Safe Transferring Techniques for Caregivers
If you are a family caregiver who helps an older adult move around the home, chances are you may have felt an achy back from doing so. Learning safe transferring techniques to assist your loved one is important not only for their safety but for yours as well.
As aging in place grows in popularity, so will the demand for both professional and family caregivers. Orthoinfo, a website with resources developed and reviewed by experts at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, reports that caregivers are at greatest risk for injury when they are:
Pulling a person who is reclining in bed into a sitting position.
Transferring a person from a bed to a wheelchair.
Leaning over a person for long periods of time.
Most likely, you transfer yourself from a sitting position to a standing position, out of bed, or a car, without thinking much about the motions you make. Assisting an older adult with those motions not only requires communication but may also require equipment.
Below are six tips for family caregivers on safe transferring techniques.
Tips For Safe Transferring Techniques
Safety first is the key to preventing an injury to you or your loved one while assisting with a transfer.
Save your back by using core muscle strength. Bending at the waist can strain muscles and cause back injuries. Instead, bend at the knees and hips to make better use of the thigh and other core muscles.
Communication is always best, especially while helping an aging adult with a transfer. Make sure to explain the step-by-step motions before you begin. Using a rocking motion while counting to three can also be helpful when transferring from a sitting position to a standing position.
Best transfer techniques include proper footwear. Non-skid shoes are best for helping someone move across the floor, whether carpeted or not.
Be sure to lock the brakes on a wheelchair before helping a senior transfer to another chair or bed. The wheelchair may roll backward and cause balance issues that could result in a fall. If you’re helping an older adult stand from a wheelchair to a walker, it’s best to push off the wheelchair armrests before grabbing ahold of the walker. This transferring technique also helps maintain balance and decreases the risk of falls.
Provide extra support with the use of walkers, gait belts, slide boards, and grab bars. These tools assist you and your loved one with safe transfers. If you don’t have these tools, you can reach out to our social services to determine if you qualify for coverage through Medicaid or other government assistance programs.
Finally, work on strengthening your core muscles so you can provide a stronger foundation to support your loved one with transfers.
Taking on a caregiving role is rewarding but can also be emotionally and physically challenging. If you feel less patient or run down, check out our article on compassion fatigue and how UJCES can help with in-home care.
