A LeadingAge Iowa member recently had a complaint/incident on-site survey in which the surveyor questioned the lack of an assessment to ensure that residents are safe utilizing electric lift chairs. Fortunately, our member did not receive a deficiency for this but questioned if this was something others were doing. In reviewing survey trends this is not something that has been cited in Iowa previously, however, several other states reported on the American Association of Post-Acute Nursing (AAPACN) community page that they have been cited for this. Kellie Van Ree, Director of Clinical Services researched the regulation and consulted with Dr. Kathleen Weissberg, Occupational Therapist (OT) with Select Rehabilitation on necessary clinical evaluations to appropriately determine if an electric lift chair is safe to be used.

Reviewing F689 in Appendix PP, the regulation states that nursing homes must ensure that the resident environment remains as free of accident hazards as is possible. The intent of the regulation states that nursing homes must identify hazard(s) and risk(s); evaluate them, implement interventions to reduce, and monitor for effectiveness and modifying interventions when necessary. While this pertains to many aspects of nursing home care, it is a potential that an electric lift chair presents a risk to certain residents.

Dr. Kathleen Weissberg and Kellie Van Ree developed a sample Electric Lift Chair Assessment form for members to use to ensure that residents in their care are safe to utilize these chairs based on pertinent medical diagnoses, history of falls related to electric lift chairs, cognition, and demonstrated use of the chair. An accompanied policy template for Use of Electric Lift Chairs was developed as a template for members to use in conjunction with the policy.

If you have any questions, please contact Kellie Van Ree.