Ambulation Advice for Caregivers
It is a fact that home care agencies in Maryland are growing and this presents a wide variety of choices for families and clients in need of in-home caregivers in The Old Line State. Being mobile is important to a client’s physical, mental and social well-being and, with so many alternatives for care, it is important for families and clients to look for agencies that have proper training programs for safe ambulation assistance to avoid falls. Bone loss due to osteoporosis is a major cause of frailty in elderly people as skeletal bones are at risk with aging. Ambulation assistance means helping elderly or disabled people with a limited ability to sit up independently from a reclining or sitting position, or to walk or transfer to a wheelchair. Without proper ambulation techniques, caregivers can actually create additional risks for falls among seniors and the elderly.
The first thing for caregivers to know is the weakest side of the client, as this is the side which caregivers should work from. If the client requires a gait belt, place it around the client before lifting them up. A gait belt is a useful device which is used to transfer people from one position or thing to another or while ambulating people with balance problems. Moving a client from a standing position to a wheelchair would be a good use of a gait belt. In order to ensure that a gait belt is always used with every transfer, a good tip is to keep the device in a specific place in every room.
When helping a client from a lying position, do not grab them by the wrist or hands to pull them up or move them because wrists and hands are susceptible to breakage, even from a slight amount of pressure. Proper technique should include putting one arm under the client at the back and one arm under the legs at the knees. Do not twist the client’s body while moving them and ensure that the client ends up sitting on the edge of the bed with their knee and calves flush with the side of the mattress.
When helping a client from a sitting or reclining position, ensure that pillows are placed on the bed where the head will rest and when transferring the client back to the bed, the caregiver must assure that the client’s knees are even with the edge of the bed. Then, supporting the back, lift the client under the knee calves by rotating the body on the buttocks and gently laying the client down.
Caregivers should understand how balance works. Balance is achieved by maintaining a person’s center of mass within their limits of stability and/or base of support and it requires both sensory input and motor output. Also, basic body mechanic principles are very important. For example, adjusting the height of the bed as needed, using a wide base of support (with legs spread apart), maintaining the natural curves of the back (bending at the knees and hips), and getting your center of mass close to the client’s center of mass are all tips which caregivers should employ.
Movement equates to freedom and, in many ways, it can define a person’s independence. When movement is compromised in senior and elder care clients, it can trigger depression, a large loss of motivation or even circulation problems. Caregivers can greatly improve the quality of life for their clients through proper ambulation techniques. The information presented here is not intended to replace any specific ambulation training and should not be used as a substitute for proper ambulation training. United Medical Care LLC strongly encourages caregivers to receive ambulation and fall prevention training from a reputable and certified program.
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