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Frequently Asked Questions

Will Medical Assistance cover these products?

MAYBE. Caregivers Aide, LLC is a registered provider for medical supplies under programs administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, specifically the PDA(Pa. Dept of Aging) Waiver program for seniors who are living at home who would, without this program be living in a nursing or assisted living facility. The goal of this program is to keep the patient in their own home as long as possible. My husband is in this PDA Waiver program.

If you are on this program and would like to obtain these products, you must work through the case worker or care manager assigned to you. A physician's prescription may be required.

To inform your case worker of the items you desire, here are the steps to follow.

  1. If you need assistance to determine which products will work best for you may call or contact us through a message on the Contact Page .
  2. Once your choices are determined, print out the order form from the "Ordering" page.
  3. Complete the order form as you would if you were ordering these items without medical assistance.
  4. Give the completed form to your case worker or care manager for him to process through the proper channels and on DPW stationary. Your case worker will determine if your program will cover these items and if so will forward the order to Caregivers Aide for shipping to you.

Caregivers Aide LLC is currently registered in the following Pa counties: Berks, Carbon, Columbia, Lebanon, Montour, Pike, and Schuylkill. The remaining Pa. counties are in the process of adding us to their registry.

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What is the difference between the canvas and the suede vinyl Skid Seat™?

What are the different fabric choices for the Skid Seat?

(See also the video "Introduction to the Skid Seat and Explaining your Fabric Choices")

If you prefer cotton, the 100% cotton canvas may be for you. It is hand washable in warm water, mild soap, rinse well and air dry. It takes considerable time to air dry. It will breathe as cotton does but the coarseness of the material could be a problem for delicate skin. The stiffness could interfere with the beneficial effects of a gel cushion if one is used. The person should be clothed when seated on the canvas. The canvas version is for clients needing mild postural assistance who are at low risk of skin breakdown.

The suede vinyl is laminated to a non slip PVC dot fabric. It is then perforated to allow air circulation. The suede surface is soft to the touch. The vinyl is relatively stiff when first placed on the chair, but softens nicely with body heat. The softness of the suede finish and the tendency of warmed vinyl to conform to the body will allow the patient to continue to have the benefits of the gel cushion. The suede surface helps keep the patient from sliding off the Skid Seat™ and the non slip PVC dot backing keeps the seat from sliding off the gel cushion. If the cushion slides off the wheelchair, a non slip surface should be applied to the bottom of the cushion, an issue separate from the Skid Seat™. The suede vinyl version is for clients needing mild postural assistance who are at significant risk of skin breakdown.

The Absorbent Pad Skid Seat is made of the same materials as the Bed Sled. It has an absorbent top layer, a waterproof barrier, and webbing handles.

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Is the Skid Seat™ and Bed Sled™ washable?

All Care-Give-R-Lift products are washable. Some need extra attention.

The cotton Skid Seat™ is hand washable in warm water with mild soap, rinse well and air dry. Do not use chlorine bleach. Use only a color safe bleach. Air drying is recommended. Hot water washing or machine drying will shrink the Canvas but it will stretch back with use as a pair of blue jeans does.

The suede vinyl Skid Seat™ is hand washable in warm water with mild soap, rinse well and air dry. The suede vinyl cannot take hot water or the drier. The agitation of the washing machine will cause the PVC lamination to separate from the suede vinyl. It is still usable in this condition but will not be as effective. Air drying is recommended for both the canvas and vinyl.

To launder a reusable bed pad, whether it's the seat pad, a bed pad, the Skid Seat (a seat pad with handles), or Bed Sled (a bed pad with handles):

  1. Pre rinsing and soaking soiled bed pads will make machine washing more effective.
  2. If bleach is needed, use color safe or oxygenated bleach. Using industrial or household bleach will lessen the life of the bed pads.
  3. Do not use fabric softener on bed pads. It will make the bed pad less absorbent.
  4. Machine dry on medium temperature, air dry if possible.

The cotton canvas Bed Sled™ is treated the same as the Cotton Skid Seat. It is hand washable in warm water with mild soap, rinse well and air dry. Do not use chlorine bleach. Air drying is recommended. Hot water washing or machine drying will shrink the fabric.

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Can the Skid Seat™ or Bed Sled™ be used for patient transfers?

No. Both items are designed only for repositioning patients in their chair or bed after being successfully transferred by other means.

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Can the Bed Sled™ be slept on?

The Bed Sled Reusable Bed Pad CAN be slept on. It is made of fabrics designed for patient comfort and incontinence protection. The handles of the Bed Sled make repositioning a patient in bed much easier, whether rolling on their side or moving the patient up or down the bed. This reusable bed pad Bed Sled is designed to be left under the patient until it is soiled and must be replaced with a clean one. Have extras on hand to replace soiled ones while they are in the wash. (see my video "How Many Bed Pads Do I Need?")

Sleeping on the Canvas Bed Sled can be uncomfortable. However, if the patient is clothed, the rough surface of the canvas will not cause irritation if used for short periods of time. Left in place under the patient for extended periods could cause skin irritation and discomfort. To make the canvas surface more comfortable you could place a soft towel or bed pad between the patient and the Bed Sled™.

