Bringing the face, trunk or reclined surface up to the height of the task can reduce some of the caregiver’s bending. Sollevita does not prevent back pain and does not make every manoeuvre safe, but the vertical lifting of the whole structure lets you change the working height without asking the person to stand up.
Observing the real task is more useful than counting the chair’s functions. Shaving requires access to the face; dressing requires side space; massage requires a reclined surface; transferring requires alignment, residual capacity and often other aids. The correct adjustment therefore changes from one task to another.
Assessing the back of the person providing care also means considering frequency and duration. A brief bend may be tolerable, while the same movement repeated many times, held for a long time or combined with holding weight becomes an organisational problem to be addressed methodically.
In brief
- Vertical lifting can bring the person to a more comfortable height for shaving, hair, dressing and some care tasks.
- Side access through a removable side can let the caregiver move closer without working with a twisted torso.
- The reclined position can create a more accessible surface for massage or adjustment, without turning Sollevita into a universal medical couch.
- A difficult transfer should not be solved by using more force: it may require a board, a slide sheet, a patient lift or professional assessment.
- The most useful trial consists of simulating the real tasks and not judging the chair only when it is stationary.
Which movements really tire the back of the person providing care
Leaning over the face for several minutes can tire the lower back during shaving, facial hygiene or hair care. Raising the chair higher lets you bring the person up to the caregiver’s hands, instead of forcing the caregiver to keep bringing their torso closer to the person.
Reaching the opposite side can add a twist to the bend. Freeing the working side, when the configuration and safety allow it, lets the caregiver bring their feet and pelvis closer to the chair and reduce the movement made with outstretched arms.
Holding a person who is slipping or who suddenly loses their support is different from simply accompanying them. In this situation the chair can offer better height and access, but it does not replace a transfer assessment, the correct number of assistants or the mechanical aid required.
Repeating small adjustments for many hours can weigh as much as a single demanding movement. Rearranging cushions, manually lifting the legs or dragging the pelvis are signals that the seat, depth, footrest or chair adjustments need to be reassessed.
Vertical lifting: changing the height without changing the task
Raising the whole structure vertically is different from the stand-assist function. The stand-assist accompanies the pelvis towards an upright position; vertical lifting keeps the person seated or reclined and brings the working surface to a more favourable height.
Adjusting the height before starting avoids constant corrections during the task. The caregiver can bring the face up to hand height for shaving, the back of the head to working height for hair, or the reclined surface to a more suitable height for a massage compatible with the product.
Bringing the chair back to the correct height before getting on, getting off or starting a transfer avoids confusing the working height with the safe height for the person. Every sequence must follow the manual and, when the task is complex, the plan agreed with professionals.
Side access: working close instead of working far
Removing the upper part of the armrest can free the space needed for the table, while removing the entire side can create side access for dressing, adjustment or transfer. The two operations do not have the same purpose and should not be confused.
Keeping the opposite armrest can offer the person a reference point during some tasks. Removing both sides without a practical reason can reduce the available supports and does not automatically make care easier.
Bringing the caregiver closer to the working point reduces the need to reach with outstretched arms. This choice must, however, leave the chair’s movements free and keep cables, clothing and instruments away from the mechanisms.
Task, posture and adjustment: a practical matrix
Comparing the movement before and after the adjustment helps you understand whether the function produces a concrete benefit. The table does not replace an ergonomic assessment, but it makes visible the tasks to discuss during the consultation.
| Task | Possible critical posture | Adjustment to check | When the chair is not enough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaving and facial care | Bent torso and raised arms | Vertical lifting and Push Head as support | Uncontrolled head or complex medical procedure |
| Hair | Prolonged bending towards the back of the head | Higher height and slight backrest adjustment | Person does not tolerate the position or specific immobilisation is needed |
| Dressing | Twisting to reach the opposite side | Removable side and working height | Most of the weight must be supported or complex devices managed |
| Compatible massage | Working on a seat that is too low | Reclined position and vertical lifting | The task requires a professional couch or incompatible manoeuvres |
| Transfer | Holding the weight and difference in height | Alignment, free side, possible aid | The person does not support their weight or more operators/a lift are needed |
A first-party use case: the same morning, two different set-ups
Observing a typical morning shows why height matters. In a low set-up, the family member bends over for shaving, moves the person towards the edge to adjust the top and transfers them to another surface to receive a massage.
