In 2003, caregivers in facilities suffered 211,000 injuries, many related to lifting, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's February 2006 article entitled "Safe Lifting and Movement of Nursing Home Residents." Home caregivers also risk serious injury to the back and other body parts when lifting and transferring another adult. Many devices are available that can help prevent injury while transferring someone from one position or place to another.
It is also important to remember safety issues with transfers, including:
- carefully following physician directives for mobility orders and restrictions on movement
- reading and following all manufacturer’s directions
- locking any movable equipment, such as wheelchair brakes, if appropriate
- properly anchoring transfer boards to prevent slipping
- ensuring that the device provides adequate support for the person’s weight
- careful inspection of any equipment to ensure that it is in good working order
- preparing the area so that the transfer can occur smoothly
- avoiding the use of floor coverings that might slip during a transfer
- ensuring that the person is wearing appropriate footwear if preparing to walk
- using proper body mechanics for lifting and moving and seeking education regarding proper lifting for their specific needs, although body mechanics alone is often inadequate to prevent injury in some situations
Low Cost Transfer Aids for Seniors
Simply encouraging the senior to assist with a transfer can greatly help the caregiver. For example, if the person needs to be lifted up in bed, having the person bend his knees and place his feet on the bed and push with his legs on the count of three may provide significant assistance while encouraging independence and active use of muscles. It is helpful to explain exactly what he can do to help and to coordinate movements together. If the bed has movable parts, it is helpful to raise the foot of the bed before moving up in bed, particularly if the person is large.
An overbed trapeze can help if the person has enough upper body strength, range of motion in the shoulders, and the ability to grip the bar. The trapeze is particularly helpful in helping the person to sit up, move up in bed, and if needing to change sheets from top to bottom because the person cannot roll side to side.
A turning sheet can help distribute weight and ease in moving the person. It can also help prevent friction and shear, which often lead to bed sores or pressure ulcers. If a specially designed turning sheet is not available, a regular sheet may be folded in half. This sheet is typically placed on the bed so that it lies beneath the person from the shoulders to at least below the hips. At least one person stands on each side of the bed and rolls the sheet close to the person’s body, grasping the rolled area with an overhand grasp. On a count of three, the person can be smoothly moved up. It is helpful to place a pillow against the head of the bed for safety purposes if moving the person up in bed. Always ensure that the turning sheet it smoothed after use.
Specially designed transfer boards and sliding boards come in different sizes and styles and help with a variety of transfer needs. These boards may be placed behind the person’s back while lying down so that she can be moved across a smooth surface to another flat surface. Full length boards typically need the assistance of more than one caregiver, and a turning sheet is usually used with this type of board. Shorter transfer boards often help the person to move from a sitting position on the bed to move into a wheelchair, bedside commode, or some other type of chair and vice versa. Some newer transfer boards have a swivel seat and may be particularly helpful with a transfer to an automobile or wheelchair.
Adaptive devices such as walkers, canes, and wheelchairs can help with ambulation or movement from one place to the next. Grab bars and rails, shower chairs, raised toilet seats, or bedside commodes can also assist with sitting or standing movements in particular. Newer devices, such as turning sheets that can be filled with air, may provide cost-effective transfer aids that take up less space than a mechanical lift. Caregivers often may need the help of a mechanical lift in certain situations. Although a mechanical lift is not a low-cost transfer aid, one might be covered by medical insurance or Medicare under certain circumstances.
Caregivers May Protect Themselves From Injury With Transfer Devices
Caregivers are at high risk for back and other injuries, especially when frequently moving and repositioning an adult. Using good body mechanics and encouraging the person to help to whatever extent that he can may greatly assist in preventing caregiver injuries. Transfer aids like turning sheets, an overbed trapeze, transfer or sliding boards, and other special equipment can help to make transfers safer and easier for the person and the caregiver.
Readers may also wish to read the following articles:
- How to Make a Bed With Someone in It gives step-by-step directions for making an occupied bed.
- How to Speak With Someone Who Cannot Speak gives practical tips and a link to a communication board.
- Practical Tips to Prevent Wandering is geared toward caregivers of people with dementia, such as Alzheimer’s.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be medical advice. Consult with a physician regarding devices that are appropriate to an individual situation. Readers are welcome to provide feedback and personal experiences in the comment box below.
Katrena Wells - Katrena Wells is a RN in NC with 17 1/2 years of experience in oncology, an educator since 1995, and has taught exercise classes since ...
Join the Conversation