Elderly Health Service

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Carers' Corner

Lifting and Transfer

With the ageing of the population in Hong Kong, the proportion of elders who require assistance in daily living is also increasing. When assisting the elders, like getting up from bed, transferring to the wheelchair, toileting, etc, caregivers need to apply proper skills of 'Lifting and Transfer' so as to avoid repetitive strain injury, instill a sense of security in the elder, and ensure smooth and safe transfer. Below are tips on the proper skills of 'Lifting and Transfer':

Prepare in advance	Understand the condition of the elder, e.g. his/ her ability Give explanation and instruction to the elder to ensure cooperation Prepare the equipment, such as chair or wheelchair	Enlarge Picture
Keep your back straight and tighten your abdomen	Maintain proper posture of the back, and tighten the abdominal muscles to protect the back	Enlarge Picture
Firm handhold and get as close to the elderly as possible	Firm handhold provides a sense of security to the elderly Keep as close as possible to protect the back	Enlarge Picture
Stand firmly and propel correctly	Point one foot at the destination Propel with your legs to reduce the strain on the back	Enlarge Picture
Definite commands	Assign one person to give command when there is more than one caregiver to help Uncoordinated action is a waste of efforts and can cause injurie	Enlarge Picture
Don't strain yourself	Seek help from others, e.g. family members, colleagues, etc when necessary Make use of transfer aids to help as appropriate

Remember the above tips and apply them appropriately in different environments and situations so that safety of elderly and caregivers can be ensured. In case of any doubt or difficulty in applying the 'Lifting and Transfer' skills, please consult a physiotherapist or other medical health care professional for advice.

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"Lifting and Transfer" Video/ VCD