Aids That Can Help Protect A Caregiver From Injury

Help protect those that care for and help your loved ones. Caregivers are at risk of injury every time they support, assist, or transport someone with physical disabilities or mobility issues. There are ways to curb accidents and reduce risks- including mobility aids that support and stabilize the patient and the caregiver. Talk to mobility professionals to find out more about equipment and devices that can protect your caregiver from a potentially debilitating injury.

You may not realize it, but mobility aids are intended to protect caregivers just as they are intended to assist the individual using them. That is, mobility devices like stairlifts and shower seats can protect those supporting someone with a disability or mobility issue- with fewer accidents and injuries. It is estimated that over 34 million people provide unpaid or informal care to someone else, such as a relative or neighbor; it would be very easy for these helpers to sustain an injury during support, transport, or ADLs (Activities of Daily Living) since they have not been formally trained or taught in most cases. Furthermore, those that are injured on duty or when providing free care to others could risk their own livelihood, health, and security.

Do you provide care to someone- or, do you have a caregiver? Take a closer look at some aids that can help to protect these providers from injuries:

Freestanding Lift

Caregivers that help individuals get in and out of bed, shower, eat, and other Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) put themselves at risk for getting hurt. The stress and pressure of lifting and transporting someone with physical disabilities and limitations are great, one wrong move and both people could be seriously injured.

A Freestanding lift looks like a sling hanging from a wheeled base that can be moved around with ease. The sling has controls to be lowered and lifted, thus reducing the strain and stress on the caregiver. Common caregiver injuries include back issues and chronic pain; a freestanding lift can help prevent this from happening.

Shower Seat

Giving someone else a shower or bath is not always an easy task; furthermore, it is made more challenging with the slick surfaces and increased fall risk in an inherently wet environment. A shower seat provides a secure and stable place for the individual to sit while the caregiver is able to swiftly assist with less worry. These seats also make getting in and out of walled tubs and showers with high thresholds without needing to raise their legs high- which may be difficult or painful for those with mobility issues. The user can turn and sit on the seat, allowing the caregiver to lift their legs and turn them around into the stall. These seats are vital to many.

Grab Bar

Simple solutions make sense, and a grab bar near spots that one could potentially lose their balance is practical and prudent. Install grab bars near sinks, stairways, doors, and the toilet- all areas where the individual could find themselves needing a bit of support and stability. Grab bars prevent the caregiver from needing to break a fall or catch a client when they lose their balance; these are amazing aids that are really so simple!

Portable Ramp

Sometimes the biggest challenges for those with physical limitations are outside their door when they are not expecting it. For example, imagine taking a loved one to an appointment; when you arrive, you must ascend three steps to reach the door to the building. Someone with leg pain, joint issues, or neuropathy may have difficulty with access. As a caregiver, you might try to help the individual climb the steps- after all, it is only a couple- but this could be setting the stage for an issue, incident, or injury.

Portable ramps present an option that is ready when you need it. These can be easily installed anywhere that you go and that has difficult access, such as steps or steep thresholds and door jambs. These ramps fold up and fit in the trunk of a regular size car, so they are always with you as needed. A portable ramp is an excellent aid that could potentially prevent a caregiver injury one day.

Adaptive Aids & Items

There are so many more adaptive aids and assistive devices! Visiting a mobility retail store or site can shed some light on the latest and greatest mobility aids to prevent potential injury. Many times, these items could be covered by insurance plans- talk to a mobility expert to find out more.

Learn more about protecting caregivers from potential injury with quality aids and equipment from Pacific Mobility; from stairlifts to shower seats, these simple solutions can be life-changing for both the user and those that provide regular care of assistance. Find out more about your options by speaking with the professionals at Pacific Mobility today!