Wheelchair and lift

[jvs]

A friend of mine arrived yesterday in Thailand and now we realize we need to get some equipment to help him.

He can not walk at all and he is a large guy(100plus kilo)his wheelchair is too narrow and we need to get some kind of lift to get him into his bed ,toilet etc.

I placed this here in other to reach a lot of people,we need an address where we can buy this equipment,used or new.

It is pretty near impossible to lift him by hand so we need stuff asap.

Thank you.

[thaibeachlovers]

I'd be getting in touch with the Pattaya orphanage, as they look after disabled ( wheelchair users ) people.

I had a wheelchair bound partner so I am well aware of what is involved.

Your first priority should be to protect YOURSELF from injury by trying to lift him incorrectly. Sorry, but it was his responsibility to inform you before arriving of his requirements.

If he can use his hands to lift himself, he should do transfers by himself. If you attempt to lift him without knowing how to do it properly you are at risk of injuy to your back that could be permanent.

At the minimum, you can get a strong board to place between the wheelchair and bed to slide him over on. A strong hook in the ceiling with a rope would be of help if he can take his own weight.

Some of the larger pharmacies sell toilet chairs, wheelchairs etc, or you can borrow from a hospital.

I do not envy your situation.

[colinneil]

I am wheelchair bound also, i have had a small electric winch fitted over my bed, so nobody has to lift me.

Before it took 3 people to get me from my bed to the wheelchair. Now only 1 person assists me no lifting.

It has made a big difference to my life.

If i can help in any way please contact me.

When my wife comes home i will get her to take photos, which if it helps i will send to you.

[colinneil]

Further to my post. I am paraplegic so not in a position to help myself.

Please please DO NOT USE A BOARD TO SLIDE THE PATIENT. It is dangerous, i know we tried that i and i ended up on the floor.

Electric winch capable of lifting 600kgs is what i have only 4500 baht, then the cost of steel frame and 2roller bearings.

Ttal cost for me was including labour welding was only 10.000 baht

[jvs]

Thank you for the responses so far,it is not easy to lift him and he can not do much to help.

The flight was really hard on him and he is very tired today.

We had some places to visit and we got some numbers and websites.

[CharlieH]

Moved to Health forum

[Sheryl]

What you want is a medical supply store or large pharmacy which includes medical supplies. Where in Thailand are you?

[jvs]

I am in the Cha-am area ,tomorrow we are going to try Bangkok hospital in Hua-hin.

[thaibeachlovers]

Further to my post. I am paraplegic so not in a position to help myself.

Please please DO NOT USE A BOARD TO SLIDE THE PATIENT. It is dangerous, i know we tried that i and i ended up on the floor.

Electric winch capable of lifting 600kgs is what i have only 4500 baht, then the cost of steel frame and 2roller bearings.

Ttal cost for me was including labour welding was only 10.000 baht

Hmmmm. Yes, there is a risk of the patient falling on the floor if it is not used properly, or the wheelchair not braked.

However, we used a sliding board in the hospital as there were no hoists in those days.

I suggest a sliding board as it would clearly be too dangerous for the OP to be lifting his friend. He must protect himself against injury as a priority.

This seems to be a case of the friend not being prepared to inform the OP of his requirements before arrival, as he had a responsibility to do.

Even if the OP is prepared to pay over 10,000 baht for a lifting apparatus, it will take time, and what do you suggest in the meantime for transfers.

[colinneil]

Further to my post. I am paraplegic so not in a position to help myself.

Please please DO NOT USE A BOARD TO SLIDE THE PATIENT. It is dangerous, i know we tried that i and i ended up on the floor.

Electric winch capable of lifting 600kgs is what i have only 4500 baht, then the cost of steel frame and 2roller bearings.

Ttal cost for me was including labour welding was only 10.000 baht

Hmmmm. Yes, there is a risk of the patient falling on the floor if it is not used properly, or the wheelchair not braked.

However, we used a sliding board in the hospital as there were no hoists in those days.

I suggest a sliding board as it would clearly be too dangerous for the OP to be lifting his friend. He must protect himself against injury as a priority.

This seems to be a case of the friend not being prepared to inform the OP of his requirements before arrival, as he had a responsibility to do.

Even if the OP is prepared to pay over 10,000 baht for a lifting apparatus, it will take time, and what do you suggest in the meantime for transfers.

In answer to your points. To slide a patient from bed to wheelchair, first it is not practical, second as i have already said not safe.

In regards to time constructing/fitting hoist, mine cut and welded in the morning fixed over my bed afternoon. Not long for me to wait.

Winch purchased locally here in Banphai Issan

[harrry]

Get someone in to construct some good rails. There should be somone who does fences etc that can do this. Get him to make a cage over the bed with at least 2 inch pipe. have him drill holes every 15 cm along the top rail to enable atchmcnets such as a chain with a handle to pull up.

Use a urinal (comport roi ) instead of having to go to urinate.

Get a wheelchair equiped with a chamber pot to save unsafe toilet transfers.

