Micro-storage may not look like much in the end result, but - if done properly and regularly several times a day - it has a lot of positive effects:
- Antidecubitus prophylaxis
- Protection of the coccyx and the backbone
- Relief for shoulder and neck
- Motivation of the circuit
- Prevention of water retention in the legs
- Mobilisation of the secretion in the respiratory system
- And by the way, it's super relaxing.
Unless I am positioned elsewhere, e.g. for food intake, it really makes sense to position myself in this way every 45-60 minutes, especially to prevent the formation of secretions in the throat and lungs.
I know that such constant "little things" can be annoying, but the micropositioning helps enormously. It's the only movement I get for most of the day. And let's face it, you are getting paid for it after all. ?
No, seriously, just now I was put in this position by my carer, after lying here all day so far without any blankets under my waist, because something was going on all the time. It's a difference like night and day. I can literally feel my pulse dropping 10 points.
It doesn't matter to me which side you start with. Here we start with the left.
Lay out the two blankets neatly folded for storage. Put my left leg in a steep position.
Put my right arm far out so that it doesn't get trapped under my own torso right away when I turn.
Put your left arm across my stomach.
Now you turn me to the right on my side with my left leg. Don't be squeamish. Movement does me good.
Support the movement by turning my shoulder to the side.
The aim here is to mobilise the lungs. So my whole body should lie on my side (and no longer on my back).
You put your left leg bent over my right leg for the moment. My hands and arms are on the right in front of my upper body. Positioned in this way, my body remains practically independent in this inclined position.
Support my hips just to be on the safe side. Pull the left blanket under my thighs, buttocks, hips and lumbar area.
Put me back on my back. It is possible that secretions have already been released now (or even earlier). Then we can suction again in between.
Put my left hand far to the side of the body, because we are about to proceed analogously to the right side - only mirror-inverted.
Put the tube in a longer loop to the left and quickly turn my head all the way to the left in a single movement.
It's quite possible that the little bit of lying on my side has already loosened so much secretion that you'll have to suck me off again. That will become my favourite activity...
Check that the hose still forms a loop over my chest and stomach. It must not be taut at all, especially if you are about to turn me.
Now you do everything exactly the same as before, only this time instead of turning me to the right you turn me to the left side. To do this, bend my right leg steeply and put your right hand on my stomach. The left hand is already in the right position, far away from the body.
Turn completely onto my left side so that my whole body is 90 degrees to the mattress running on the left blanket.
Place the second neatly folded blanket on the right side. Leave a small space between the two blankets.
Please make sure that there are no wrinkles. I can't move anything, but I feel everything all the more intensely.
The gap between the two blankets does not need to be large. It's just a matter of relieving the pressure on my tailbone.
Turn back onto my back. According to Adam Riese, I should land pretty much in the middle. The thighs (or what's left of them) can still be padded by the blankets.
I only don't want a pad under my upper body and shoulder blades because it would push my lungs up and make it difficult for me to breathe.
Finally, as always, in one fluid movement, you swiftly turn my head back to the right.
Place the arms outstretched and parallel to the torso.
Ready.