Preventing Back Injuries: 10 Tips All Caregivers Should Follow

Posted on June 21st, by Mark Winter in Caregivers, Sonoma Elder Care. No Comments

preventing back injuries If you’re providing care for an elderly loved one at home, it’s more than likely that you’ll find yourself in situations where you need to lift, move or transfer him or her – which, if not performed correctly, can place you in danger of hurting either yourself or your senior loved one. Injuries occur most frequently when caregivers:

Have not learned proper lifting and transferring techniques
Do not recognize when they’ve reached their physical limitations
Are not equipped for the physical strain of transferring and lifting
Desire to “manage it themselves” rather than asking for help

Since back injuries are especially prevalent as a result of incorrect lifting techniques, preventing back injuries by learning proper lifting protocol is crucial. Hired Hands Homecare of California would like to share some of the top guidelines to help minimize risk of back injury for family caregivers:

Only lift what you can comfortably handle.
Have the senior being assisted do as much as he or she is able during the lift or transfer. If the older adult is unable to assist with the transfer in any way, you may need specialized training and/or adaptive equipment for lifts or transfers.
Work at the senior’s level and speed, and check to make sure he or she is not experiencing any pain.
Refrain from any sudden jerking movements.
Do not ever pull on the senior’s arms or shoulders.
Make sure the senior wears shoes with good treads or sturdy slippers.
Form a base of support by standing with your feet shoulder width apart with one foot a half-step in front of the other foot.
Lift with your legs, not your back.
Avoid letting the older adult put her arms around your neck or grab and hold onto you. If the senior is afraid, have her clasp her hands close to her chest during the lift or transfer.
Make sure you are breathing deeply, and keep your shoulders relaxed.

The best method for preventing back injuries, however, is having another person on hand to help, rather than managing alone. Hired Hands Home Care’s caregivers are fully trained in proper lifting and transferring techniques, and can help make sure that both you and your senior loved one remain safe.

Serving Marin, Sonoma, Napa counties and the Tri-Valley since 1994, we’re pleased to offer a free care consultation and home safety evaluation to seniors in need of some extra assistance in the home. To learn more about our top-rated senior care in California, call us at (866) 940-4343 or contact us online.