[Usage survey of care equipment in care service facilities for the elderly]

Musculoskeletal disorders(MSD)have been increasing recently among care workers. Since providing care workers with appropriate equipment is effective for preventing MSD, we conducted a questionnaire survey in two nursing homes and a healthcare facility for the elderly to clarify equipment usage, problems and points for improvement. A total of 81 care workers(average age 32.2 yr; 63 females, 18 males)participated in the survey. The average number of residents and the average resident's care level were 70.0 and 3.6, respectively. Wheelchair and height adjustable beds were fully available and always used in all facilities. Portable lifts, ceiling lifts and transfer boards were, however, few in all 3 facilities and the proportion of use was 14.8%, 16.0%, and 23.5%, respectively. Participants reported that it is time consuming to move residents from place to place with lifts and there is a danger of dropping a resident. Although approximately 90% of care workers had received education and training on care techniques, the workload on the low back was found to be great. Therefore, we thought that care workers must consistently use care equipment. To achieve such increased usage, we must improve the usability of the equipment.