If you are caring for a patient at home, one of the daily tasks that feels riskiest is lifting a bedridden patient \u2014 whether to change the sheets, clean them, bathe them, or move them to sit in a chair. Protea wants you to know there are ways to make this safer for both the patient and you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most mistakes in lifting a bedridden patient come from rushing and failing to prepare the space first. Protea recommends clearing the area around the bed so it is free of obstacles, locking the bed’s wheels if it has any, and telling the patient in advance every time what you are about to do \u2014 so the patient can help with whatever strength they have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The golden rule of lifting a bedridden patient is “lift with your legs, not your back.<\/strong>” Bend your knees while keeping your back straight, place your feet about shoulder-width apart, then rise slowly \u2014 never stooping or rounding your back. This technique reduces the load on the spine by more than 50% compared with lifting in a bent-over posture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For those caring for a patient on their own, we recommend practicing the correct lifting technique with a physical therapist at least once, to make sure you are doing it right before doing it yourself at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having the right patient-care helpers can transform the experience of lifting a patient. Protea recommends:<\/p>\n\n\n\nRecovery-care helpers that make lifting easier<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Underpad with 6 grab handles (86\u00d7150 cm)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n