[colinneil]

For anybody not familiar with over bed winch take a look what i had fixed over my bed.

[thaibeachlovers]

Further to my post. I am paraplegic so not in a position to help myself.

Please please DO NOT USE A BOARD TO SLIDE THE PATIENT. It is dangerous, i know we tried that i and i ended up on the floor.

Electric winch capable of lifting 600kgs is what i have only 4500 baht, then the cost of steel frame and 2roller bearings.

Ttal cost for me was including labour welding was only 10.000 baht

Hmmmm. Yes, there is a risk of the patient falling on the floor if it is not used properly, or the wheelchair not braked.

However, we used a sliding board in the hospital as there were no hoists in those days.

I suggest a sliding board as it would clearly be too dangerous for the OP to be lifting his friend. He must protect himself against injury as a priority.

This seems to be a case of the friend not being prepared to inform the OP of his requirements before arrival, as he had a responsibility to do.

Even if the OP is prepared to pay over 10,000 baht for a lifting apparatus, it will take time, and what do you suggest in the meantime for transfers.

In answer to your points. To slide a patient from bed to wheelchair, first it is not practical, second as i have already said not safe.

In regards to time constructing/fitting hoist, mine cut and welded in the morning fixed over my bed afternoon. Not long for me to wait.

Winch purchased locally here in Banphai Issan

Given that the OP has not given much information, we do not know if he wants or is able to spend thousands of baht for large equipment to be installed in a house that might not even be his, and we do not know how long the friend is going to be staying.

To be frank, if a "friend" of mine turned up with needs like that without giving me warning, I'd be seriously considering asking him to be returning home again.

We have not been given enough information so far- how does the disabled guy get on at home?

As for sliding boards, I disagree. Just because you had a bad experience does not make them dangerous per se, and they are a completely practical method of transferring which was used extensively before hoists became available. However, it does take training to be able to use them safely. I had many years of experience in caring for disabled in my work, much of which was before modern aids like hoists became available.

[jvs]

I am back again,we did not find anything yet but we have a place where to go and see what they have.

My friend will not be allowed to travel by air again and his condition is getting worse.

It is really hard on him of course and the people around him.

I really like the idea of the hoist and if we can not find anything by tomorrow we will go for that option.

Thank you for placing the pictures.

[Sheryl]

There is (or used to be) a medical equipment place on a shop on Petchkasem Road on the left hand side heading north, after the Palace and before Index Mall.

And this place specifically mentions lifts and does rentals http://medical-equipment-rentals.weebly.com/

[jvs]

Sheryl thank you for the help, however the website does not work and there is no number to contact.

We build a ramp for the wheelchair today and tomorrow a new wheelchair and a lift should arrive.

I have not seen these but his wife found them on the net somewhere and bought them unseen,we hope for the best.

[Sheryl]

Good luck then. If they prove OK, please post the online site details as this issue arises from time to time.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

For anybody not familiar with over bed winch take a look what i had fixed over my bed.

Colin... thanks for posting those photos of your setup.... The only question I had in looking at it was, how are you connecting or attaching yourself to the winch's horizontal bar in order to lift you, and what happens then when you're lifted up?

Back in the U.S., my Mom was fully disabled for many years, and my family bought a pre-made unit somewhat similar to yours from a disability supplies company.

I don't have a photo... But it involved installing a metal runner frame into the ceiling much like you have. We had one in the bedroom and one in the living room. And then, suspended below it was a detachable battery powered motor that could lift and lower using a control switch. At the bottom of all that was a kind of strong fabric sling that would go underneath my Mom, her legs and her back, and then had several flaps/straps that hooked into the lift unit.

The other different feature was that the whole lift unit could be manually slid along the approx 6 foot length of the ceiling tracks. So, if my Mom was in bed, we'd slide the unit over the bed, lift her, and then slide her and the unit along the ceiling track until she was away from the bed and over her wheelchair, and then lower into the wheelchair. Same thing in the living room and the ceiling track there... lift out of the wheelchair, slide along the ceiling track, and then lower into her living room chair.

It was not easy... But once they got the hang of it.... My father in his 60s and 70s at the time was able to handle it by himself, since the only real physical exertion was operating the electric lift motor and then manually sliding the sling along the ceiling track.

This photo I found online is not exactly the same, but it's the same general idea as what my folks were using in the States.

They also found and had a simpler portable unit that could be used for traveling, with floor to ceiling poles that could be extended to provide a secure frame. But never used that too much, as traveling was kind of difficult.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

This kind of thing looks a lot like a fancy version of the lifts I've seen in auto repair shops for lifting engines and such... But you'd still need something to fit under/around the person's body that could then be attached in a safe manner to the winch.

I'd be curious to know how the hospitals here handle such things.... Do they have mechanical lifts available in the hospitals, and if so, where do they get them from? Or, they resort to the old-fashioned way of getting a group of nurses and orderlies together, and doing the group lift.

[jvs]

We checked out many websites and found some places that had the lift we wanted but after contacting them no one had anything or they had gone out of business.

