Urgent - Wheelchair recommendations

[Estéema]

There’s a medical supplies shop along Balestier Road, opp side to Combat.


If u’re staying near Bukit Merah, there’s a shop tucked in a corner of the hawker centre. Prices there are more reasonable.

At hospitals there are shops that stock eqpt & wheelchairs. When FIL was at SGH for 2 mths, I pass that shop daily & its busy teeming with customers.

Depending if user is high dependency or light user, there are those u may use if family member of helper pushes the wheelchairs. If user is more independent u might explore the auto self-operate version.

Consider if u prefer fabric seats or plastic type. For high dependent user I may prefer plastic like the one I got for my mum years ago for ease of cleaning coz after 2 strokes, she had little control of her bladder & bowels. Easier to clean up. Our wheelchair was passed to 2nd grand aunt but it’s not in use as she reacts to being seen as ‘invalid’. So, ano thing to put into thots when u search for one. Or might u rent one? I think there’s a rental shop but I don’t hv the address.

[ngl2010]

Sun, if your father is engaging a physiotherapist in the hospital, you can ask the physiotherapist to arrange to buy one. If your father is admitted into a public hospital and your father receives subsidy, the price of the wheelchair purchased through the physiotherapist is very very cheap.


If your father is not going to wheel himself, you should buy a wheelchair with small wheels. It is lighter to carry in and out of the car than wheelchair with big wheels.

[Estéema]

Sun,


It dawn on me to offer a suggestion to get those walker. Purpose for getting more exercise with daily practice to strengthen leg muscle.

Can I check if yr father had a successful hip replacement surgery? FIL’s surgery was a complete success & due to his eagerness for discharge, he diligently practice with physiotherapist & can walk on his own during his stay at the community hospital. I rmbr he took small steps, only a couple & got breathless initially. Then over 2 mths, I saw him walk with no breathlessness of shaking on the walker before being taken off it & walking w/o aid.

My point is it is impt to encourage yr dad to recover as much independence as possible, unless circumstances not conducive.

Hope yr dad speedy recovery

[cherrygal]

Sun

I bought a wheelchair that is a transformer. Can be pushchair (lighter) when you remove the 2 larger wheels. Patient can also choose to wheel himself when you attach the larger wheels. $800+ from the shop at Renci hospital in novena.

God bless.

[jtoh]

Sun, you can check this out. Subsidies are available to all senior citizens. https://www.silverpages.sg/financial-assistance/Seniors%20Mobility%20And%20Enabling%20Fund%20%28SMF%29


Your physical therapist or social worker at the hospital should be able to give you more information. And also information on the best places to buy wheelchairs etc.

[Sun_2010]

Thanks ladies.

Your input has been of great help, i am going thru the options.

I was swamped , so couldnt reply right away. I have a few doubts, would find your experience of older people who under went rehab very useful.
My case-
Dad is 85 and he underwent partial hip replacement surgery after a fall and was discharged yesterday. He was independent in all activities begore this.
I have managed to get a wheelchair from RC for the trip home. Looking for rental now.
I have already purchased a walker and mobile commode.
The physiotherapist and occupational therapist were very helpful. My helper and I underwent sessions of the care giver trainings.

He has managed walk with the help of the walker and support from me, to the toilet and dinner table from bed. He has also started on the exercises that the PT has given.

1. Please give me more ideas/suggestions on day to day routine that helped, lessons learnt.

2. Emotional state - Dad slips into depression- he feels he is becoming a burden to us. At times he is motivated. He is the youngest of his siblings and the only one around. Lots of his close friends have passed away. He talks about them and their last days. He holds my palm before going to sleep.I stayed over at hospital two nights because he looked too worried.
How do i keep him positive?

3. Doc has given plenty of pain killers for a month How long did some need to take it?

Appreciate all your sharings. Thanks

[Sun_2010]

Thanks ladies.

Your input has been of great help, i am going thru the options.

I was swamped , so couldnt reply right away. I have a few doubts, would find your experience of older people who under went rehab very useful.
My case-
Dad is 85 and he underwent partial hip replacement surgery after a fall and was discharged yesterday. He was independent in all activities begore this.
I have managed to get a wheelchair from RC for the trip home. Looking for rental now.
I have already purchased a walker and mobile commode.
The physiotherapist and occupational therapist were very helpful. My helper and I underwent sessions of the care giver trainings.

He has managed walk with the help of the walker and support from me, to the toilet and dinner table from bed. He has also started on the exercises that the PT has given.

