Ergonomics is a relatively new term that helps to prevent injuries by identifying and alleviating risk factors that put strain on the body in a wide variety of occupations. Ergonomics is practiced not only in lifting, but in all aspects of home health care, including performing ordinary household tasks like laundry and cleaning, to helping a patient bathe or dress.
Identifying risk factors for injury include:
- The effort that is required to move a patient
- The posture of the person performing the task
- The position of the patient's center of gravity in relation to the person transferring or lifting them
- The number of times a patient must be moved, turned, or lifted on a daily basis
- The ability of the patient to help with transfers
- The physical ability of the caregiver to facilitate such transfers
Safe lifting techniques should be learned in order to maintain the safety not only of the patient, but the caregiver. A caregiver who finds that the physical strain of providing care becomes too difficult may endanger safety for their loved one. Knowing when to ask for help and not being hesitant to doing so may prevent unfortunate accidents and injuries.
Whenever possible, assess daily needs to plan and avoid excess numbers of transfers, especially when a patient is bedridden or suffers from various conditions that may make such transfers difficult. This is not to say that a patient should remain in one location for as long as possible. Quality of life demands that a patient be able to engage in as many activities as he or she feels up to in order to maintain skills and therapies and activities that facilitate movement.