14 November 2017
The following is a brief and basic guide to the types of product that can help people with stiff joints or restricted mobility who might need some support when rising from a bed or chair, or whose carers might need some assistance when helping the person to transfer between the two. Please note that every individual's needs are different. Customers should therefore base their purchasing decisions on the user's particular needs and preferences and, where appropriate, upon advice from medical and care professionals.
There are many different devices with many different designs but the majority of them generally fall into one of three broad categories. A standing aid requires a certain amount of upper body strength to use, and they are designed to help the user to rise from a bed, chair, wheelchair, toilet or shower chair without a significant amount of assistance. Examples include bed canes and rails, which provide a secure point of support, free-standing lifting poles with hanging handles, and floor-to-ceiling adjustable poles that can be fitted almost anywhere in the house.
The second category is that of carer-assisted stand aids, which often use a combination of leverage and hydraulics to facilitate the process of helping an individual to stand. Useful for people with limited upper body strength, they generally comprise a manoeuvrable, mobile frame that is fitted with pads, armrests and attachments for a sling. They provide a great deal of security for the user and make life considerably easier and less strenuous for the carer. Usually models are fitted with electric motors which minimise the physical effort required.
The final category is that of turntables - devices that help a carer to turn someone around on the spot. If the person can stand, a turntable may be particularly when transferring from a chair to a bed, wheelchair or toilet, but there are also turntables that are designed to be used in a sitting position. These are very useful when getting into or out of a car but they can also assist with wheelchair transfers and the like. Products range from very simple but very effective lightweight fabric discs to precision engineered patient turners, which use leverage and castor wheels to enable safe, secure transfers with minimal effort.
In addition, there are various small and inexpensive aids and accessories such as transfer steps, grab rails and support handles that attach to car doors. There are also glide sheets that help carers to move an individual into a bed or chair, and handling belts that make it easier to hold the individual safely during transfers.
The following are some of the questions you might like to ask when choosing a standing or transfer aid.
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