Fixed pulleys can be used to help nursing staff complete a variety of patient care tasks. A pulley allows a nurse to move the patient without bearing the weight of the patient. This makes the situation safer for both the patient and the nurse. Patients who are unable to stand or walk with minimal assistance can often be benefitted with the use of a fixed pulley in their room.
Weight Check
Patients who are restricted to bed can gain weight quickly which can create health issues. Nursing staff at retirement homes can attach a hanging scale to the pulley. The patient is then placed in a sling and the edges of the sling are connected to the hanging scale. The patient is comfortably cradled in the sling and the nurse is able to get an accurate reading of their weight. This helps the nursing home keep track of the patient's vitals and whether a change is needed in their diet.
Bathing
Many nursing home patients are unable to handle stepping in and out of a bathtub or shower. This is completely impossible for patients who have become bedridden. However, it is important that these patients receive the same level of hygienic care as any other nursing home resident. With the use of a fixed pulley the patient can be lifted out of bed with the use of a bath sling and lowered into a portable bath tub. The sling is designed to go into the water with the patient so there isn't any awkward shifting once the patient is in the tub. The nursing staff is then able to assist the patient with his bath and easily move him back to bed afterwards.
Moving Patients
Moving a patient in a nursing home from a bed to a chair or wheel chair can be accomplished with a fixed pulley. Many patients are able to sit upright in a chair although they may not be able to walk independently. Allowing a patient to have some time each day in a chair will help to prevent bed sores and aid the patient's circulation. However, some patients are too heavy for a nurse to move with the use of a gate belt and the patient needs to be lifted out of the bed and lowered into a chair.
Tags: nursing home, bath sling, fixed pulley, hanging scale, lowered into, nurse move