What benefits will a safe resident lifting program have for nursing home residents?
Although some residents may be reluctant to try new lifting devices, studies have shown that the use of mechanical lifting equipment increases a resident’s comfort and feelings of security when compared to manual methods (Zhuang et al., 2000; Garg and Owen 1992). The findings from one study indicated that residents’ acceptance of a safe lifting program was moderate when the program was first implemented but high at the end of the research study (Nelson et al., 2003). Injuries to residents are also reduced because the mechanical lifts protect residents from being dropped. Anecdotal information indicates that a reduction in skin tears and bruises may result when residents are handled mechanically rather than manually (Garg, 1999).
