When live-in carers and family members take turns providing care, the riser recliner chair needs to be used with clear, shared instructions. The names of the functions, where the handset is kept and how to ask for a pause should not change with every shift. A written routine helps to summarise what has already been explained, respect the person’s preferences and know whom to contact when in doubt. The chair is there to serve the person who uses it; the sheet supports continuity in the help they receive.
In brief
When carers and family members take turns, a shared routine makes it easier to find instructions, preferences and important changes. The home sheet sits alongside the chair’s manual and the care instructions, without replacing them. Rest, the table, the controls and moves around the home must refer to the actual configuration; anyone who starts caring for the person needs an explanation, not just a list of buttons to read.
Why a change of carer can change the routine
In the same home, a spouse, children, a home carer and stand-ins may take turns. One received the explanation at delivery, another has only seen a video. Even when everyone is careful, they may use different words to describe the same movement or leave the handset in different places.
The point is not to make every preference the same. A person may want a different kind of support in the morning and in the evening. What matters instead is distinguishing what can change for comfort from what must follow the instructions, stability requirements and agreed procedures.
The page on the needs of older people receiving care gives an overview of their needs. Here the goal is more practical: getting the correct information to whoever will be present next, without turning the home into a collection of contradictory instructions.
The person must be able to say what they prefer
Before writing the sheet, ask how the person prefers to be told what is about to happen and what signal they use to stop an activity. Even when they do not operate the handset themselves, they can express approval, discomfort, the wish for a pause or for a different kind of support.
The French National Authority for Health (Haute Autorité de Santé) highlights the right of older people to give their opinion on their support, their activities and their surroundings. Communication should be made accessible, without confusing the need for help with an absence of preferences. [2]
In the routine, include observable instructions, such as “ask before changing position” or “leave the handset in the agreed holder”. Avoid judgements such as “does not cooperate” or “always complains”: they do not explain what is happening and can get in the way of listening.
Three references to keep separate
The manual describes how the product works and which operations are permitted. The professionals’ instructions concern the person’s care, positions and transfers. The home sheet summarises how this information fits into the routine, without changing it.
If an instruction is missing, do not fill the gap with a sequence found on the internet. The Sollevita Team can clarify the functions; the professionals involved in the person’s care clarify care matters. The sheet should also give the name of the contact person to call when the question concerns one of these two areas.
This also applies when other people operate the handset: roles and methods must be compatible with the applicable instructions and with the individual situation. A guide aimed at family members does not automatically authorise any carer to operate every function.
Four activities to describe, not a universal button order
Recurring activities are a good starting point. For each one, note the required configuration, who may operate it and how the movement is communicated. Do not copy a single sequence for every person and every version of the chair.
Returning to the agreed position
Make clear how to return from the activity to the usual position, keeping the controls within reach. Do not simply write “put everything back to zero”: whoever takes over needs to understand which set-up is intended and how to reach it according to the instructions.
Resting and repositioning
Note the functions actually used and the person’s preferences. The backrest, footrest and Push Head have distinct roles; tilt-in-space changes the orientation of the seat and backrest together. Having many adjustments available does not mean they all need to be used. [1]
Moving up to the table
Note which part of the armrest is handled, where it is put away and which position has been checked in relation to the table. The removable upper armrest section and the fully removable side panel are not the same thing. Do not leave components in the way or rest them against the mechanism.
Moving indoors on the wheeled base
Record the checked route, how the power supply and cables are prepared and how the chair is returned to its intended resting position. The wheeled base does not make every floor suitable and does not replace an outdoor wheelchair. When the person gets into or out of the chair, Sollevita must be resting on its feet. [1]
Shared routine: a one-page sheet to fill in
Fill in the table based on the instructions you have received and update it when people, configuration or activities change. Keep it dedicated to everyday use of the chair: medication doses and healthcare procedures belong in the appropriate care documents.
| Item | What to record | Who confirms or updates |
|---|---|---|
| Preferences and communication | How to ask for consent and recognise a request for a pause | The person and the care contact |
| Handset | Where the handset is kept and the intended roles for using it | User and trained contact person |
| Priority activities | Functions already explained, without improvised sequences | Sollevita Team for the product |
| Positioning and care | Reference to the individual instructions | Relevant professional |
| Table and components | Part handled, where it is placed and how it is refitted | Trained contact person |
| Moving and power supply | Applicable procedure and checked route | Trained contact person / Sollevita Team |
| Charging | Who handles it and which instructions to follow | Designated person and stand-in |
| Doubts or faults | Correct contact and activities to suspend | Contact person for that area |
| Sheet version | Date and reason for the last change | Family member in charge |
Where there is no answer yet, write “to be clarified” and note whom to ask. A sheet that looks complete but is full of assumptions is less useful than a short sheet that distinguishes precisely what has been confirmed.
