Lifting and moving a person in bed:
Raising the person's head and shoulders:
You may have to raise a person's head and shoulders to dress them, to turn them or remove a pillow, or to give care. You can raise the person's shoulders easily and safely by locking arms with them. It is best to have help with older people, to prevent pain or injury to fragile joints and bones. You also need help if the person is heavy or hard to move.
Assisting the person to move up:
When the head of the bed is raised, it is easy to slide down towards the middle and foot of the bed. The person is moved up in bed to maintain good body alignment and comfort. Some people can move themselves up in be alone or with assistance. This help them to feel independent.
You can sometimes move lightweight adults up in bed alone if they use a trapeze. However, it is best to have help and to use a lift or slide sheet (ask your Occupational Therapist to demonstrate this), to protect you and the person from pain and injury.
Slide sheets:
Slide sheets are used to slide and reposition the client without unnecessary pulling or dragging of the client in their bed, chair or other surface. The sheet is made of viscose or 'parachute' material, which is very slippery.
The key point with slide sheets is that there must be two layers underneath the person to achieve a successful 'slide' to a new position. Slide sheets are indispensable when the person is partly or mostly unable to reposition or move himself or herself. Slide sheets can be used to carefully position the person at the side of the bed, ready for transfer to the standing lifter or to a shower chair or wheelchair. Do be aware however that a small or frail carer will often just not have the Strength to lever the slide sheet. It is then you look for an Occupational Therapist for help to learn how to position the sheet and the person to be moved - safely. Safety for YOU too. If YOU do your back in, who else will do it?
With a walking belt in place, the person can be positioned with minimal effort at the side of the bed, allowing the legs to dangle and drop. This is a routine activity that allows the person time to adjust to sitting up, and then progress to standing once they feel that their blood pressure has adjusted. The slide sheets can also be used to reposition a person in their wheelchair or any other chair that they may be resting in. In some situations, the slide sheet is useful when a client has had a fall and is partly trapped beneath a piece of furniture or in a tight space in the bathroom.
Bed Mobility and Transfers
Do you want to be able to transfer from your bed safely and easily or without assistance? Do you want to make the task of turning over in bed or moving up or down the bed easier? Getting in…
VIEW FACT SHEET
Moving a person up in the bed:
A slide sheet can be used if the person is unable to move himself or herself effectively up the bed.
Shearing:
Shearing occurs when a person slides down in bed or is moved in bed. For example, when the head of the bed is raised to a sitting position, the skin on the buttocks stays in place, However, the hip bones move forward as they slide down in bed. The skin is pinched between the mattress and the hip bones.
To reduce friction and shearing, roll or lift the person. A cotton drawsheet serves as a lift sheet (turning or pull sheet) to move the person in bed and reduce friction. Some carers use turning pads for this purpose.
Do have a look at having a sheepskin: https://patienthandling.com.au/medical-sheepskins/
Remember to keep the person properly covered and screened. This protects their dignity and they feel more comfortable being moved. Also, many people have severe arthritis or osteoporosis. Be very careful when moving them. Always ask someone to help you. This protects them and you from pain and injury.
- Decide how you will move the person before starting the procedure. If you need help from another, ask for their help before you begin. Plan how you will protect drainage tubes or containers connected to the person.
- Beds are raised horizontally to lift and move a person in bed. This reduces bending and reaching
- Use the bed correctly
- Protect the person from falling when the bed is raised
- Follow the rules of body mechanics and manual handing techniques
- Keep the person in good body alignment
- Position the person in good body alignment after moving or turning.
Raising the person's head and shoulders:
You may have to raise a person's head and shoulders to dress them, to turn them or remove a pillow, or to give care. You can raise the person's shoulders easily and safely by locking arms with them. It is best to have help with older people, to prevent pain or injury to fragile joints and bones. You also need help if the person is heavy or hard to move.
Assisting the person to move up:
When the head of the bed is raised, it is easy to slide down towards the middle and foot of the bed. The person is moved up in bed to maintain good body alignment and comfort. Some people can move themselves up in be alone or with assistance. This help them to feel independent.
You can sometimes move lightweight adults up in bed alone if they use a trapeze. However, it is best to have help and to use a lift or slide sheet (ask your Occupational Therapist to demonstrate this), to protect you and the person from pain and injury.
Slide sheets:
Slide sheets are used to slide and reposition the client without unnecessary pulling or dragging of the client in their bed, chair or other surface. The sheet is made of viscose or 'parachute' material, which is very slippery.
The key point with slide sheets is that there must be two layers underneath the person to achieve a successful 'slide' to a new position. Slide sheets are indispensable when the person is partly or mostly unable to reposition or move himself or herself. Slide sheets can be used to carefully position the person at the side of the bed, ready for transfer to the standing lifter or to a shower chair or wheelchair. Do be aware however that a small or frail carer will often just not have the Strength to lever the slide sheet. It is then you look for an Occupational Therapist for help to learn how to position the sheet and the person to be moved - safely. Safety for YOU too. If YOU do your back in, who else will do it?
With a walking belt in place, the person can be positioned with minimal effort at the side of the bed, allowing the legs to dangle and drop. This is a routine activity that allows the person time to adjust to sitting up, and then progress to standing once they feel that their blood pressure has adjusted. The slide sheets can also be used to reposition a person in their wheelchair or any other chair that they may be resting in. In some situations, the slide sheet is useful when a client has had a fall and is partly trapped beneath a piece of furniture or in a tight space in the bathroom.
Bed Mobility and Transfers
Do you want to be able to transfer from your bed safely and easily or without assistance? Do you want to make the task of turning over in bed or moving up or down the bed easier? Getting in…
VIEW FACT SHEET
Moving a person up in the bed:
A slide sheet can be used if the person is unable to move himself or herself effectively up the bed.
- Raise the person's head and shoulders by locking arms with them.
- The person's near arm is under the carer's near arm and behind the shoulder
- The carer's far arm is under the person's neck and shoulders, with the near arm under their nearest arm
- They are then raised to a semi-sitting position by locking arms
- The carer lifts the pillow while the person is in a semi-sitting position
Shearing:
Shearing occurs when a person slides down in bed or is moved in bed. For example, when the head of the bed is raised to a sitting position, the skin on the buttocks stays in place, However, the hip bones move forward as they slide down in bed. The skin is pinched between the mattress and the hip bones.
To reduce friction and shearing, roll or lift the person. A cotton drawsheet serves as a lift sheet (turning or pull sheet) to move the person in bed and reduce friction. Some carers use turning pads for this purpose.
Do have a look at having a sheepskin: https://patienthandling.com.au/medical-sheepskins/
Remember to keep the person properly covered and screened. This protects their dignity and they feel more comfortable being moved. Also, many people have severe arthritis or osteoporosis. Be very careful when moving them. Always ask someone to help you. This protects them and you from pain and injury.