Turning and positioning patients in the palliative
care setting can be made safer for both the
patient and caregiver through the use of turning
and positioning assist devices. Health professionals
responsible for providing palliative care
should investigate, where practical, what aiding
devices are available and which devices might be
appropriate in their setting. Risk related to turning
and positioning palliative care patients can
also be reduced through application of appropriate
bed support surfaces. When considering
the right surface, a full patient assessment
should be conducted to match the patient’s need
with the best surface available. All palliative
care patients should have at least a high-specification
foam mattress such as memory foam. For
those patients at greater risk of developing pressure
ulcers or who might be difficult to turn and
position, more sophisticated powered surfaces
should be considered. FIS surfaces provide a
good option for application in palliative care
environments. Through an understanding and
application of available technology, a higher
quality of bed care can be delivered to palliative
care patients.