We hear about no lift policies quite a bit when we visit different sheltered housing, extra care facilities, and nursing homes. But what is a no lift policy?
We want to take a look at no lift policies and assess whether or not they’re actually worth it. Let’s take a look.
What is a no lift policy?
No lift policies are sometimes put in place in various care organisations to stop staff from carrying out any manual handling with patients. This is to protect both the carers and the patient from any possible injuries.
Whilst no lift policies safeguard all parties in certain situations, they’re not entirely practical.
Do no lift policies actually work?
Whilst no lift policies are created with good intentions, they can end up having an adverse effect on the level of care you provide. This is the opposite of what good care providers want to deliver.
For example, if you have a patient who falls over and you’re not permitted to lift them up – do you wait for the ambulance to come and get them back on their feet? They could be left hours because it’s simply not a priority for the paramedics to attend.
Of all patients admitted to the hospital after a fall, 20% of them will have been on the floor for over an hour. That’s 1 in 5 people being left on the floor; it’s uncomfortable and it’s undignified.
And ultimately, you will almost always have to carry out some moving and handling with people in care homes. That being said, you should always assess the risk to both the carer and the patient.
1 in 5 people are left on the floor for over an hour when an ambulance is called.
An alternative to no lift policies
One particular situation that always arises with lifting patients is when they’ve fallen over. If you have a no lift policy, then you’re supposed to call an ambulance and wait for them to come.
But not only do you face a long wait, you actually run the risk of being reported to the CQC if there have been multiple ambulance call-outs to your care home. You could consider it a bit of a Catch-22 situation.
So the alternative is to allow carers to lift patients when they’re stuck on the floor, but only when the risk of causing injury has been minimised and it is safe.
Not only will this help to reduce ambulance call-outs and save time for already busy paramedics, but it will also create a better quality of life for your clients and it will save time for your carers.
Recommended falls lifting equipment
With falls being such a major issue in care homes, getting the right equipment that will minimise the chances of any injuries for both the client and their carer is imperative.
The Raizer emergency lifting chair is ideal for care homes. It can be moved around in two easy-to-carry bags and will help carers get someone off the floor in no time at all.
To make it even easier, the Raizer only needs one person to put it together and make it work which will save time for your staff. Other lifting devices require two carers, but the Raizer saves time and money.
Including the Raizer in your lifting policy will help you to maintain a good quality of life for the client without putting your staff at risk of getting injured.
The Raizer will help you lift people back up off the floor when they have fallen. It’s very quick and easy to use, and most importantly, it’s safe and secure for the person.
Summary
No lift policies are set up for a reason, but they’re not always applicable when your main aim to care for people. Using the right lifting equipment will help you to carry out any necessary lifts in a safe and secure way without having to worry about ambulance call-outs.
If you want to find out more about our lifting devices or would like to book a free, no-obligation assessment, call 01423 799960 or fill in the form below.
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