"Nurses and other health-care workers are at high risk for receiving musculoskeletal injuries while performing high-risk patient handling tasks. Implementation of a Safe Patient Handling and Movement Program will increase patient safety, improve the health and safety of nurses and other healthcare workers, and reduce health-care costs"

 

Vivienne E. Friday, MSN, RN, Connecticut Nursing News, June, July & August 2007, Vol. 80, Issue 2

 

ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITIES

>>Hospital
>>Long Term Care

The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) defines an assisted living as a long-term residence option that provides resident-centered care in a residential setting. It is designed for those who need extra help in their day-to-day lives but who do not require the 24-hour skilled nursing care.

More recently, residents are desiring to age in place, instead of having to relocate for more assistance. To adapt for this many states are accommodating this desire and allowing residents to reside in Assisted Living Communities. This change is creating the need for a safe resident handling program to provide safe transfers and repositions. A successful safe resident handling program ensures:

  • A consistent mechanical lift vendor is used, requiring the removal of resident owned or rented equipment.  The SRHP ensures that preventative maintenance is completed on all handling equipment
  • All care associates are trained on the use of the handling equipment
  • Most residents who are able to weight bear on at least one leg do not rent or own handling equipment, rather they require a manual transfer by the care associates.  With the SRHP sit to stand devices are integrated, removing the risk of injury to both the resident and the care assocatiates for this transfer
  • Assistance in the bathing area with residents is one of the most challenging areas to support the safety during lifts and transfers.  A SRHP requires determining which products best address the challenges. 

The "Get A Lift!"® program provides the design, training and oversight for the necessary processes along with the recommended movement and assistive devices for a comprehensive Resident Movement Program. 

Key components for a successful Safe Resident Movement Program for assisted living include: 

  • Training for care assoicates on the completion of pre-admission and admission individualized service plan assessments to determine the need for movement or assist devices
  • Completion of an on-line overview of the Safe Resident Movement Program by all care assoicates; successful completion of a competency test by all care assoicates which validates understanding
  • Completion by all care assoicates of a hands-on training session for movement devices conducted by professional nurses. All care assoicates must demonstrate competency by completing a return demonstration of the skills.
  • Presentation and on-line information about the safe movement components and benefits for residents and their families
  • Oversight and hands-on mentoring provided by professional nurses for care associates on the use and integration of the processes and devices of the Safe Resident Movement Program