Found a few websites about wheelchair taxis but no one answers the phone and no response from e-mail.

Talked to a few local hospitals and even the bigger ones in Bangkok but they do not use any devises as lifts,they all manhandle the patients.

I imagine most Thai people are not really that big but my friend is around 110 kg,you would need a giant to lift him.

We are getting a mobile lift that can go outside also so he can be lifted into the back of a still to buy cart.

[harrry]

For anybody not familiar with over bed winch take a look what i had fixed over my bed.IMG_1118.JPGIMG_1117_1.JPG

Thanks for sharing this...very useful

[harrry]

I am back again,we did not find anything yet but we have a place where to go and see what they have.

My friend will not be allowed to travel by air again and his condition is getting worse.

It is really hard on him of course and the people around him.

I really like the idea of the hoist and if we can not find anything by tomorrow we will go for that option.

Thank you for placing the pictures.

Do you base that on fact or what you have been told.

Especially if it is a US airline there is no way they can refuse carriage for mobility, and it is up to them to prove he poses a very very high risk of dying on the flight.

Many people here (including doctors) do not know what is possible.

[jvs]

Harrry it is not that easy,you need a doctors statement to show the patient is fit to travel and even when you just wear a cast on your leg the airline can refuse you.

It all has to do with insurance and who would have to pay in case of a mishap.

[harrry]

I know very well the regulations. I have a disability and fly although others have told me I cannot. It depends a little where you are going to but to the US the rules are strict there are hardly any limitations in fact he does not need a doctor's letter to fly there if he flies on a carrier with a us code.

Casts may need to be split for travel to allow for swelling due to altitude changes there may be costs involved if he needs an extra seat etc. He cannot be refused for the cast.

http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2012/06/05/air-travelers-with-disabilities-here-are-your-rights/

Other destinations have different rules however it is definitely possible.

[Sheryl]

As OP states he is getting worse, his condition is not stable and there is likely more than limited mobility involved.

[thaibeachlovers]

We checked out many websites and found some places that had the lift we wanted but after contacting them no one had anything or they had gone out of business.

Found a few websites about wheelchair taxis but no one answers the phone and no response from e-mail.

Talked to a few local hospitals and even the bigger ones in Bangkok but they do not use any devises as lifts,they all manhandle the patients.

I imagine most Thai people are not really that big but my friend is around 110 kg,you would need a giant to lift him.

We are getting a mobile lift that can go outside also so he can be lifted into the back of a still to buy cart.

Sounds like he is becoming a permanent fixture in your household. Pity you did not state that at the beginning, as there is a difference between visiting and staying.

For transport, have you considered one of those m'bikes with sidecar- would only need a small ramp to get on and off.

Is the house your own? If your own can make any modifications that you want to.

[thaibeachlovers]

Get someone in to construct some good rails. There should be somone who does fences etc that can do this. Get him to make a cage over the bed with at least 2 inch pipe. have him drill holes every 15 cm along the top rail to enable atchmcnets such as a chain with a handle to pull up.

Use a urinal (comport roi ) instead of having to go to urinate.

Get a wheelchair equiped with a chamber pot to save unsafe toilet transfers.

Are you referring to a commode chair? I have yet to see a wheelchair with a hole for a toilet pot. Would be dangerous as the risk of pressure sores would increase if only sitting on a small area.

[thaibeachlovers]

Sheryl thank you for the help, however the website does not work and there is no number to contact.

We build a ramp for the wheelchair today and tomorrow a new wheelchair and a lift should arrive.

I have not seen these but his wife found them on the net somewhere and bought them unseen,we hope for the best.

The wheelchair should have a high back with handles for a helper. Do NOT get one of those low back wheelchairs without handles- lethal to anyone trying to help.

The armrests must come off easily too.

If he is going to be sitting in the wheelchair a lot, you should get some sort of pressure relieving cushion, or he will be getting pressure sores.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I imagine most Thai people are not really that big but my friend is around 110 kg,you would need a giant to lift him.

We are getting a mobile lift that can go outside also so he can be lifted into the back of a still to buy cart.

Did you find someplace in Thailand that sells a mobile lift???

[chubby]

i work in the industry here in the USA. for what i'm guessing is the situation here you have 3 choices, sliding board, which you could easily get someone to make, if the OP's friend has adequate Upper extremity strength , if used correctly it won't cause pressure sores via the friction, 2) you can get one of these shipped to you http://beasyboards.com/ there are generally 24 and 36" generally for bed and car txfs respectively.

here, medicare pays for Hoyer / pneumatic lifts, which are really very simple and safe, and there are then a variety of butterfly and full body mesh and regular cloth slings, i'd be a little shocked if no thai hospitals have Hoyer Lifts, like the one Tallguy posted, there are millions of them here,

to use sliding boards, your gonna need a removable armrest wheelchair, which i'm guessing like a lot of basics, may be hard to find in thailand , sad IMHO

having said all this you might wanna read up on body mechanics and two -person lifting , didn't really say what he can and can't do, age, other co-morbities , etc