4 Tips to Prevent Injuries While Caring for an Aging Parent

Caring for an aging parent often brings profound emotional rewards, but it can place significant physical demands on you or other family members. The daily tasks of assisting with mobility, transfers, and personal care can strain your muscles, stress joints, and injure your back. And, If you lose your balance or get injured while providing care, it puts your parent at risk of falling as well, potentially leading to serious harm for both of you.

Professional caregivers from Visiting Angels are trained in proper transfer and lifting techniques. However, family caregivers, especially those new to the role, may be vulnerable to injuries related to caregiving. Research suggests that more than half of family caregivers deal with bothersome pain on a regular basis.

Fortunately, there are practical strategies that can help protect your body while you provide the care your senior needs.

Reducing Your Risk of Caregiving-Related Injuries

Preventing caregiver injuries starts with good communication and using proper form. Minor adjustments in how you approach physical tasks can make a significant difference in reducing strain and preventing accidents.

Here are some tips to help you and your senior avoid caregiving injuries at home.

1. Use a Gait Belt

A gait belt is a safety device you can buckle around your parent’s midsection to help with standing and walking. The belt gives you something to hold besides their clothing or body, giving you a better grip to keep them steady. When your parent feels balanced, they are less likely to flail or grab you, which can cause injury.

Make sure the belt is snug against their body but not too tight. Remove the gait belt to avoid chafing or discomfort when you are finished moving. Use a gait belt only when you have been properly trained in its use. Many pharmacies and home medical equipment companies offer free training for caregivers.

Related: Watch a video on proper gait belt use

2 Lift With Your Legs, Not Your Back

This old adage rings true from the gym to the workplace—and at home when you are a family caregiver. Leg muscles are bigger, stronger, and more stable than the core muscles that wrap around from your abdomen to your lower back.

Bend at the knees when you need to help bear your parent’s weight to stand, sit, or change positions. Use the power of your legs to stabilize yourself rather than arching your back. Hold your parent close to your body to make lifting easier on you both.

Related: How to Help an Elderly Loved One Transfer Safely

3. Communicate With Your Parent

Talk with your parent about moving from Point A to Point B. Be specific: “I’m going to put this gait belt around you. Then I will help you stand up.”

Communicating will help Mom or Dad anticipate the next maneuver and feel more in control of their body. Limiting unexpected movements can also reduce frustration and prevent injury. Ask your parent if they are comfortable or feeling any pain while moving. When you both know what to expect, you can move together safely.

4. Recognize Your Limits

Be honest with yourself about your physical limitations. Pushing yourself too hard is a quick way to get hurt and possibly injure your parent as well.

If it is becoming difficult to help Mom or Dad move, or if you frequently feel worn out or sore, consider working with a professional in-home caregiver. Visiting Angels caregivers can help reduce your physical workload with personal care services such as:

• Bathing, dressing, and grooming
• Toileting
• Mobility and transfer support
• Respite care

You can also take a class about safe lifting and transfer techniques. Check with your local hospital, community center, durable medical equipment company, physical therapy center, or your parent’s doctor to see if free or low-cost courses are available in your neighborhood.

Get the Professional Support You Need

Recognizing you need professional in-home support isn't a failure—it's a smart caregiving strategy. If you're experiencing persistent pain, feeling overwhelmed by the physical demands, or noticing the adverse effects on your health and well-being, it may be time to consider additional help. Professional caregivers can handle the most physically challenging tasks while allowing you to focus on the emotional and social aspects of caring for your aging parent.

Visiting Angels offers flexible scheduling and various levels of assistance tailored to your family's specific needs. Whether you need help with a few hours each week or more comprehensive daily support, we can provide the expertise and physical capability to keep both you and your parent safe.

Contact us to discuss how their services can complement your caregiving efforts and help protect your health in the process.