Science Friction: Can Bed Mobility Be Easier for Patients and Caregivers?

Innovative Aging: Science Friction: Can Bed Mobility Be Easier for Patients and Caregivers? (Episode 10)

Audio Runtime: 53 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 21 Minutes

Nancy McGovern, retired physiotherapist and healthcare innovator, joins host Carol Chiang to explore a deceptively simple question: Can sheets and sleepwear be designed to make bed mobility easier? With more than 50 years of experience as a physiotherapist, injury prevention advisor, and innovator across all healthcare sectors, Nancy shares the clinically driven journey behind her development of a mobility-enhancing garment and sheet system. Together, she and Carol discuss practical challenges faced by patients and caregivers and what the science says about friction-reducing textiles. Whether you’re working with clients poststroke, managing nocturnal immobility in Parkinson’s, or simply looking for smarter ways to support aging in place, this conversation may change how you think about the bed itself.

Learning Outcomes

• Analyze the evidence on the effectiveness of friction-reducing assistive devices in reducing the risks associated with manual bed repositioning
• Determine the situations in which a mobility-enhancing garment and sheet set provides the most benefit for clients and caregivers
• Solve patient case scenarios involving impaired bed mobility by applying friction-reducing systems that support safe movement and reduce caregiver burden

Guest Bio: Nancy McGovern brings more than 50 years of experience as a physiotherapist, ergonomics advisor, and healthcare innovator. Her career reflects the significant evolution of safe patient handling and mobility—from early body mechanics training to the adoption of ergonomic legislation and no-lift practices. After beginning her career in direct patient care, Nancy spent the latter half of her career specializing in workplace health and safety, developing programs aligned with Workers‘ Compensation Board (WCB) ergonomic regulations to reduce musculoskeletal injuries, particularly those related to patient handling. Rising rates of bed positioning injuries led her to focus on identifying root causes and designing practical, evidence-based solutions. Insights from this work informed the development of a second-generation product, Comfort Linen—an autonomous, mobility-enhancing garment and sheet system that is now supporting older adults in living more independently, safely, and comfortably at home.

Disclosure: Our guest today is affiliated with a company that develops technology in the area we’re discussing. While we won’t be endorsing any specific product, listeners should be aware of this connection as part of our commitment to transparency.

This is an audio-only course. Additional materials are available for download within the course. To receive continuing education credit, complete the course and the accompanying quiz.