Transfer boards help a person to move from one surface to another, while sitting down.
Transfer boards are sometimes called sliding boards. However, it is important that a person lifts when moving from one surface to another.
Sliding can damage a person’s skin.
People who use transfer boards
Transfer boards assist people who have difficulty moving from one surface to another.
A person may benefit from the support of a transfer board if they:
- Have difficulty standing or are not able to stand
- Are worried about falling, or have fallen more than once in the past year
- Experience pain while transferring.
Transfer boards make the environment easier to transfer between by connecting the two surfaces.
Question
Which of these might be an environment where a transfer board may be used?
Select all that apply.
All are correct!
If a person has difficulty with transfers, they may benefit from using a transfer board in many different environments.
Read on to meet some people who use transfer boards.
Frailty
A person who is frail may benefit from a transfer board because they have poor balance and weakness.
Meet Verna
Verna is 89 years old and lives with her husband Leif. Verna is frail and has difficulty standing up to transfer from her bed to the toilet chair at night. She needs assistance from her husband Leif because she is worried about falling.
Question
Why may Verna benefit from using a transfer board?
Select all that apply.
If you selected a and c, you are correct!
Verna has difficulty standing and is worried about falling. A transfer board may help.
Pain
A transfer board may help reduce or avoid pain when a person is transferring.
Meet Ejaz
Ejaz is a fit 24 year old. She has a spinal cord injury and cannot move her legs. Ejaz lives alone and usually transfers without assistance.
Ejaz has injured her shoulder and is finding the transfer to a vehicle difficult. The big lift from her wheelchair to the car hurts her shoulder.
Question
Why may Ejaz benefit from using a transfer board?
Select all that apply.
If you selected a and b, you are correct!
Ejaz has a spinal cord injury and is not able to stand. The pain in her shoulder makes it difficult to use her arm to transfer.
A transfer board may help reduce pain by allowing Ejaz to make small lifts.
Uncontrolled movements
If a person has sudden uncontrolled movements while standing or sitting, they may be at risk of falls.
Moving in small lifts may be safer if the person experiences uncontrolled movements.
Meet Firoz
Firoz is 9 years old and has cerebral palsy. He has difficulty controlling his movements. He uses a wheelchair and attends physical rehabilitation sessions with his mother.
Firoz is learning to take some weight through his legs but his muscles are weak. He has fallen twice in the past year when standing up to transfer.
Question
Why may Firoz benefit from using a transfer board?
Select all that apply.
If you selected a and c, you are correct!
Firoz has difficulty standing and has fallen more than once in the past year. Firoz may benefit from using a transfer board. His mother could assist if needed.
Injuries or wounds
If a person has a broken leg or foot wound they may be advised to avoid taking weight through one or both leg/s while it heals.
Meet Malu
Malu is 55 years old and has diabetes. He has wounds on both feet that are being treated at a foot wound clinic. He is temporarily using a wheelchair to move around.
Malu cannot take weight through his legs whilst his foot wounds heal. He cannot stand to transfer.
Question
Why may Malu benefit from using a transfer board?
Select all that apply.
If you selected a, you are correct!
Malu cannot take weight through his legs while his foot wounds heal. This is making transferring difficult. A transfer board may help.
Read on to find out more about transfer boards.