Lift Smart for the Carers of People who are Sick or Disabled

Whether you care for a family member, or work with an organisation that cares for people in the community, being a carer is one of the most important roles you can take on. It has both its rewards and challenges. One of the key challenges is trying to balance caring in a manner that is friendly and comfortable for the caree, while at the same time, paying attention to your back health and safety.

No one wants to live in a cold, institutional environment. It is natural as a carer to want to make the caring process more human by maximising physical contact and avoiding having a house full of lifting equipment. The reality is that if you neglect safety, the long term effects are detrimental to both you and your caree. Not only can you hurt yourself, you can also unwittingly injure them.

Commonly repeated tasks such as getting your caree too and from the bathroom, in and out of chairs or cars, rolling them over in bed or getting them dressed put constant strain on your back and theirs if done incorrectly. Over time, the accumulative damage will cause serious problems. The stress and disruption of that damage can take a greater toll on you than the discomfort of getting used to proper lifting procedures, or the intrusion of a hoist or other mechanical means of lifting or shifting your caree’s weight.

There are Community Services available throughout Australia which are there to support you and help prevent you and your caree from getting hurt. For example, Aged Care Assessment Teams and Occupational Therapists. These Services will come to you and see exactly what you are doing. From that they will be able to tailor practical, realistic solutions to your specific situation to make life as easy and safe as possible for everybody. Ask your doctor for a referral to your local Service, and make sure your doctor is aware of exactly what you do, how often and how much strain you feel it is putting on you and/or your caree.

In the meantime, the Lift Smart message will be an asset to you in preventing injury.

Think a bit. Can I do this more easily, or in a better position?
Do I need a mate? Should I ask someone to help me?
Bend your knees.
Keep it straight. Make sure you keep your lower back as straight as you can when you lift.
Keep whatever you are lifting or moving close to your body. Keep the centre of gravity as close to your spine as possible to reduce strain.
Having stronger back and abdominal muscles, which are strengthened by regular walking, really does reduce the chance of back strain occurring through incorrect lifting.

Novita Children’s Services has great online resources on issues related to caring and manual handling. The site is for the carers of children, but still exceptionally helpful for adults, and the content can be adapted for your use. http://www.novita.org.au/FileDownload/Factsheet.aspx?p=417&k=lift&c=#filter

In additional to everything else you have to do, introducing another set of rules to remember may seem overwhelming. Being a carer is a pivotal role. Your contribution to your caree’s well being is invaluable, and so are you! Safe lifting has to be priority and long term, provides more comfort and better support. If things feel a little sterile or awkward, a sense of humour can be your best asset in smoothing over embarrassment.

In all that you give, don’t forget to take care.

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