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Mobility

Transferring with assistance

Lesson: 4 of 6
Topic: 3 of 4
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In this topic, you will learn how to assist a person to transfer in a way that is safe for both people.

Always encourage the person to do as much as they are able to themselves.

1. Set up

  • If the person has difficulty shifting weight off their buttocks, ask the caregiver to assist from behind
  • If the person is not comfortable leaning forward, ask the caregiver to position themselves in front to assist.

A man pushes through his arms and shifts weight off his buttocks to lift himself across the transfer board with assistance.

2. Prepare to assist and where to hold

Caregiver assisting from behind

  • Place one leg next to the rear wheel of the wheelchair
  • Position the other leg as close to the transfer surface as possible. Resting a knee on the surface can help
  • Hold around the person’s hips to assist their lift.

Caregiver assisting from in front

  • Stand with legs apart and one foot in front of the other
  • Support the person on their shoulders.

3. Transfer

Coordinate the lift together, such as by counting “1,2,3.”

Watch this video from the WHO Wheelchair Service Training Package – basic level to see how to provide assistance when transferring using a transfer board.

Question

Where did the health worker position their legs while assisting the person to transfer?

Select all that apply.




Click to see answer

If you selected c and d, you are correct!

Positioning one leg next to the wheelchair and the other on or near the bed, helps the assistant to keep their back straight and feel balanced during the transfer.

Safety tips

  • When assisting, always bend your knees and ‘brace’ before lifting to protect your back
  • If assisting from in front do not stand too close. It is important that the person can lean forward comfortably to lift.

Do not pull or push the person across the board!

If the person or their assistant do not feel confident with the transfer, with their permission refer to a rehabilitation service for more support and advice.

Activity

In pairs, practice assisting a person to transfer from wheelchair to bed or toilet chair using a transfer board.

Practice:

  1. Set up
  2. Prepare
  3. Transfer

If you are not sure about the three steps, watch the video again and then practice.

 Question

Maria, a woman wearing a headscarf, sits in her wheelchair. A young woman also wearing a headscarf, is pushing Maria's wheelchair.

Remember Maria?

Maria is 61 years old and has multiple sclerosis. She is using a wheelchair to move around with assistance from her daughter, Lisa. Lisa will be assisting Maria when she transfers using a transfer board.

Maria would prefer Lisa to stand in front whilst she transfers.

How can Lisa assist Maria to transfer?

Organize the steps into the correct order by numbering them 1 to 4.

Click to see answer

Correct steps for Lisa to assist Maria to transfer:

  1. Encourage Maria to move to the front of the wheelchair seat
  2. Assist Maria to position her feet flat on the floor
  3. Encourage Maria to lean to one side to make it easier for Lisa to insert the transfer board in place