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Does the Bed Sled™ come in other fabrics?

The Bed Sled comes in canvas and as a reusable bed pad. For the reusable bed pad you have a choice of fabrics:

  1. Polyester/Cotton top cloth with a vinyl waterproof backing, or
  2. Brushed polyester tricot top cloth with a polyurethane waterproof backing.

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How strong are these devices?

Both the Skid Seat™ and Bed Sled™ will hold considerable weight, however, I cannot stress enough: The Skid Seat™ will not make you stronger. If you are currently able to move the client by traditional means, tugging on the seat of the pants or lifting under the arms, the Skid Seat™ will work very well for you; making the work of repositioning easier on you and the client.

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How do you use these products?

To use the Skid Seat™:
(see also the video "How to Use the Skid Seat and How to Measure for Ordering")

  1. Place the Skid Seat™ on the seat of the chair to be used, covering the front 2/3 of the seat leaving the back 1/3 portion of the seat exposed, about 5-6"
  2. The tether strap should be wrapped around the back of the chair to keep the Skid from falling off the chair while the person is being seated.
  3. The disabled person is placed on the chair as he would normally be seated. In the act of sitting the patient will normally fall right into place on the pad in its pre-placed position.
  4. Lock the wheelchair inplace.
  5. The caregiver moves from the front of the chair to the rear, behind the patient. Then, while standing behind the chair holding the person to be repositioned, the caregiver slides his hands down the back of the chair in opposite corners on either side of the person’s back to reach the loops of the pad.
  6. The caregiver’s knees are braced against the back of the chair on either side of the patient to allow the patient to be pulled back intothe cavity formed at the back of the wheelchair. If the caregiver’s knees are positioned in the center back it will prevent the patient from being pulled completely into the chair.
  7. The caregiver then gives a gentle tug on the loops of the Skid with the person’s full weight being taken by the pad and slides the patient into a proper sitting position. The patient should be completely relaxed and not assist in the move.

Care must be used to not jerk the Skid Seat™ too strongly or it will be pulled from beneath the person being seated. The patient must not assist in the repositioning in any way or he will lift himself off the pad while it is being pulled and it will be pulled out from under him. To work efficiently the pad must take the full weight of the patient. A few practice trials are all it takes to learn how much pull to exert. This procedure replaces the normal practice of using a pull sheet, tugging on their clothing or physically handling the person.

The Skid Seat™ will not hold the person upright while sitting but there are other products for that purpose. This product is solely for repositioning the seated person with as little discomfort to the seated person as possible and little or no strain on the caregiver.

The Skid Seat™ will not make the caregiver stronger. If the caregiver is able to move the patient by the traditional means of tugging on the clothing, using a sheet or lifting under the arms, the Skid Seat™ will work very well.

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How does one use the Bed Sled™?

For reclining: (see the video "How to use the Bed Sled in a Recliner)

  1. Start with the recliner lounge chair in the upright seated position.
  2. Place the Bed Sled™ on the recliner with the bottom edge hanging over the front of the chair slightly, where the knees of the patient will be when seated.
  3. Seat the patient onto the recliner settling him onto the Bed Sled™, leaning him back into the chair.
  4. Recline the chair slightly.
    A. Two attendants, one on either side of the recliner, take hold of the loop handles and slide the patient into the proper position.
    B. One person alone standing behind the chair can pull the Bed Sled up from behind if they are able to reach the loops.
  5. The recliner is then fully reclined. The absorbent bed pad Bed Sled works well here because the patient is comfortable, the chair is protected from wetting accidents, and the patient can easily be repositioned again if needed with the Bed Sled already in place.

For Bed use:

  1. Stand at the side of the bed. Instruct your helper to stand on the opposite side, ensure that the side rail (if there is one) is raised and secure. Then turn the patient from lying on his back to away from you onto his side.
  2. Place the Bed Sled™ behind the patient so that the edge nearest you reaches nearly to the side of the bed, from slightly above the patient’s shoulders to slightly below his buttocks.
  3. Roll or fan fold the Bed Sled™ against the patient’s back as closely as possible. Then raise the rail on your side and tell your helper to roll the patient back over the folded Bed Sled™, towards you. Your helper can then grasp the folded Bed Sled™ and firmly pull it towards herself to remove all the fanfolds from under the patient and then smoothes any wrinkles to avoid skin irritation which can contribute to skin breakdown.
  4. Together, grasp the Bed Sled™ loop handles and on the count of three, slide him across the bed to the opposite side of the bed. To turn the patient toward you, reach over the patient and grasp the loops on the opposite side and gently pull them toward you. While holding the patient in this position your helper can position pillows against the patient’s back at the shoulders and hips to help hold him in this position.
  5. Align the patient comfortably.
  6. This maneuver can be performed by one person, but a helper greatly reduces the chance of injury to the patient or care giver.

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Has the Skid Seat™ been tested?

All products have been tested in my use of them at home and for the last six years the products have been used by customers with no incidents. Fabric combinations that did not perform well (slipping off could have been a problem) were discarded in favor of those offered here which have been used successfully.