Carers praise effectiveness of lifting equipment through successful Wales Care Home Project

A partnership between Mangar Health and the Wales Care Home Project to help safeguard the lives of care home residents has seen an 80 percent reduction in decisions to call an ambulance within the first month of receiving the support package.

Launched at the beginning of the year, the Wales Care Home Project aims to safeguard the lives of care home residents and reduce the impact on ambulance services through the distribution of effective lifting equipment and education of care home staff.

The project has seen nearly 600 care homes across Wales take part.

Mangar Health has supported the initiative by giving each care home a Mangar Camel Lifting Cushion.

Alice Cann, Deputy Manager at Llanfair Grange Care Home, explained the benefits of using the Camel Cushion: “The Camel Lifting Cushion continues to be very good. We have now trained all our staff on using it and it will be very beneficial for the future.”

In addition, all care home staff received training on post-fall management protocols, how to use the lifting device and health assessment techniques used by paramedics.

Toby Stockton, Registered Manager at Ty Draw Lodge Residential Home, commented: “We just had a chap have a seizure in Wentworth Lodge, – we were able to lift him with a lifting device – and although he did need hospital treatment anyway because of the length of seizure – the ambulance crew were very pleased he is up off the floor – Who would have thought within one hour of the training we would be using it!”

Simon Claridge, CEO at Mangar Health, said: “It’s been an honour to be involved in the Wales Care Home Project, especially when you see the positive feedback and results that have already come out of it. In fact, an early project evaluation has shown an 80% reduction in decisions to call an ambulance within the first month of receiving the support package.”