Empowering people and carers requires hospitals to implement a range of strategies focusing on communication, education, support, and environmental adjustments.
Staff often default to doing tasks for patients rather than empowering them to maintain independence. We need a fundamental mindset shift towards enabling patient mobility and self care."
D1. Provide people with education and information around the importance of staying active and motivated to enable proactive participation in goal setting at the time of admission
Patients who are capable should be encouraged to take responsibility for their own mobility, with staff providing oversight rather than daily intervention. We need to move away from a fear-based risk-averse approach to one that empowers patients."
- Tailored public education materials: Develop easy-to-understand materials (written, visual, and multimedia) that explain the benefits of active participation in their care and moving and handling needs. If possible, these materials should be customised to people's specific condition, health literacy level, and cultural background.
- Benefits and consequences: Clearly communicate to people, carers and families not only the benefits of staying active but also consequences of not being mobile during their stay in the hospital (such as deconditioning resulting in increased risk of falls and loss of independence).
- Family involvement: Where appropriate, encourage family members to participate in care planning and provide support to their loved ones. Educate family members on how they can help motivate and empower their loved ones, including the use of any moving and handling equipment. Where possible, provide hands-on training to carers and families on safe moving and handling techniques, tailored to a person's specific needs and abilities.
- Regular communication and adjust goals: Incorporate a routine for regular check-ins with people during ward rounds to discuss their progress around their goals, address concerns, and adjust goals if required.
- Transparent information sharing: Provide people with access to their medical records and test results, encouraging them to ask questions and participate in decision-making.
- Peer support programmes: Where possible connect people, carers and families with others who have experienced the use of moving and handling equipment to provide emotional support, practical advice and motivation.