Transferring

Use of Gait Belts: Gait belts or transfer belts, provide caregivers to secure points and hold onto the clients while assisting in walking and transferring activities. Gait belts help prevent the risk of falls however, the caregiver helps ensure independence and safety measures for the client when using the device.

Transferring Out of Bed: Transferring out of the bed may be a fundamental principle that a client needs assistance with. When we assist with transferring, we communicate with the client safety procedures and expectations, assembles assistive devices needed, respect the client’s comfort and privacy, assist the client with positioning, ensure safety measures, and promotes independence.

Transferring from a Wheelchair to a Chair: Services for assisting an individual with transfers can vary from minimum to maximum assistance. When transferring the client, the caregiver ensures good body mechanics, communicates safety procedures and expectations, assembles assistive devices needed, respect the client’s comfort and privacy, assist the client with positioning, and promotes independence.

Ambulation (walking): Ambulation is walking or moving from one place to another. Every client is different in their level of need for assistance and will vary. Although ambulation is an essential practice of healthy living, clients who ambulate or practice ambulation relieve stress/anxiety, improve circulation, and muscle strength and decrease digestive problems. 

Caregivers assist in ambulation by:

•  Proving and supplying assistive devices/equipment such as canes, walkers, gait belts, etc. 
• Using effective communications and safety procedures
• Ensuring that assistive devices fit properly
• Watching and observing signs of fatigue
• Maintaining good body mechanics