What are the limitations of the TurnAid Patient Turning System?

The TurnAid Patient Turning System is a powered bed-mounted turning device that helps carers reposition and turn people who cannot move themselves. It uses motorised rollers to move the user gently from side to side, reducing physical strain on caregivers and improving patient comfort and dignity during repositioning.

While the TurnAid offers significant benefits, it is not without limitations. Understanding these helps OTs, family members, and care providers make informed choices about whether this technology is suitable for their situation.

Initial cost

One of the first limitations many organisations or families encounter is the upfront cost of purchasing and installing a TurnAid system. Compared with manual handling or slide sheets, the TurnAid requires a higher initial investment. That can be a challenge for tight budgets or small community care providers.

Even though the system often pays for itself over time through reduced staffing needs and lower injury costs, the initial financial outlay may delay adoption in some settings.

Bed compatibility

While the TurnAid is compatible with the majority of community-style profiling beds, not all beds are immediately compatible without adaptors.

Hospital or divan-style beds are usually not compatible with the TurnAid due to having non-standardised bed frames.

Staff training and adoption

Like any piece of healthcare equipment, the TurnAid delivers its full value if staff are trained and confident using it.

If training is inconsistent or incomplete, carers may avoid using the system or use it incorrectly. That can reduce effectiveness and increase risk, particularly if staff revert to manual handling techniques they are more familiar with.

To minimise this risk, we always complete a comprehensive training session for all carers and users of the system when we install the TurnAid in the community.

Patient suitability

Some clinical conditions may make powered turning unsuitable or require careful pre-use assessment by a clinician. Similarly, the TurnAid has a safe working load of 350kg, so clients over this weight limit won’t be suitable for the TurnAid system.

While most people adapt to the system quickly, some patients may find the movement uncomfortable or anxiety-provoking, especially if they are unfamiliar with powered turning or have specific medical conditions. Again, every situation needs to be assessed carefully, and we are willing to facilitate patient trials to enable this.

Conclusion

The TurnAid Patient Turning System is a powerful tool for safer and easier repositioning in many care settings. By understanding its limitations alongside the benefits, care providers can make better decisions about whether TurnAid meets the needs of their clients.

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