Need a lift?

It's no surprise to anyone that no two people are the same. Why, then, would you try to use the same lift on every patient?

One could categorize patients' and residents' mobility levels and capabilities into five basic types: Independent, Supervision, Limited Assistance, Extensive Assistance and Totally Dependent. You could also personify these levels into five (alphabetical) fictional characters to help communicate key product applications to customers and help end users ensure that the best equipment is used with the individual: Albert appropriate (Independent), Barbara (Supervision), Carl (Limited Assist), Doris (Extensive Assist) and Emma (Totally Dependant).

It is impossible to consider the best patient handling equipment to be used for an individual without simultaneously evaluating the safest lift for the caregiver. A safe caregiver can maintain safety for the resident.

Meanwhile. appropriately handling patients and residents means taking their current mobility levels and capabilities into consideration. For instance, Albert and Barbara are ambulatory--they can walk. An ideal lilting system would capitalize on their weight bearing, and their ability to stand and move themselves with little or no assistance.

Carl represents a person who has had his mobility significantly compromised, whether by the aging process or an accident (i.e. cerebral vascular accident). But by using Standing and Raising Aids (SARA), Carl can become an active participant in the lifting process. If he has at least 20 percent weight bearing capabilities and can follow simple directions, Carl's safest and most dignified mode of patient handling will include the lift's ability to stand him, allow him to weight bear and possibly train in walking practice for rehabilitative purposes.

Doris differs from her counterpart "Carl" in that although they are both wheelchair bound, Doris has lost most if not all of her lower body weight-bearing capabilities. She may also have lost critical upper body or trunk support. These things are taken into consideration when selecting the safest, most dignified patient handling device for her. Common to her situation, a passive lift may be chosen that will not require any assistance from her whatsoever. These lifts are designed to take an extensive assist or totally dependent person to and from locations such as bed to toilet, toilet to bed, bed to chair, chair to bed. They incorporate the properly sized sling as the interface between the lift and the person.

Similarly, Emma (totally dependent) has unique needs in that she cannot weight bear, cannot necessarily follow directions and has no trunk support. In fact, Emma may also be contracted. The safest, most dignified lift will be a passive (sling) lift that will require no assistance on her part. Due to her rigidity, her posture may require a stretcher sling attachment of some sort.

Going mobile

Generally speaking, the more a patient or resident is mobilized, the safer and healthier the environment is for patient/resident and staff. The more mobilized the patient/resident, the more their heart and lung capacity is maintained. The more this occurs, the less the risk of pneumonia, thrombosis and other illnesses related to immobility. In short, more active patients/residents have a better quality of life.

Also, the more mobility is positively influenced in a facility, the less the need for assistance if the proper lifting device is available. More productivity and reduced staff injuries may follow. Reduce staff injuries and the staff becomes more satisfied in their jobs, often leading to enhanced quality nursing.