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As a carer, you may find that lifting the person you care for, helping them dress or move around may place a strain on your back.
If you are currently experiencing pain or strain, contact your GP. They may prescribe anti-inflammatory medication to relax your muscles or suggest physiotherapy.
It may be impossible to avoid lifting and handling the person you care for but you can get advice on guidelines to follow that may reduce the risk of injury. There are also ways to minimise strain and, equipment and support available:
Equipment
- Ask your GP, district nurse or social work department to advise on lifting, turning or moving aids to assist you. These could include:
- Lifting equipment such as a hoist to move the person you care for from their bed to a chair.
- Mobility aids to help the person you care for move around the house more easily without your assistance.
- Bath aids such as a motorised bath seat that raises and lowers the person you care for in and out of the bath or, a walk-in shower suitable for wheelchairs.
- Grab rails beside the bed or toilet to help the person you care for stand or pull themself up.
Practical training
Some local carers projects offer practical training for carers. This can include learning how to lift in ways that reduce the risk of harming your back. Alternatively, your district nurse may be able to show you ways to lift and move more safely. Ask your GP or practice manager for more information. The national training programme Caring with Confidence may have a training scheme near you. more...
Extra support
Your local social work department may be able to arrange for someone to help the person you care for. There are a number of ways that they can help minimise the amount of lifting and handling you may have to do. These could include helping the person you care for to have a bath, get up in the morning or go to bed.
Further information
“A Carer’s Guide to Safer Moving and Handling” – single copies available costing £3.00 (+ £1 p&p) each from Back Care – National Back Pain Association, 16 Elmtree Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 8ST Tel: 0845 130 2704. www.backcare.org.uk