Reorganising the same morning with Sollevita means adjusting the height first, freeing only the side that is needed and switching to the reclined position without changing station. The advantage is not “doing everything with the chair”, but eliminating unnecessary steps and making the ones that remain more orderly.
Documenting the demonstration with two side photographs lets the La Castellana team show the difference without resorting to clinical promises. The images must represent a real task, with consent and with the chair used according to the instructions.
When to stop the manoeuvre and ask for an assessment
Stopping a transfer is necessary when the person loses the load on their limbs, slips, does not control their trunk or forces the caregiver to support most of their weight. Increasing the effort does not solve the problem and can expose both to a sudden event.
Requesting an assessment is appropriate when the manoeuvre changes rapidly, near-falls appear, two people are needed without a clear plan, or the patient lift already present cannot reach the chair. HSE recommends that handling, equipment, environment and the person’s ability be assessed together.
Distinguishing light assistance from complex handling prevents an article on caregiver comfort from turning into a risky tutorial. Sollevita can be an enabler, but the technique, the aids and the number of people needed depend on the case.
Three organisational mistakes that increase fatigue
Starting the task without preparing the space forces the caregiver to interrupt, twist the torso and look for tools while holding the person. Laying out the razor, towel, clothes or cushions first reduces unnecessary movements and lets you use the height adjustment only once.
Using the same height for all tasks confuses the person’s comfort with the comfort of the person providing care. Shaving requires access to the face, dressing requires access to the side, and a transfer requires a height compatible with the other surface: the chair must change its set-up deliberately, not simply stay “higher”.
Operating the movements without clear communication can surprise the person and force the caregiver to hold them. Warning before each adjustment, proceeding in small steps and checking the support of the head, feet and arms makes the task more predictable and reduces sudden corrections.
Finishing the task by returning the controls, armrests and height to the agreed configuration prevents the next caregiver from finding a chair set up for a different movement. The continuity of the routine is part of ergonomics as much as the individual adjustment.
How to prepare a useful trial
Listing the tasks that force you to bend lets you build a targeted trial. It is more useful to state “shaving for ten minutes every morning” than to write generically “personal care”.
Measuring the height of the person providing care and photographing the current position helps assess the working height. The trial must also include the return to the safe position, because the adjustment does not end when the task is finished.
Trying the side access with the objects actually used avoids an abstract demonstration. A towel, a hairdressing cape or the table can change space and posture more than a technical sheet suggests.
Next step
List three tasks in which the person providing care today has to bend or work with outstretched arms. Send a short description, the approximate heights and, with the person’s consent, a side photograph: the Sollevita team will be able to simulate only the relevant adjustments.
FAQ
Common questions
Can the chair prevent the caregiver's back pain?
No. It can reduce some bending, reaching and manual handling, but back pain depends on many factors, and complex handling requires training and assessment.
What is the difference between vertical lifting and stand-assist?
Vertical lifting changes the height of the whole chair with the person seated or reclined. The stand-assist accompanies the pelvis up and forward to help with standing.
Do you need to remove the armrest for shaving?
Not always. Adjusting the height and the Push Head may be enough. The side should be removed only when it really improves access and the configuration stays safe.
Does the reclined position replace a massage couch?
Not universally. It can create a more accessible surface for compatible tasks, but the professional must check stability, load capacity, supports and the limits of the treatment.
When is a patient lift needed?
When the person does not support their own weight, the transfer requires full control, or the professional assessment indicates it. The chair does not automatically replace the lift.
What should I show during the consultation?
Show or describe three real tasks, the posture of the person providing care, the working side, the aids present and the moment when the manoeuvre becomes more tiring.
