Hip Lift Transfer Assistive System for Reducing Burden on Caregiver’s Waist

Abstract

In Japan, the aging population is expected to increase the number of elderly people in the future. The purpose of this study was to develop a hip lift transfer assistive system to improve the QOL of elderly living and to prevent back pain for caregivers. We extracted the impediment factor and the necessary scene for the assistance, decided on the transfer process from the wheelchair in the toilet, and considered the reduction method of the burden based on the quantitative evaluation of the caregiver’s lumbar burden and developed the device. Then we proposed the algorithm of the system by grasping the behavior and lumbar burden characteristics at the time of using the hip lift transfer assistive system by the developed device in which the proposed support algorithm of standing seating assistance operation is implemented in the actual use environment. Through the assistive movement evaluation experiment and the actual operation in the toilet, we have verified that the use of this device can reduce the caregivers’ lumbar burden below the standard value (3400 N) and have proved the effectiveness of the proposed transfer assistive system.

Proposal for a Human–Machine Collaborative Transfer System Considering Caregivers’ Lower Back Pain and Cognitive Factors in the Elderly during Transfer Movements

“…In previous study, we identified the constraints and requirements for a device adapted to the environment of elderly care facilities. We conducted a quantitative assessment of the burden of caregivers' transfer movements, extracted functional requirements for reducing lumbar burden based on the assessment, and explored specifications for the transfer assistive device [16].…”

“…Subsequently, by utilizing a three-dimensional motion measurement device, we quantitatively assessed the transfer movements of caregivers, extracting equipment requirements to alleviate the lower back burden of caregivers. The equipment specifications, as illustrated in Figure 1, are reported in [16].…”

“…In the previous practical experiments [16] of our study, we employed three control methodologies (manual assistance, automatic lifting, assisted rising) to assess the operation of the developed transfer assistive device. In comparison with the method of simply helping the elderly stand up or sit down by human power without any assistive device As a distinctive feature of the transfer assistance device, we proposed a mechanism designed to add torque around the knee joint of the elderly person to compensate for their weight.…”

“…Emphasis is placed on the evolution of equipment specifications proposed in previous studies [15,16]. Through an investigation of elderly care facilities, we ascertained that transfer actions by caregivers predominantly involve a frontal embrace, addressing scenarios where a single caregiver assists a person in using the toilet.…”

Risk factors for nursing home admission among older adults: Analysis of basic movements and activities of daily living

“…Assisting in transferring can cause back pain in caregivers, and reduced transferring ability significantly increases caregiver burden [21][22][23]. Various welfare interventions have been developed to reduce caregiver burden for transferring [24]. In addition, many daily life situations, such as toileting, bathing, and going out, involve transferring, which can affect nursing care in general.…”