1. Please give me more ideas/suggestions on day to day routine that helped, lessons learnt.

2. Emotional state - Dad slips into depression- he feels he is becoming a burden to us. At times he is motivated. He is the youngest of his siblings and the only one around. Lots of his close friends have passed away. He talks about them and their last days. He holds my palm before going to sleep.I stayed over at hospital two nights because he looked too worried.
How do i keep him positive?

3. Doc has given plenty of pain killers for a month How long did some need to take it?

Appreciate all your sharings. Thanks

[Estéema]

Sun_2010,


I feel the immense load u’re going thro with yr dad.

FIL was in hospital for 2 mths, starting fr the next day of my arrival after a long vacation with delayed flight. The entire family had to respond to various needs incl MIL emotional health as well. The bill for 2 mths are hefty, and 2 BILs were worried abt finances & their obligations. I cNt handle them, but I plod on with my conscience as part of the family to support DH.

FIL went into depression too & I believed he had a whole myriad of thots & confusion - not wanting to burden his children, 3 heart attacks, kidney failure & other suspected condition which his heart attacks render risky to do tests to verify. He flipped flopped fr not wanting to burden anyone & next moment trying very hard to find solutions for himself, believing in hearsay fr others than taking docs adv for dialysis & careful diet. He went into self-denial claiming frds’ cured using cordyceps & eating apples & oranges. That was very stressful for us then bcoz of his pneumonia then & unrecorded intake of high water content fruits does not help alleviate his fluid-filled lungs then. Turns out, he was depending on MIL getting those fruits offered to Guanyin to save him.

It’s not easy a journey with our elderly. Their fears cloud their better judgement as they wld hv been more objective when younger & less life-threatening medical conditions.

I do all I can getting whatever ideas that can uplift both my PIL. We got a helper & train her to take FIL for daily walks with MIL in toll. I’ve been planning meals suitable for his kidney & heart condition. I realized it’s boring meals with kidney patients’ diet limitations. But I try to do up a meal using more natural ingredients to compensate & ensure his meals looks abit western layout & enticing. Instead of just giving him the limited portion of fruits, I tried using abit of sliced nuts & harvested small cucumber flowers fr my garden to 点缀 to give some appeal.

I’ve been roping in my kids & nieces & nephews (whoever is willing & available) & plan trips to the Gardens & Hort Parks. A few of his grandchildren brings him delight & bring him cheer. I wld rack my mind to find healthy ways to engage PIL & help them feel we all care & around them to support. FIL is beginning to laugh abit more esp yday when at Gardens By the Bay. My youngest nephew was racing his sister on his scooter & her bike.

Recently, I roped in my kids to make mooncakes with homemade natural fillings to celebrate a festival they had been used to as their traditional habits. FIL so delighted that he’s allowed some sweets & grandchildren made them for him to boot! DC contributed latest idea of chocolate mooncake bcoz chocolate is his favourite.

Looking back, I believed FIL hit depression even before discharge fr Community Hospital coz of uncertainty managing back home. The Selina of dilemma having paid medical care & going home stressing MIL. We all had to help chip in to anticipate & relieve their fears & concerns. Try not to leave yr dad home weeks on end w/o going out 散心。 I’ve to air my feelings after running ard to care for PIL & my own h’hold too as able body perdon, so do they.

[ammonite]

Sun_2010:

2. Emotional state - Dad slips into depression- he feels he is becoming a burden to us. At times he is motivated. He is the youngest of his siblings and the only one around. Lots of his close friends have passed away. He talks about them and their last days. He holds my palm before going to sleep.I stayed over at hospital two nights because he looked too worried.
How do i keep him positive?

3. Doc has given plenty of pain killers for a month How long did some need to take it?

It must be difficult but it seems you have been a great source of comfort for your father. :hugs: The sudden change in condition, pain and future uncertainty is bound to take its toll. Generally as pain recedes and mobility is restored, they will feel more positive again. But such things are bound to make them think about their mortality. If their lifestyles have been severely curtailed, they may feel cheated of their golden years and wonder what is the point of living. And that is really the key thing here - to still make that dream possible despite unexpected lifestyle restrictions. Eg if travelling is a dream, assure them that it is still possible with some adaptations and make it happen. I think it is useful to have little goals to work towards, and to put time aside to do things that are on the bucket list.

Painkillers is very subjective since everyone's threshold is different.

Take care.