Compression stockings

Step-by-step instructions that may help:
Make sure your feet are dry and clean.
Toenails should be trimmed to avoid damaging the stocking.
Sitting or lying down:
The best way is to sit on the edge of a bed or chair to make the process easier.
If the person cannot sit, one can lie on his or her back on the bed.
Unfolding the stocking:
Place your hand inside the stocking and grasp the muscles and the top of the stocking.
Turn the stocking inside out, leaving only the top cuff on the outside.
Inserting the leg:
Place your leg into the opening of the stocking, holding the stocking by the top of the stocking.
Smoothly spread the stocking, moving up the leg.
Alignment:
Make sure the heel is in place and the stocking is aligned with the leg to avoid creases.
Unfolding the material:
If necessary, smoothly spread the stocking material over the leg to avoid creases and ensure even pressure.
Repeat for the second leg:
Repeat the same steps for the second leg.

Amazon sell compression stockings with a zipper. I would find a size that she can get on and make sure that on the zipper tab she had a pieced of tape so that she can pull. Something is better than nothing.

Your mother should also have a dual motor chair so that whenever she sits down she can have her legs raised and if necessary the chair can tip back and put her feet above her head for a short period.

All the best.

Mom3

Are there volunteer organizations that could send people out to help?

There used to be something called an NHS helper service during the pandemic. Not sure if it’s still a thing but might be worth asking.

Go back to whoever prescribed them, explain why it's not practical/possible and choose plan B. Best of luck

Pammie you’re correct. My mum qualified because she was self funding.

You can get velcro fastening wrap around compression garments. My partner has very limited mobility and is prone to leg ulcers, he uses these quite successfully.

maddyone

My mother got Attendance Allowance for quite a few years because she needed help with a lot of things. Initially it was the lower allowance as she didn’t need the help at night, but later she qualified for the higher allowance as she went into a care home and needed help at night. This benefit is available to all who need it and is not means tested.
If your mother is not receiving this benefit OP please get her to apply. She might need some help with the application form though. We applied both times on behalf of my mother. My husband applied for both his parents too and eventually we applied for my dad, who resisted us applying even though he needed it, and eventually he got it two months before he died.

Just for clarity can I point out that care home residents only qualify for AA if they are self funding. As soon as the funding pot drops below the savings threshold and the LA start to contribute to the cost of the care home, AA stops.

2507C0

Is there a district nurse service she could be referred to?

District nurses will only take on housebound patients with clearly defined medical needs. The service in many areas, our own included, is at breaking point.

Are there volunteer organizations that could send people out to help?

My mother got Attendance Allowance for quite a few years because she needed help with a lot of things. Initially it was the lower allowance as she didn’t need the help at night, but later she qualified for the higher allowance as she went into a care home and needed help at night. This benefit is available to all who need it and is not means tested.
If your mother is not receiving this benefit OP please get her to apply. She might need some help with the application form though. We applied both times on behalf of my mother. My husband applied for both his parents too and eventually we applied for my dad, who resisted us applying even though he needed it, and eventually he got it two months before he died.

My late DH was prescribed compression stockings. There were two, one inside the other. He had no strength to get them on. I looked on Youtube but still could not manage to get them on him. Even the NHS podiatrist didn't know how to get them on. Eventually we were told to use the easier stocking, the one that went on first as that would be better than nothing (several years ago so can't remember the details). It was a total waste of a prescription, we were simply unable to get them on.

Cloudscapel - try to get a carer. I hope you manage to sort this out.

I have to wear made to measure thigh length compression stockings every day as I have lipoedema. I now get 4 pairs all different colours every 12 months. Fortunately I don't have to pay because of medical exemption. I also find them difficult to put on and take off because of arthritis but do find it easier to put them on on the bed as advised by Tango46

The Allka compression socks with zips a brilliant idea - said as a former nurse who had had the pleasure of putting these on patients over the years -always a tussle even with the applicator or over a plastic bag .

I have just been measured for compression knee high ones not looking forward to them but there are ones with zips at side and also had a choice of Velcro fastenings but these were not as flexible do think that hospital should have types and colours ect to view know nurse said cross contamination could occur but would have been happy to wear gloves while looking

Thanks, Kiwiqueen123, for that info anout ailaka zipper compression socks. I just ordered my pair.

queenofsaanich69

Quite understand this problem,there are different types of support stockings,some are much more difficult than others to get on———- so my suggestion is try next size up,or different make,it is more important to be able to pull them on easily than not using them at all as they are a nightmare to put on,a
decent pharmacy can help with this——

If the lady has Lymphedema they have to be tight or they will be useless

That’s the point ….people living alone just DONT manage !
I was prescribed a steroid cream for psoriasis down my spine ….nobody to put it on …so it doesn’t get put on ….its really simple 🤷🏻‍♀️
It’s like docs apps around here ….takes about 6 weeks ….you either get worse …..get over it…or go under I suppose!

I know the GP service is stretched but it may also be worth asking whether the district nursing service could take on putting these on for her? Some places have nursing care workers who undertake this kind of work.

Quite understand this problem,there are different types of support stockings,some are much more difficult than others to get on———- so my suggestion is try next size up,or different make,it is more important to be able to pull them on easily than not using them at all as they are a nightmare to put on,a
decent pharmacy can help with this——

Is there a district nurse service she could be referred to?

Try putting the compression stockings on while sitting up in bed. This makes it easier to reach down to toes.
Slip your hand inside the sock and grip the heel pouch.
Pull this out in finger and thumb. (Sock is almost inside out)
Push foot inside the toe area and pull the sock back up zig zagging all the way up the leg to just under the knee.
Do NOT double the top over as this can cause constriction of the blood circulation.
Good luck

Age UK visited my father and did the form for Attendance Allowance for him. They really were brilliant.

Great advice here. It would be no harm to have some system of carer visit coming as other matters will no doubt arise in coming years. I also do not live in the UK but might have paid for medical expenses including care home and offset it against our tax at saving of 20%. I think this option might be more generous in other countries. I know of a friend living in France who did this for her mother in law living elsewhere. My mother also lost strength in her hands not helped by a fall that broke some fingers but it became a problem for her even with meal preparation.

I used a frame thing to help Mum with her stocking (tights?) - it made a lot of difference. I do think that I or the carers helped with it though.

Rather than having an expensive domiciliary carer come in, could you advertise for a private carer who would arrive promptly at the same time morning and evening to help with the support stockings. You would probably need 2 or even 3 different carers as no one could commit to 7 days a week. Perhaps there are a few trustworthy neighbours who would help out. A private carer in this area charge £15 whereas a domiciliary carer is double that. The AA would cover the private carers so no additional outgoing. They would only need 30 minutes max at each call. I would get Age UK to do the AA application as it is very important to use the right terminology on these forms. Your mother would get the lower amount as she probably does not need support in the night. She would need to have the consultants notes and anything else applicable when Age UK visited to do the form, they have a 97% success rate apparently in this area.