April 25-27--Wheelchair Training

The Cullimores were our specialists for the wheelchair training. Elder Cullimore was a successful businessman--well suited for running a training.  They arrived several days early.  After meeting with the Red Cross we took them to Budva.

 

This walk along the Adriatic Sea gives us the perfect view of the sea without going in.

 

. . .and the next day to the Moraca Monastery.

 

 Misti, our trainer, arrived a few days later.  Misty ran the heptathlon in college, so we took her on the hike up to Kotor Fortress.

At the top . . .

 

Our view of the fiord . . .

 

Craig and I are back in Old Town Kotor after the hike.

 

Our second trainer, Jared (3rd in picture), arrived the next day, so we took him to Stari Bar.

 

 . . .lots of fun ruins. . .

 

. . .and to see the 2,000 year old olive tree.

This was all in four days.  It shows how fast we can get around our small country to see the sites.

 

Now to our training:

 

Jelena, the Secretary General of the Montenegro Red Cross (top administrator), is greeting the students.  The 15 students sit in wheelchairs during the training.  They are volunteers for the Red Cross.

 

The trainers with my two favorite translators:  Misti with Sandra and Jared with Rada.

 

Practicing the interview:  The first step in fitting a wheelchair to a patient is to interview him.  Sit at his level.  Don't speak too fast.  Find out about his health and how he plans to use the wheelchair-- around the house, on a basketball court, something in between?  Tell him what you are going to do as you do it.  Tell him when you are going to touch him.

 

Transferring the patient to a bench:  Put the wheelchair close to the bench.  Have the patient lean to one side and pull the other side forward.  Then have the patient lean to the other side and pull the second side forward.

 

Reach around and grab the back of the pants.  Using your legs (not your back), teeter totter back.  As you go back, the patient goes up.  Sit the patient down on the bench.

 

Two people transferring a patient:  The patient folds her arms.  Reach under her arms and grab her forearms.  The second person lifts her upper legs (use your legs, not your back).

 

Balance:  Never leave a patient alone.  Can the patient sit by herself?  Have her put her hands on her knees.

 

Raise one arm . . .then the other. . .

 

Raise both arms . . .

 

Reach out with one hand . . . then the other . . .then both hands . . .

 

How much feeling does the patient have?  Have her close her eyes.  Have her say "yes" when you touch her.  Touch her upper arm, lower arm, upper leg, lower leg, and her foot.

 

Measuring for a wheelchair:  Put foot blocks under the patient's feet so she sits at 90 degree angles.

 

Put clipboards on each side and measure the width.

 

Put a pencil under the knee and measure from the back to the knee.

 

Measure from the pencil under the knee to the foot block.

 

Measure from the under the scapula to the bench.

 

Even in a well fitting wheelchair, a patient can get pressure sores from sitting, especially if they can't shift their weight.

Four stages of a pressure sore:

1.  Red skin

2.  Sore develops

3.  All of the skin is gone

4.  Everything dies all the way downto the bone

Christopher Reeves died from a pressure sore.  It became infected and the infection spread to the blood stream. 

 

This pressure sore cushion causes the patient to sit lower than the legs and relieve some of the pressure that causes sores.

 

This pressure sore cushion has a gel pad.  It also has places to put foam dividers to give support to the legs if needed (to keep them from falling to the side).

 

Each day the patient should examine his skin with a mirror and spend some time out of the wheelchair (lie on his stomach for awhile).

 

Teaching skills to the patient and to the family:

1.  Explain

2.  Demonstrate

3.  Patient copies

4.  Patient does on her own

 

Students learning to handle wheelchairs. . .

 

L.D.S. Charities is providing standard wheelchairs and "rough rider" wheelchairs.  The students were taught how to build a "rough rider" wheelchair.  They in turn will teach patients how to care for and maintain a wheelchair.

 

After two days of training, twenty patients came on the third day to be fitted for wheelchairs.  Some had to be turned away (needed a different type of wheelchair, etc.)  Some only needed a new pressure sore cushion.

This lady received a "rough rider."  She is a lady of action.

 

. . . another success . . .

 

President Ford, Elder Blackburn, Elder Schouten, Sister Ford

The elders helped on the third day.  President Ford spoke at the closing.

 

Elder Brown presenting a plaque to the President of the Red Cross at the closing . . .

 

Elder Brown presenting a certificate to the Deputy Ministry of Health allowing the Ministry of Health to distribute some wheelchairs to hospitals and clinics.  L.D.S. Charities has given 290 wheelchairs to the people of Montenegro.  The training was a success.

 

 

 

The view of the Adriatic Sea from the training facility . . .