How to pass information on to the next shift
A good handover covers what has changed, not an account of every press of the remote control. For example: the handset has been moved in line with a new instruction, a function has been suspended pending a service visit, or the person has expressed a preference that needs to be checked.
Distinguish between observation and decision. “Reports discomfort in this position today” does not mean “from tomorrow, always use a different angle”. Record the fact and who has been contacted. Changes to the care plan should not arise from informal notes between family members.
Use a single up-to-date reference, on paper or digital, instead of photos of different sheets scattered across messages. Whoever arrives must be able to recognise the valid version. If the change matters for immediate use, communicate it directly and check that it has been understood.
A new carer needs a practical explanation
Showing the sheet is not enough when the new carer does not know the product. Start from the activities they will actually be handling and ask them to point out the functions, the controls and how to stop them. The check can begin without any movement, by showing the symbols and explaining the steps.
Hands-on demonstrations must be appropriate, without involving the person being cared for in tiring repetitions to train several stand-ins. A product video can clarify a function; a complex transfer, on the other hand, requires the relevant skills and professional guidance.
The Sollevita Team offers tutorials and video calls for an explanation of the chair’s functions. This support can be shared with everyone who takes turns providing care, so the family member does not have to piece together every technical detail alone. Adjustments should be linked to the activities and instructions set out for the person. [3]
Battery and components: avoiding the most common ambiguities
Write down precisely what you mean by power supply. “Unplug the chair” can be understood in different ways: disconnecting it from the mains does not necessarily mean switching off the battery. For transport, cleaning and handling components, refer to the correct procedure for the configuration.
Charging needs a designated person, a set place and a method that has already been explained. Do not write invented times or frequencies, and do not infer the available charge from the last person who remembers plugging in the charger. If the system has indicators, their meaning must be the one given by customer support.
Removable parts also need a set place and a check before the next use. Modularity makes activities easier, but it does not make it safe to leave a side panel removed out of habit or to fit a support without following the instructions.
Reporting a problem without turning the sheet into a diagnosis
If new noises, visible damage or irregular movements appear, note what was observed and contact customer support. Do not ask the next shift to repeat the fault “to see if it still does it”. Do not open batteries, motors or control units to complete the note.
When, on the other hand, the person’s health or tolerance changes, the appropriate healthcare contact is needed. The chair can be explained better or adjusted according to instructions, but it must not become an attempt to treat a new symptom.
In an emergency, call for the help needed without waiting for a shift change or the usual reply from customer support. Documentation follows the care of the person; it does not come before it.
When to review the routine
A sheet should be updated when the carer changes, when a component is replaced or when the person’s activities are reassessed. There is no need to wait for a monthly deadline if the situation has already changed.
Go over the less-used items together: some can be removed, others may need a new explanation. The goal is not to add instructions but to keep the ones that are truly necessary and understandable. An effective routine should make it easier to know what to do, not add to the burden on those providing care.
FAQ
Common questions
Why is a shared routine useful for carers and family members?
It lets whoever takes over find the controls, preferences, contacts and activities that have already been agreed. It reduces uncertainty about how things work without replacing training or care instructions. The person can then receive consistent help even when the people around them change.
Can the sheet replace the manual?
No. It summarises instructions already received and points to the references to consult. It does not change the operation intended by the manufacturer and does not replace professional guidance on the person’s transfers or positions.
Does everyone have to use the same button order?
There is no universal sequence. Follow the one intended for the configuration and the activity, respecting the person’s preferences where they are compatible. If two instructions contradict each other, ask for clarification instead of choosing one out of habit.
How should a change of home carer be handled?
Arrange an explanation based on the actual activities, show the updated sheet and check that it has been understood. Do not leave the first use to a summary from memory or an improvised trial with the person being cared for.
Is it useful to photograph the handset?
Yes, as a reminder of the actual handset, without covering or altering buttons and symbols. The photo should help people recognise the functions, not suggest new sequences or replace an explanation that is needed.
Who can clear up a question about using Sollevita?
The Sollevita Team clarifies the product, its functions and the technical instructions. For care, transfers or changes in health, you need the professional involved in the person’s care. The sheet should make both contacts easy to identify.
Sources and references
[1] Sollevita — Features and construction of the chair.
[3] Sollevita — Warranty and service.
Build a routine that makes sense to whoever takes over
Fill in the sheet with the person and with everyone who takes turns providing care. Bring your questions about the functions to the Sollevita Team’s support by video call, leaving care decisions to the relevant professionals: a shared routine grows out of instructions that are understood, not out of a longer list of controls.
