2shoes. I am not prepared to let this one go .

OP posts:

AgnesDiPesto · 15/07/2010 23:03

or you could ask them when they are sending the team of care workers to your home 24/7 to assist you whenever hoisting is required

Original poster

saltyseadog · 15/07/2010 23:12

Exactly Agnes .

OP posts:

mumbar · 16/07/2010 17:01

Glove sligs are fab for wiggly children as they sort of wrap them up in a cocoon and have a piece between the legs so they can't wiggle out - we use one with a pupil who rools across the floor doing the 3 minute mile!!

There is a sling by liko (i think its them) that is almost like a seat and breaks the spasm so flinging out of it is impossible (or near on). It is a sling that can be placed behind a child and is not one they sit on in their wheelchair or buggy. It is a green sling and I can find out what its called at work on Monday.

There are many other type of slings and we have found its taken time but we have got ones for pupils with artoid (sp??) CP pupils with no or minimal muscle tone and mobile children.

Ill speak to ots at our school for some company names and hopefully get some ideas for you to pass to your ot.

Best of luck and HTH.

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