How can nursing home management motivate staff to use lifting equipment initially and maintain long-term commitment?
• Provide sufficient training on lift usage so that caregivers learn how to properly operate the equipment. Training should be provided to all newly hired caregivers and a plan should be in place to assess competency in use of the equipment, at least, annually. • Post a graph to show caregivers the decrease in injuries after the lifts are being used routinely. • Do not permit manual lifting except in life-threatening circumstances. • Include caregivers and residents in the selection of lifting equipment. • Allow caregivers the opportunity to work with different mechanical lifts. Some vendors will allow equipment to be evaluated on a short-term trial basis. • Ask maintenance and housekeeping staff to provide their opinion and input on the equipment being considered for purchase. • Ensure that all shifts are covered by an adequate number of caregivers who have been trained to use the lifts to help decrease these injuries. • Follow-up to check if lifting equipment is being used properly.
