Care chair for caregivers and family: how to share a safe care routine

Sharing a single routine keeps each caregiver from inventing a different way of using the chair. The hired caregiver, children, spouse and occasional helpers need to know which position to start from, who operates the controls, which components can be removed and how to leave Sollevita at the end of the activity.

Explaining all the functions at once can create confusion. It is more useful to teach a few sequences tied to the day: returning to a seated position, getting ready for a meal, moving to rest, moving the chair and handling an unusual situation.

Writing down the routine does not replace the manufacturer’s manual or a professional plan. The home card serves to translate individual instructions and decisions into visible, consistent and shared steps.

In brief

• An agreed starting position reduces uncertainty when the person providing assistance changes.
• The sequences should describe only the activities actually used, not every available function.
• The trolley, battery and armrests require specific checks before and after use.
• The person being assisted must be warned before every movement, even when they are not using the handset directly.
• A card near the chair should contain contacts and restrictions, but not unnecessary health data.

Why routines change when the people change

Watching two caregivers can reveal important differences. One always closes the footrest before moving the chair; another leaves the battery connected; one removes the armrest for the table; another tries to approach from the front.

Comparing the sequences makes it possible to tell harmless preferences from behaviours incompatible with the manual or with the person’s plan. The goal is not to standardise every detail, but to fix the steps that affect safety and comfort.

Involving the person being assisted keeps the routine from being built only around those providing help. Times, preferred position, way of communicating and level of independence must remain central.

Defining the starting position and the closing position

Setting a starting position makes every activity more predictable. For example, a stable seated position, closed footrest, neutral tilt-in-space (tilting) and an agreed height can be the point to start from, if consistent with the manual and with the person.

Defining a closing position avoids the next shift finding Sollevita raised, reclined or with a side removed. Armrests, control, cable and battery must be left in the agreed configuration.

Checking that the person is comfortable before leaving the room truly closes the sequence. The technical movement is not the same as the end of care.

The four sequences to teach first

Returning to a seated position is the most important sequence, because it must be known even during tiredness or unexpected events. The order of the controls should be defined on the actual product and not copied from a generic description.

Getting ready for a meal can include moving with the trolley, a stable stop, removing the upper part of the armrest and adjusting the height relative to the table. Each step should be carried out with the area clear.

Moving to rest can include the footrest, reclining, tilt-in-space (tilting) and Push Head. The routine should indicate which adjustments the person prefers and which require assistance.

Handling the trolley must include checking the route, the person’s position, cables, thresholds and returning onto the feet before getting on or off. The trolley should not be treated like an outdoor wheelchair.

The Sollevita routine on one page

Filling in a single page reduces scattered messages and verbal instructions. The card can be laminated or kept in a folder near the manual, avoiding unnecessary health information.

Handing over information between shifts

Noting down a change in routine keeps it from staying in the memory of a single person. A newly tolerated position, a difficult button or a problematic threshold must be communicated before the next shift.

Keeping technical observations separate from clinical symptoms keeps the card readable. Motor noise, a crushed cable and a flat battery concern the product; new pain, weakness or dizziness require the appropriate medical pathway.

Using a notebook or a simple digital log can be useful when many people take turns. The information should be proportionate and protected, especially if it contains health data.

Battery, trolley and removable components

Checking the charge according to the instructions avoids the chair stopping during an important sequence. The routine should indicate who recharges, where and how often, without inventing cycles not provided for by the manufacturer.

Removing an armrest requires a safe place to set it down. Leaving it in the pathway can create obstacles or damage; refitting it badly can compromise the next support.

Moving the chair with the person on board requires an informed operator. Floor, thresholds and doors must be checked first and the person must stay correctly positioned.

Returning the feet to position before the person gets on or off must become an explicit step, not implicit knowledge.

First-party case: three caregivers, one sequence

Gathering the habits of three people can show that each one uses a different combination for rest. The daughter adjusts the Push Head first, the caregiver opens the footrest, the spouse uses only the backrest.

Trying the sequence together makes it possible to choose the order that is most understandable for the person and consistent with the manual. The decision is recorded on the card with photographs of the buttons actually used.

Reviewing the routine after a week makes it possible to cut unnecessary steps and correct those that cause confusion. First-party value comes from observing the product in a real home, not from a universal protocol.

Initial training and updates

Letting every person who will assist try the controls is more effective than a theoretical explanation. Those with weak hands, reduced vision or little familiarity with technology may need a different way of learning.

Using the teach-back method helps check understanding: the caregiver repeats it in their own words and demonstrates the sequence, while the technician corrects any steps.

Repeating the training when the configuration changes keeps old habits from staying in use. A new lift, a different sling or a change in mobility require a review.

A mini checklist before every shared use

Checking that the area in front of, behind and under the chair is clear reduces the risk of an object blocking the movement. Every caregiver must carry out the same check, even when the room looks unchanged.

Checking that the cables and handset are intact avoids starting a sequence with a crushed connection or the control out of reach. The presence of the battery does not remove the need to check the other cables.

Checking the person’s position makes it possible to verify feet, hands, clothing and head support before operating the motors. A blanket or a sleeve can get into the mechanical area if no one looks at the full setup.

Announcing the movement before pressing the button keeps the person involved and reduces surprise. A short, always-identical phrase can become part of the shared routine.

Confirming that the chosen configuration is the one for the activity avoids using the open side during standing up or moving the chair before restoring the intended position.

Recording an anomaly, even a temporary one, keeps the next caregiver from discovering it alone. An unusual noise, an intermittent button or a wheel that runs poorly must be described and reported to support as needed.

Planning a monthly review of the card keeps contacts, authorised people and sequences up to date. A valid routine is not a static sheet: it changes when the person regains independence, when a new caregiver takes over or when another aid is introduced.

Keeping the model number and the support references near the card speeds up dealing with problems without asking every family member to look for invoices or messages.

What not to put on the home card

Do not include instructions that contradict the manual or that have been suggested informally without verification. The card should summarise, not change, the applicable guidance.

Do not include detailed diagnoses if they are not needed for the activity. It is enough to describe useful needs and signals, while keeping the person’s information confidential.

Do not create procedures for complex transfers without a competent professional. The card can refer to the approved plan and indicate who to contact, but not replace it.

Next step

Fill in the “Sollevita routine on one page” together with everyone who will use or manage the chair. Bring the card to the delivery or the video call: the team can review sequences, checks and responsibilities. The routine should be updated every time mobility or the care team changes.