weights

do you weigh residents at the same time in the same position? do residents have their feet off the ground when being weighed on chairs? are the same staff having errors in reading???

I need help! We are having alot of problems getting accurate weekly and monthly weights. the RD is so upset and I have tried to come up with a solution but nohting seems to work. We use lifts that have scales, beds with scales, and a weight chair. Can you please give me some suggestions? Thanks

Make sure your scales are recalibrated before each resident is weighed, follow the owner's manual. Weigh scales all take different measurements, document which scale was used on a resident and emphasize that this is the only scale to be used on 'said' resident. After a few months you should notice a pattern.

Chair scales seem to vary depending on where the resident sits or if he/she is leaning back.

The most dependable scale I have worked with is the type the wheelchair rolls onto. You weigh the chair and resident then weigh the chair after the resident is out of it, subtract the two and their is your weight. You must be vigilent and make sure that blankets that were on the resident when weighed are on the chair when weighed.

I don't know what your ward is like but if you can use only one scale you'd probably have a more consistent result. Good Luck