Reveive your free Custom Care Guide

Let us put together a care guide personalized with the best information on how to care for your elderly loved one.

Stay Informed

Receive weekly AgingCare updates directly to your inbox.

Preventing Injuries Among Caregivers

Text Size

Protecting and ensuring the safety of elders is of prime importance for home caregivers. However, many don't stop to think about protecting themselves from injury. By protecting the caregivers, we also provide a safe and secure environment for such care. Preventing injuries, especially back and shoulder injuries (the most common), can be achieved through proper education and attention to body positioning when lifting, turning and transferring patients from one location to another.

Many caregivers taking care of parents or grandparents are simply not suited for such physical stress. With the physical demands of physically lifting, turning and transferring patients, injury is common. In fact, it is estimated that musculoskeletal injuries that occur as a result of lifting or moving patients affects nearly 52 percent of caregivers.

Most caregivers in home environments are in their 40s, and 50s. Keeping them, as well as their loved ones, safe and healthy is vital. Learning how to practice good body mechanics in all aspects of home care is essential in preventing injuries.

Common Injuries

One of the most common injuries suffered by caregivers in a home setting is back injuries. Other dangers include exposure to needle sticks when caring for someone with diabetes or someone who needs supervised injections, as well as blood-borne pathogens that may be contained in saliva, urine, and blood. In addition, exposure to contagious illnesses or diseases may also occur. Still, by far, the most prevalent injuries among caregivers are those that involve the back, neck and shoulder joints.

Diane Sewell, an Assistant Director of Nursing at a long-term care center with 30 years of geriatric care experience states, "Most of the causes of injuries to home caregivers are back injuries caused by improper body mechanics when it comes to lifting. If a patient is receiving physical therapy at a facility that is aware of a situation where a family member is going to be taking care of an elderly parent at home, they will often suggest that the caregiver join in a therapy session to learn how to correctly transfer the person in different care scenarios."

Part 1 of 4

Add Your Comment

Only helpful tips, support, and guidance should be entered here.


Must-Read Articles

How to Choose an Emergency Alert System

What Causes Falls Among Elderly Parents?

10 Secrets That Aging Parents Keep - and What To Do About It

Disaster Preparedness: Make Sure Aging Parents Are Ready

Hip Replacement: How to Prepare and What to Expect

Ask AgingCare - Get Answers from the real experts...other caregivers

Provide additional details 140 Characters Left

Meet our Elder Care Expert

 
Aging Parents and Elder Care Expert

LynnHarrelson

Lynn Harrelson

R.Ph., FASCP. Senior Pharmacy Solutions
Louisville, Kentucky

Lynn Harrelson is a pharmacist who specializes in medication and prescription management for seniors. She provides health care services and information that help individuals remain independent in their homes, retirement and assisted living facilities.

Read this Expert's Bio »

Stay Informed

Sign up to receive weekly updates from AgingCare directly to your inbox.

The material of this web site is provided for informational purposes only. AgingCare.com does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment; or legal, financial or any other professional services advice. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
©2010 MediaBrains Inc. All rights reserved.