More Chair Again

I can't believe how  long it has been since I last updated this blog. 

Is how I planned to start this post. But the truth is I realised some time ago that I was way behind but I seemed to lack the energy and the longer I left it the bigger the mountain got. So. Here we go.

Rosemarie is OK. 

She is in a better chair. She seems to be maintaining her weight. No chest infections or UTIs. Didn't really know anything about Christmas. Making sudden startled sounds and occasional jerky - almost violent - movements...but not like the jolting we had before. Her face has changed.

Well that's the helicopter view.

Let's start with the Chair.

Big sigh. This has been agonising. I foolishly thought that if I could get all the parties together it would get resolved and we could move forward. Everyone claimed to have Rosemarie's interests at heart so it should be easy, right?

The Salesman, in response to the letter, came in to look at the chair again. He lowered the arms and forced the lateral supports slightly further in and pronounced the chair perfectly suitable. I said I still wanted to involve the OT because she was a professional. The Salesman stated the he was a professional too and had been doing this for fifteen years. I said that I thought the assessment of whether the chair was suitable should be done by the OT Rosemarie had been referred to. No, he said, it was my decision. By which of course he meant I should listen to him. I insisted and he was plainly not happy.

The OT wanted the meeting late afternoon when Rosemarie had been in the chair for a few hours (as usually is the case) rather than an early meeting when she would have just been transferred to the chair. The Salesman was  not keen but agreed in the end and the meeting was set up for 4 pm on November 7th.

It was pretty crowded in Rosemarie's room. I arrived early to make sure Rosemarie was up and in the chair, but by shortly after 4 we were joined by the OT, her boss, the Care Home Manager, the Care Manager, the Salesman and New Nurse.

The OT and her boss were adamant that the sling was wrong, the chair was too big, and Rosemarie was at risk of slipping out. The OT Boss was particularly concerned with the way Rosemarie's left foot pressed hard against the side of the footplate as she slipped down. 

The Salesman continued to insist there was no problem but was gradually losing ground. His solution seemed to be to tilt the chair right back so Rosemarie couldn't slip down, though this didn't prevent her from twisting uncomfortably. The Care Home Manager asked about the chair that the OT had recommended (Hydroflex) and she gave the details.  The Salesman had never heard of it but wrote down the name.

The conclusion of the meeting was unsatisfactory. The Salesman would go away and 'see what could be done' about the footplate and narrowing the chair. He would not commit to a timescale or a solution. The OT and her boss were not happy. Neither was I.

There was also extensive discussion about how long Rosemarie should be in the chair, which has caused no end of repercussions (of which more anon).

A new sling (the one specified by the OT) turned up within a couple of days but there was no word from the Salesman and days turned into weeks. The Care Home Manager said she was regularly emailing him with no result.

An then in early December the Care Home Manager told me that the Salesman had turned up with a Hydroflex chair (which as far as we knew his Company didn't sell) but she did not put Rosemarie in it because it was missing the lateral supports. The Salesman was asked to source some. 

December 14th they turned up, and Rosemarie was hoisted into the chair for the first time. She seemed instantly more comfortable and it was clear the size was much more appropriate. I am still happy with it with three reservations.

The first is the way her head is supported. There are wings but they are quite small and nor even really designed for leaning on. Instead she has a firmer version of those V shaped airplane pillows attached by velcro to the chair. This is ok when she is fresh and strong enough to hold her head upright, but as she gets tired or if she decides to lean, it provides no significant support. There is action planned to address this.

The second is that she still twists and slides to some extent. I have noticed since this marathon began how often I adjust my posture when sitting in a chair, and I am rarely in a chair for more than an hour at a time; she regularly spends three or four hours at a time in the same chair -  often significantly longer. The only movement available to her is to twist her hips. Her arms and shoulders are not strong enough (and she probably doesn't have the co-ordination) to shuffle up the chair so the only way is down and this inevitably leads to one of both feet coming off the footrest. This has been a source of.... discussion. Of which more anon.

The third is the fact that the chair swerves to the left like an irritating supermarket trolley. The Care Home handyman has had a look at it but can't see what is wrong. It requires considerable strength to steer in a straight line - it is possible but not easy. Ongoing problem. The Salesman has been told but for some reason has not turned up to look at it.

I spoke to the OT and shared my joy and concerns, and she rapidly arranged to visit the Home with a rep from the Company that manufactures the chair - not the Salesman. She pronounced herself a lot happier with Rosemarie's posture and comfort. The Rep had brought with him an alternate head restraint that provided more support. Unfortunately it was the wrong size for the chair so we couldn't try it out, but I have decided to ask the Home to get one to evaluate. It might be too restricting to use all the time but might be useful on those occasions when she leans heavily and the staff are worried about her 'falling out of the chair'. 

So, the saga grinds on.