Myths about Reducing Care Packages

Over the years, I have been presented and challenged with regard to many myths involving moving and handling. The current economic crisis has led to local authorities examining where cost savings can be made. One approach has been to explore whether care packages can be reduced. This has lead to the question as to whether it is safe for a single carer to operate a hoist ? 

As an Occupational Therapist and a Moving and Handling Advisor I have often worked with families who want to care for their relatives themselves and do not want to accept a home care package. In these situations I have assessed the disabled person and the family member involved. I have analysed the moving and handling tasks and the environment. I have then been able to prescribe suitable equipment to facilitate the family member to safely meet the care needs of their loved one. This has often involved a single carer operating a hoist. This carer may have had no previous knowledge or training in using a hoist but with support, supervision and suitable equipment I have been able to enable them to achieve their goal.

This experience has led me to question why home care agencies often dictate that a hoist can only be used with two carers ? These carers often have a wealth of experience, expertise and receive moving and handling training each year provided by their employer.  Historically home care agencies have ocontrolled the decision as to how many carers are required when using a hoist. Their motivations for making these decisions are primarily to protect their staff from a perceived risk of injury, which is understandable. The reality for the disabled person is that they are often left waiting for both carers to arrive, sadly the carers often engage in conversation with each other leaving the disabled person feeling that they have been moved and handled like a piece of meat.

When I was asked by a local authority to tackle a project reducing care packages back in 2010, sadly these were my observations and the views expressed by many vulnerable adults that I assessed.  With the provision of ceiling mounted hoists, in situ slide sheets, turn sheets, all day hoist slings, carer support and supervision. Disabled people can often be liberated from these feelings and enabled to feel that they are less of a burden by receiving intimate care from a single carer who is giving the client their undivided attention and therefore leading the client to feel that they have received high quality care delivered with dignity.

The decision as to whether a single carer can undertake moving and handling tasks has to be based on a detailed risk assessment undertaken by a skilled moving and handling professional in order to ensure that the disabled person and the carer are not exposed to unreasonable levels of risk.  In my experience the outcome of a specialist assessment can often lead to reduced risks of injury and increased quality of the care provided and received.

Kay James