From: Rhonda Brodbeck
Putting pants on someone who can't stand up:
This has lots of steps but will keep your PALS from falling when trying to stand to put on pants. One of these days, we'll make a video! We use the hoyer lift and a shower sling because I can't roll him in the bed (he can't breathe if he lies flat and because he is too heavy for me to move that way by myself) and he doesn't have the arm strength for an EZ Pivot or other standing lifts. Here are the steps.

• Use pants that are over-sized, with elastic waist, and preferably somewhat stretchy material. Sweat pants are good.
• Put the pants on up to the knees and bunch the pant legs up around the knees (so the weight of the pants won't pull against you in a later step).
• Use a mesh shower sling (because they are thinner but still strong). Use the largest size for your patient's weight. For example, if your PALS weighs 300 pounds and you have a choice of a sling for 200-300 pounds or one 300-400 pounds, use the one that is 300-400 pounds.
• Put the sling behind the PALS' back.
• Put the sling leg straps along his sides and under his thighs.
• Cross the ends of the leg straps above the pants. If the pants have a fly but no button or snap closure at the top, put the ends of the straps through the open fly.
• Attach the sling to the Hoyer lift cradle making sure the leg straps are crossed.
• Pump the Hoyer lift so the PALS is suspended and move him away from where he was seated so you can stand behind him.
• Stand behind the PALS and pull the pants up OVER the sling (like the sling is underwear).
• Pull down the pants legs to their normal position.
• Re-seat the PALS in his power chair.
• Uncross the leg straps and thread them down the inside of the pants leg (along the length of the leg).
• Have the PALS lift the legs of the chair and tilt back some (so he is somewhat reclined).
• Go around to the side and pull the sling out of the pants leg through the pants waist. It feels like pulling in a fishing net! Repeat on the other side.
• Remove the sling and you are done.


To take the pants off, I use the regular sling and do the following:
• Have the PALS lean forward in his chair and push the pants down as far as possible in the back.
• Lift the PALS in the Hoyer lift and move him away from the chair.
• Stand in back of the PALS and fold the back of the pants underneath him the best you can (this is to avoid dragging the pants over his tush as much as possible since the dragging can be a bit abrasive).
• Put the PALS back into the power chair.
• Have the PALS lift the legs of the chair and tilt back some (so he is somewhat reclined).
• Pull the front of the pants down on one side and then the other. Reach underneath the front of the chair and pull the back of the pants down on one side and then the other. Repeat until the pants are free and then slide them off.