Safe Patient Lifting for Care Homes

Statistics show that while 50% of adults aged over 80 will fall at least once a year (NICE), in care homes this is three times more likely to happen. In 45% of cases, the person who has fallen is uninjured (Cardiff University) but the ambulance service is routinely called to assist with a lift. Elderly falls account for more than 80% of all ambulance call outs (WMAST) and ambulance wait times are on the increase.

If a resident in uninjured, the ambulance service will appropriately categorise the call as ‘green’, which can lead to long delays before a paramedic arrives. Delayed recovery can lead to more serious health impacts for the resident. 20% of fall patients over 65 admitted to hospital have been on the ground an hour or more, (known as a long lie) as a result of this 50% of these patients will die within six months. (Vellas et al)

Increasingly, care homes are reviewing their post fall management moving and handling procedures and introducing lifting equipment to safely lift uninjured fallen residents. Elderly falls happen for a number of different reasons, including neurological conditions such as dementia, and can have a devastating impact if not dealt with quickly. A fear of falling again can lead to inactivity, muscle decline so putting the resident at a higher risk of further falls. However, it is important to perform a health assessment before lifting an elderly resident so we have created ISTUMBLE, an algorithm designed to help carers check for various factors such as trauma, bleeding, breathing difficulties, Stroke etc. Devised with The Ambulance Service, the algorithm will support care home workers make good lifting decisions.

Using the Mangar lifting cushions means our residents can be raised to their feet with minimal fuss. They are comfortable, dignified and don’t feel as though they are causing a scene and upsetting fellow residents. This means anxiety levels are kept to a minimum, which is vital for anyone with dementia.

Delroy Bonnitto Perry Tree Centre

More often than not, if we call an ambulance they will take the resident to hospital to be checked out, which means they may spend many hours waiting in A&E. The Camel lifting cushion has given us the option of performing the lift ourselves, with minimal fuss and in no time at all a resident can safely return to their apartment or bedroom.

Cathy Goldsmith Richmond Retirement Village

In my opinion, using an ELK is a far more dignified way to bring a fallen resident to an upright position. It would be my choice for client’s with any cognitive impairment and those were being manually handled is a trigger to behaviour.

Geniene Thorgersen Physiotherapist and Worplace Trainer