Since many health care workers and caregivers for the elderly are being injured on the job, more states are looking toward legislation which will minimize those injuries.

The "no lift" legislation, which has been passed in New Jersey, is designed to use equipment  for lifting and moving patients instead of relying on caregivers to do all the dangerous  lifting themselves.

With new technology and new devices coming on the market, this is not far fetched and is saving thousands in workers’ compensation claims.  In fact, one nursing home chain in New Jersey has already reduced employee injuries by 26 per cent.

I remember this was one of the biggest problems when we took care of my grandmother who was ill for three years.  We didn’t have a lift chair, or a sit-t0-stand machine, which are in wide use today.  It is a miracle none of us were injured because lifting a person who is immobile can cause very serious back injuries. 

The time has come to protect caregivers because there are so few of them.  As our elderly population increases caregivers may seek other employment that is safer if we don’t take measures now to protect them on the job. 

Read Bill Would Require Patient-Handling Aids: Caregiving Getting Safer

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