Transfers/ Assistive Devices

Know your patient/Goal ?

• Know sitting and standing balance before you start

• Goal: decrease the amount of assistance over time.

Levels of Assistance Know these terms

• Independent: safe without help or supervision

• Contact Guard Assist: Hands on for safety only

• Hand held assist: pt hold hands for safety

• HOA: Hands on assist: ur hands guide the movement

• Minimal: Patient does 75% or more of the effort.

• Moderate: Patient does about 50% to 74% of the effort

• Maximal: Patient does about 25 to 49%

• Dependent: Patient does less than 25% or none.

Set up before you move

• Lock the bed ,wheelchair or cart before every transfer.

• Transfer toward the stronger side when possible (not always).

• remove armrest and footrest when they are in the way

During and after the transfer

• A transfer is not complete until the patient is safe in the new position.

• Stay in direct contact and keep a secure grip.

• let the patient do as much as safely as possible

• Knowing assistance levels and knowing which way were going.

Body mechanics and gait belt

• The farther a load is from your spine, the more force on your back muscles

• Guard the side that needs it the most.

• Stay close to the pt

• pivot dont twist turn by moving your feet.

• Plan on the count of 1,2,3

Lifting techniques Squat lift,Half kneel lift,Golfer’s lift and single leg stance lift ?

• Squat lift: default for heavier objects

• Half kneel lift: Awkward or heavy objects from the floor.

• Golfer’s lift/single leg stance lift: light objects only.