Falling is a natural part of aging. On average, an American senior falls every second of every day.
Nine times out of ten, these falls don’t result in injury, however they still pose a major challenge for individuals who need help getting up.
That’s why Steve Powell created the IndeeLift – also known as the “People Picker Upper” – a human floor lift that’s designed to safely and comfortably lift a person off the floor after they’ve fallen.
IndeeLift was created to turn a stressful fall into a non-event, empowering individuals to move on with their day with confidence, independence, and dignity.
Used at home, healthcare centers, and assisted living facilities, as well as by emergency medical services (EMS).
IndeeLift is restoring independence to those at risk of falling, protecting caregivers and first responders from common lift-and-transfer injuries, and drastically cutting down on the resource drain associated with fall recovery.
The Issue Of Fall Recovery In The US
The United States is home to more than 55 million people aged 65 or older – a number that is expected to grow to more than 80 million by 2040.
Fall rates among this population are high – with a quarter of all U.S. seniors experiencing at least one fall each year, and oftentimes recurring falls.
In fact, 50% of people who call 911 to be helped up after a fall will do so a second time within two weeks.
The rate of falls in the U.S. poses a serious issue not only for seniors, but for the wider community as a whole.
Many seniors are forced to rely on emergency medical services to help them up after a fall.
This places a massive burden on emergency departments, who must regularly spend time and money responding to lift-assist calls.
Studies have shown that the use of EMS for fall-related calls has substantial financial consequences, and takes EMS availability away from more urgent calls.
Since fall recovery calls are typically considered “low priority” by EMS, the unfortunate byproduct is often seniors stuck on the ground for an extended period of time after a fall, even if they’ve dialed 911.
This reality is a dangerous one – both physically and emotionally. Being stuck on the ground for an extended period of time can lead to further health issues, and even increased rate of death.
Needless to say, it can also have a severe impact on a person’s confidence and mental health, and may discourage them from being active in the future out of fear of becoming stuck or stranded.
In many cases, the issue of fall recovery is enough to scare seniors out of their homes and into senior care facilities.
Falls also pose a physical health risk for EMS, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and family members of those who have fallen.
“Lift and transfer” injuries – which occur when a person lifts another from the ground – are extremely common. 62% of all prehospital provider back injuries result from lifting patients, and as a whole, back injuries cost the healthcare industry an estimated $20 billion annually.
In a healthcare setting, these injuries tend to drive staff turnover, with 20% of nurses who leave direct patient care citing injury risks as a cause.
How IndeeLift Makes Fall Recovery Simple, Safe, And Dignified
When IndeeLift founder Steve Powell’s parents entered their twilight years, both of them began to experience falls.
They would oftentimes find themselves stuck on the floor with no way up, relying on caregivers and others to help them get up and resume their day.
Speaking with other stakeholders in the space, Steve quickly realized that the issue of fall recovery spread much further than the confines of his own home.
He set out to create a tool that could help seniors to safely, comfortably, and most importantly – confidently get back to their day after falling, while also cutting down on the impact of falls for EMS, healthcare workers, caregivers, and family members.
Years later, IndeeLift is being used in homes, healthcare centers, and assisted living facilities, as well as by EMS, to improve outcomes for seniors, their loved ones, and the wider community.
At the heart of IndeeLift’s mission is a dedication to helping seniors get up quickly, safely, and confidently.
The device was designed to be used independently or with help, as it can easily wheel over to a person after they’ve fallen.
Across the board, the use of IndeeLift is a safer and more comfortable alternative for seniors than traditional lift and assist methods.
Studies have shown that individuals feel significantly more comfortable and secure while being lifted by a mechanical floor lift like IndeeLift, as opposed to being lifted by another person.
The increased sense of comfort and security that IndeeLift provides only scratches the surface of its emotional impact.
As many seniors know, the fall cycle is a dangerous one. It only takes one fall to foster a deep, crippling fear of doing so again, largely due to the inability to independently get back up.
As a result, many seniors become less active, ultimately weakening their bodies, and actually increasing their risk of falling – leading to a dangerous cycle with significant physical and emotional consequences.
IndeeLift helps to break this cycle by empowering seniors to get up and resume their day after falling. This feeling of security can be a game-changer for many.
Some IndeeLift users have been able to leverage the device to stay out of senior care facilities for years, and instead age at home – an option that nearly 90% of American seniors prefer.
At the same time, IndeeLift can drastically reduce the injury risk for caregivers, healthcare workers, and EMS when it comes to lift and transfer injuries.
The use of lifting equipment to help individuals up has been shown to reduce exposure to manual lifting injuries by 95%, cutting down on injuries and turnover for key members of our community.
Within healthcare centers and senior living facilities, IndeeLift also helps workers to comply with OSHA recommendations.
OSHA’s guidelines suggest that workers lift no more than 35 pounds – which is of course far less than the weight of a person.
To comply with this, and to reduce liability, many senior living and healthcare facilities operate with a “zero lift policy” – meaning that workers are not allowed to lift a person up by hand after they’ve fallen. However, by using
IndeeLift, healthcare professionals can immediately help a person who has fallen – without risking injury or liability due to unsafe lifting practices.
Across the US, IndeeLift is being used by seniors, healthcare workers, senior living facilities, and EMS to drastically improve outcomes for those who have fallen, while reducing the negative impact of falls for the wider community.
These impacts will only be amplified as more individuals and organizations recognize the importance of fall recovery – and invest in life-assistive tools like IndeeLift to address these common problems.
You can find more information about IndeeLift – and purchase your own – at IndeeLift.com.
