If your mom or dad is living alone and has a mobility problem that makes it difficult for them to get up or into bed or chairs, they may need personal care at home services. Even if you help your mom or dad with other tasks, helping them transfer can be dangerous for you and for them.
Personal care at home is specialized help for seniors that helps seniors safely do things like showering, getting dressed, and transferring in and out of bed and chairs. The providers who work in personal care at home have experience and training to help them help your mom or dad move safely.
If your senior parent isn’t able to effectively move their body weight or cannot help with their own movement, a caregiver must safely help them move. If transferring is not done correctly, injuries and falls can happen. Personal care at home providers often use safety devices that can help them move seniors of all shapes and sizes to minimize the risk of injuries or falls.
Family caregivers can also use these transfer aids to make moving a senior parent easier:
Transfer Boards
A transfer board, also sometimes called a slide board, is a flat, rigid board used to bridge the gap between two surfaces, such as a wheelchair and a bed or a car seat. To move, use a slide board. Your senior parent sits on one end of the board and slides across to the other surface.
A slide board is often used by seniors who have upper body strength and can assist with their movement but have poor mobility or muscle control in their legs.
Gait Belts
A gait belt is also called a transfer belt. It’s a sturdy strap that is put around your mom or dad’s waist to provide a secure grip for a caregiver. This belt and the grips make it easier for caregivers to assist in lifting or steadying the person during transfers or while walking.
It gives the caregiver something to hold onto besides the senior parent so that the senior parent doesn’t get injured. It also helps family and personal care at home caregivers maintain control and reduce the risk of falls or injuries during the transfer or ambulation.
Hoyer Lifts
A Hoyer Lift is a hydraulic or electric device that uses a sling to lift and transfer a person from one place to another, such as from a bed to a wheelchair. It’s essential for individuals who are unable to support their own weight.
Hoyer lifts are often used when seniors are recovering at home after a fall and can’t stand or walk comfortably on their own. Hoyer lifts can be tricky to use, but if your mom or dad has personal care at home, their caregiver can help you learn how to use one.
Transfer Poles
A transfer pole is a vertical pole installed between the floor and ceiling, often with a grab bar or handle. It provides support for seniors to pull themselves up from a seated position or to steady themselves while transferring.
This aid is ideal for those with enough strength to stand but need extra stability and support when transitioning between sitting and standing.
If your mom or dad can get around pretty well on their own but needs a little extra support to stand up or sit down, installing transfer poles by their bed and near their favorite chair can help them continue living independently.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Personal Care at Home in St. Louis, MO, please contact the caring staff at Pear Tree Home Care today! (314) 942-9411
Pear Tree Home Care Provides Senior Home Care Services in St. Louis, Ladue, Chesterfield, Town and Country, Clayton, Des Peres, St. Charles, Wildwood, Brentwood, Maryland Heights, Lake St. Louis, O’Fallon, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Arnold, Oakville, Mehlville, Creve Coeur, St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Franklin County, Warren County, Jefferson County, and surrounding areas.
At Pear Tree we’re innovators. Our goal, to create a family of caregivers looking to provide a one of a kind experience to our clientele.
In 2016, our founders noticed a key problem in home care industry that everyone seemed to be ignoring.
It’s too systematic. Home care isn’t one size fits all. Just like people aren’t one size fits all.
That’s where Pear Tree comes in.
We yearn for you to have the best possible care for your loved ones and the peace of mind that comes with knowing they aren’t only in good hands. They’re in great hands. Because, in the end, that’s what we’d want for our family.
It’s proven. When the home care experience is immersive and personalized, you’re going to produce better success rates with healthier family members.
Please, join us in our journey of revolutionizing the home care industry and creating lasting relationships along the way.
This is not the first Home Care agency for Pat, she was the Director of nursing for Kimberly Nurses in 1980 and after the tragic passing of the companies president she opened and co-founded American Nursing Resources Home Health Agency. Pat opened and passed Medicare certification for ANRHHA Clayton and Washington, MO offices.
For Zachary, the name “Pear Tree” is a tribute to his beloved late friend; Wade Abbadessa. Wade worked at his family’s famous restaurant “The Pear Tree” in Macon, until his tragic death in September 2014. Wade lost his battle with a rare form of bone cancer at the young age of 26. His legacy will live on through our company.
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