How to Weigh Someone Who Can't Stand

One of the ways of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is by weighing yourself regularly.

An accurate weighing routine will go a long way in helping you to determine if you’re overweight or underweight.

It can also help you to prevent obesity and guide you on the right food to take if you’re on medication.

Weighing a person who can stand is not a big deal since the traditional weighing scale requires you to stand on it.

But weighing a person who cannot stand or move due to an illness or disability can be very challenging.

This article will guide you on how to effectively weigh a person who can’t stand.

If you’re a caregiver or assistant who is looking for the correct information on how to weigh a disabled or bedridden patient, this article contains everything you need to know.

Things You Must Consider Before Weighing a Disabled Person
- The nature of disability or illness
- Type of weighing scale
Types of Weighing Scales for People Who Cannot Stand
How to Weigh Someone Who Can’t Stand (Step-By-Step Guide)

Things You Must Consider Before Weighing a Disabled Person

The nature of disability or illness

This is one of the foremost things that you must put into thorough consideration before weighing a disabled or immobile person.

Is the person in a wheelchair or bedridden? Can they move any part of their body or not? Are they capable of sitting upright or not?

Once you can determine the nature of their disability, you will be able to know the type of weighing scale to use.

Type of weighing scale

If the disabled patient is on a wheelchair, the best or most ideal weighing scale that can be used for them is a wheelchair scale, since they are unable to stand.

However, if the patient is permanently lying down or bedridden, the appropriate weighing scale to use is a bed scale.

Types of Weighing Scales for People Who Cannot Stand

how to weigh a bed-bound patient at home

Hoist scale

This type of scale is used for weighing patients who cannot stand or who are bedbound.

It is commonly used in hospitals and care homes. This scale enables patients to be weighed while in a hoist.

Even though the scale is cost-effective when compared to other scales (especially the bed scale), it may cost a degree of discomfort or inconvenience to the patients.

This is because they will have to be put into the hoist and lifted before the weighing can take place.

Wheelchair scale

This scale can be used by people who use crutches and people who are wheelchair-bound.

Patients who are just learning how to walk again can also use this scale to weigh themselves.

It’s the best option for wheelchair users because of the ease that comes with its usage.

It is an electronic wheelchair that’s very simple to operate. And has a sturdy steel surface that the wheelchair can stand on during the weighing process.

Chair scale

Unlike the wheelchair scale that is quite similar to the traditional scale, a chair scale is a clinical scale that is chair-like.

It’s effortless to operate and only requires the patient to sit on it while it accurately checks their weight.

Bed scale

This is a clinical scale used to weigh patients who are temporarily or permanently bedbound. It is also used for patients who are unable to move.

Unlike the hoist scale, the bed scale is more comfortable and convenient.

There are various types of bed scales. And their usage depends on the patient’s needs.

For instance, the permanent bed scale is fixed to the floor and will require the patient to be transported to where the scale is located.

The portable bed scale, on the other hand, can be taken to the patient since it has portable floor pads.

How to Weigh Someone Who Can’t Stand (Step-By-Step Guide)

Various methods can be used to weigh a disabled or immobile person. It all depends on the type of disability the person is suffering from.

The following are the various ways.

Using a hoist scale

Step 1: Turn on the scale
Step 2: Proceed to add the sling to the hook and press TARE to remove the weight of the scale from that of the patient
Step 3: Place the patient into the sling
Step 4: Stabilize the patient’s weight by using the HOLD button
Step 5: Ensure that you don’t stabilize the patient or hold the scale during the reading process so as not to affect the accuracy of the result
Step 6: Note down the weight as shown on the screen after it has finished reading

Using a wheelchair scale

Step 1: Turn on the wheelchair scale
Step 2: Select TARE and enter the known wheelchair weight, then press ENTER to confirm. A negative value will be used to subtract the weight of the wheelchair from that of the patient
Step 3: Move the patient onto the scale by using their wheelchair
Step 4: Press HOLD to freeze the displayed weight on the screen after the reading is complete
Step 5: Document the patient’s weight

Using a chair scale

Step 1: Release the armrest of the chair and assist the patient to sit on the chair scale. After that, return the armrest to its normal position
Step 2: Place the patient’s foot on the footrest and ensure that they are sitting comfortably
Step 3: Turn on the scale
Step 4: Ensure that the patient remains motionless until the display shows a steady weight
Step 5: Press HOLD to freeze the weight showing on the display
Step 6: Raise the footrest before the patient stands up, and then remove the patient from the scale.
Step 7: Document the patient’s weight

Using a bed scale

Step 1: Take each of the scale pads to a corner of the bed and put them next to the castors
Step 2: Use the TARE button to subtract the weight of the bed from that of the patient by pressing it for about 3 seconds, then entering the weight of the bed by using the number keypad button
Step 3: Roll the patient onto the bed scale and ensure that the four castors are well-positioned on the pad
Step 4: Record the patient’s weight once it displays

How to Weigh Someone Who Can’t Stand

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