Why is it important to move your loved one in safety and comfort?
Our aim is to minimise possible discomfort and disturbance for your loved one, and to maximise safety for you as well as them. We appreciate that family caregivers may have worries about not “getting it right”. They sometimes feel that their clumsiness and ignorance may hurt their loved one (and themselves). Your loved one will lose strength and mobility as they decline, although sometimes they may surprise you with sudden and unexpected but ultimately fleeting bouts of activity.
How to move your loved one in safety and comfort
One of the most important things to bear in mind is: don’t try to do more than you’re safely capable of doing on your own. You might accidentally hurt your loved one, or injure yourself and that may limit your ability to continue to give care to your loved one. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance, regardless of your loved one’s size and weight.
IMPORTANT
Don’t try to do more than you’re safely capable of doing on your own.
It’s normal to feel frustration and tiredness: you may be resting from exertion when your loved one wants to return to bed, go to the toilet or be too late for the toilet.
Whilst you move your loved one keep checking they’re ok and not in too much pain. You can ask your loved one what they are experiencing or hear them groaning or see them moving in pain and discomfort in bed. Unless you need to, don’t them move until they’re free of pain.