Case Study: Living With MS Made Easier With A Mangar ELK

Jennifer Humphrey, Plymouth

Jennifer Humphrey is 73 and lives in an assisted living apartment on the outskirts of Plymouth.  A retired accounts administrator, she is treasurer of the residents’ social club and enjoys spending time with her 8 year old granddaughter Daisy.

Jennifer was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in her early 50s after experiencing bowel and bladder symptoms often associated with the disease. She had also begun to notice dysfunction in one of her legs and doctors confirmed her condition as secondary progressive MS.

The Task

Jennifer explains how the destruction of her nerve fibres has seen an increasing loss of mobility in her lower limbs, although her core strength above the waist remains good.

After diagnosis, Jennifer was able to continue working at her local hospital with the help of a walking stick.  When mobility first became more difficult, Jennifer’s husband was on hand to help with some of her care needs but sadly five years ago Peter died.

As time went on Jennifer began to lose more and more mobility in her legs and would occasionally fall.

The Solution

Jennifer was prescribed a Mangar ELK lifting cushion so carers in her assisted living apartment building could pick her up without needing to call for an ambulance. This was Jennifer’s first experience of Mangar patient lifting products.

Jennifer said, “I’m not hurt when I fall but can’t get back up by myself.  I feel very safe and secure when lifted on the ELK, it’s a very comfortable way to be lifted back up.”

Keen to continue living as independently as possible Jennifer uses adaptive equipment that enables her to live a fulfilled life, whilst maintaining her dignity.  Although now dependent on the use of an electric wheelchair she is still able to transfer from her wheelchair to a seat.

Carers visit twice a day who help get her up in the morning and to go to bed in the evening. As Jennifer’s legs became ‘heavier’ it was increasingly difficult for her to move them onto the bed. This meant her carers needed to help lift her legs onto the bed which put the health of their backs at risk.

After a referral to the occupational therapist, Mangar was contacted to demonstrate the Leglifter. The Leglifter is designed to provide valuable assistance to raise, lift and transfer legs into bed. It is attached to the bed underneath the mattress and is straightforward to fit or remove. It requires no permanent installation and when not in use, the Leglifter fits discreetly against the side of the bed.

Inflated with an Airflo compressor, the carer or Jennifer uses a hand control to raise the Leglifter at a speed that suits her.

Jennifer says, “As I lost the ability to move my legs myself, getting into bed became a task we struggled with each evening.  The Leglifter not only does the job but also means I am happy in the knowledge that my carers are not going to be injured while helping me”.

The Outcome

The Leglifter promotes independence for the user whilst protecting carers from musculoskeletal injury.