While the ultimate goal is always to improve health and safety for the aging adults they love, family caregivers, regrettably, typically end up compromising their own health along the way by ignoring caregiver safety tips. The truth is, an astounding 94% of caregivers in a recently available study carried out by Ohio State University revealed musculoskeletal pain in at least one part of their body – and 66% noted this pain having an effect on their quality of life.
And realize that a “family caregiver” can constitute anyone within the family who helps another person with day to day activities. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, this means that 34 million Americans are at risk of becoming injured through the care they provide.
At Midnight Sun Home Care, we know firsthand the degree of lifting, bending, and weight-bearing required in meeting the care needs of a senior, and that's why each of our professional caregivers is properly trained in methods that safeguard both themselves as well as the older adults within their care. Injuries might result from even the simplest of tasks that call for more physical strength than you might realize: shopping and running errands, cleaning the home, performing laundry chores, cooking and especially transferring a loved one to the couch or bed.
To help family caregivers lower the chance of injury, we provide the following caregiver safety tips:
• Let assistive equipment do the lifting. For seniors with mobility issues, transfers, such as from a bed to a chair, represent one of the most frequent factors behind injury to family caregivers. Not only that, but the chance of a loved one falling and acquiring an injury are increased. Caregivers should investigate equipment like a Hoyer lift that can assist with safe transfers (but keep in mind that proper training will be needed).
• Practice safe movement. We’ve all heard the adage, “Lift with your legs, not with your back,” but before lifting a finger, caregivers should take a simple assessment of their own physical status. If pain is felt in any of the joints or back, it’s a signal that the body could have been pushed beyond its capacity – and a different way of assisting your senior loved one ought to be explored.
• Find help. The easiest method to steer clear of injury in caregiving is by recognizing your limitations, and calling in professionals when warranted. The caregiving team at Midnight Sun Home Care is fully experienced and adept in supplying a complete range of senior care help and support, allowing members of the family and older adults alike to remain safe and well.
Call us at (907) 677-7890 to request an in-home consultation with an Anchorage, AK trusted senior caregiver. We can perform a safety assessment of the home, provide resources in order to assist in your caregiving journey, and offer the highly customized, expert in-home care services that enable families the chance to simply enjoy quality time with the seniors they love.
