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Emergency chairs to lift people when they fall
The project to pilot the Raizer Chair has now come to an end. The chair helps lift people safely and quickly in an emergency after a fall and has been proven to reduce avoidable ambulance call-outs and associated healthcare costs, improve care, and free-up staff time for other caring duties.
The Digitising Social Care programme at Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care System provided 174 Raizer Chairs to local residential care facilities and nursing homes and 20 Raizer Chairs to 18 local home care providers.
Now when someone has a fall, staff use a medically-approved app to check for injury and assess whether an ambulance is needed. If the assessment finds they can be safely lifted, the Raizer chair is assembled around them to lift them up. The less time spent on the floor after a fall, the less likely they are to need an ambulance call-out or a trip to hospital.
The findings confirm several benefits and estimated savings including fewer avoidable ambulance call-outs, trips to hospital and hospital admissions, improved wellbeing and dignity for individuals who fell with reduced long lies, and more efficient use of staff time. The Raizer Chairs have empowered caregivers to safely lift fallen individuals – improving wellbeing and lightening the burden on the healthcare system.
As the project has now come to an end, care providers will need to contact Felgains directly for support with servicing and maintenance: email technical@felgains.com or phone 01473 741144.
Raizer Chairs case studies and media releases:
- Chairs which can lift people who fall in their own homes reduce ambulance call-outs, improve dignity and save resources
- Raizer chair cuts A&E visits by local care home residents
- Supplying local care homes with Raizer chairs to lift residents after a fall saves staff time and reduces ambulance call-outs
- Burlington Hall shares their experience of a range of digitising social care projects including Raizer Chairs
Warranty, servicing and maintenance
The equipment was provided with a two year warranty. The care provider assumes sole responsibility for its safety, operation and maintenance while it is in their possession. Reasonable wear and tear is expected, but damage due to misuse or accident may incur a cost to the care provider. The care provider will be financially responsible for repairs of equipment that malfunctions or is damaged due to negligence or improper use while in the care provider’s possession.
The project included the first-year annual maintenance of the chair. As part of PUWER Regulations subsequent annual servicing is required. The ongoing cost of servicing of Raizer Chairs is the responsibility of the care provider and the latest cost information will be provided by Felgains.
Ongoing maintenance is the responsibility of the care provider and Felgains will only proactively reach out to the care provider, if servicing is pre-paid – otherwise, Felgains will rely on the provider to contact them upon seeing the “spanner” symbol illuminate on the base of the chair.
Email technical@felgains.com or phone 01473 741144.
Falls training
Felgains have published some helpful videos and downloads on their Raizer Helpfall Training Hub, including how to assemble and use the chair.
Falls training is available to all care staff across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. Local authorities provide moving and positioning train the trainer training for any provider. There are also eLearning falls awareness courses available – see BLMK Enhanced Health in Care Homes (EHiCH) Care Staff Training Brochure.
Bedfordshire Urgent Community Response (UCR) at East London NHS Foundation Trust is a nursing service for housebound patients aged over 18 years and registered with a Bedfordshire GP. The nurses support patients in their own homes including residential care homes by providing telephone advice, assessments, monitoring and treatment of acute conditions to avoid inappropriate hospital admissions.
UCR professional line: Patients and carers 0345 602 4064, Healthcare professionals 01234 893693.
What residents say:
“I had paramedics out before due to a fall, but on this occasion, the rapid response team came out. The Raizer Chair was absolutely brilliant, so much more comfortable. I felt safer on it. The nurses were very good at checking me over and made sure I was comfortable at all times. I was really pleased.” – Feedback via Cambridge Community Services Family Friendly Test
“The staff members have used the Raizer Chair previously to help me after I unfortunately had a fall. I think it is very good to have in the home as for me, it is not always as easy to get up a fall as it has been in the past.” – JG, resident at Burlington Hall Care Home for more than eight years
“Service users feel happy, comfortable and secure while being raised using the chair. It either reduces or eliminates the 999 calls to paramedics and a lengthy wait on the floor.” – Feedback from Care Support Bedford Branch (home care provider)
What our care services say:
“We have found the chair really useful. I attended the training initially and have then trained my staff how to use it, it is really easy to use and assemble, and we are extremely pleased. We have also had positive feedback from family members who witnessed the training session.” – Laura Gibney, Manager, Collinson Care Home
“We use the Raizer chair to assist people up who have fallen (within restrictions). This ensures they are not left on the floor for long periods of time leading to hospital admissions and a decline in health and mobility. We can act quickly to assure the client and get them back up on their feet safely, helping relieve the pressure on the ambulance service. This has been well received by our clients and their families – they are impressed with how it works, how quick it is and how smooth the lifting is.” – Dana West, Manager, Home Instead Milton Keynes
“We couldn’t live without the Raizer Chair now – it’s amazing.” – Fay Gooch, Home Manager, Oak Manor Care Home
“The Raizer Chair is easy to use and kind to the person who is being assisted by it. Possibly the best piece of equipment to come into the care sector for years.” – Dawn McGuire, Registered Manager, Chase House Residential Nursing Care Home
“It has made such a difference. Before, we could have been waiting 6-8 hours for the paramedics and would have to arrange cover for that member of staff. Now if we are called out, we can be back to the office in under two hours.” – Churchill Health Care (home care provider)
Contact us at:
blmkicb.digital.socialcare@nhs.net