How do you move an immobile patient? It’s common for individuals to lose mobility due to illness or its complications. In such situations, patients rely on others for help moving around in bed or transferring from one place to another. If you have immobile individuals living nearby, you’ve likely noticed they spend most of their time in bed. That’s why understanding how to assist elderly with daily living activities and safely moving an immobile patient in bed is crucial. This ensures no further harm comes to them and that you, as the caregiver, avoid injury from lifting heavy weight. This article from humanhealthmag will provide practical information on how to move an immobile patient.
Understanding the Needs of an Immobile Patient
Before discussing the safe movement of immobile patients, it’s essential to fully understand their condition and needs. As healthy, independent individuals, we might take certain needs for granted. For example, we can easily get up, attend to personal needs, and roll over in bed whenever we wish. It’s difficult to imagine a situation where we’d need assistance for such basic tasks.
Patients and individuals with mobility issues depend on nurses, caregivers, or family members for most activities. By learning about their needs and acquiring the necessary skills, we can significantly improve their well-being. Among physically disabled patients, elderly individuals in such circumstances are more sensitive, as one wrong move at an older age can lead to serious injuries or fractures.
Moving an immobile patient from bed to a chair or wheelchair can be challenging for the caregiver because of loss of balance in elderly. It’s crucial to properly support the patient to prevent potential injuries. Patients and seniors who cannot walk or stand on their own require regular assistance with their mobility at home or in the hospital. As a caregiver, you must transfer your patients and seniors correctly to avoid putting them at further risk or causing more harm. Below, we’ve outlined the correct techniques and principles for safely moving immobile seniors and patients as a secure and routine process for both you and the person you’re caring for.
Safe Transfer Techniques of an Immobile Patient from Bed to Chair or Wheelchair
Moving an immobile patient safely can significantly reduce the risk of injury for both you and them. Here are the correct and safe techniques for transferring an immobile patient from a bed to a wheelchair or chair:
1. Wash Your Hands Thoroughly
Wash your hands with antibacterial soap and water for 40 to 60 seconds until they are clean. This ensures you touch the patient with clean hands and don’t expose them to any germs.
2. Inform the Patient About the Movement
Tell the patient you’re about to move them. Explain the steps you’ll take to transfer them to the chair or wheelchair. Be clear about each stage and how you’ll move or support them. This prepares the patient and prevents surprise. For example, say, “I’m going to move you to this chair, and I’ll do it with my arms.”
3. Identify the Patient’s Stronger Side
Hold the patient’s hands, placing one hand in theirs. Ask the patient to squeeze your hands as hard as they can. Note if one side feels stronger. You can also do this by holding each of the patient’s feet between your hands and testing their foot. Ask the patient to push your hands with their foot, like pressing a car’s gas pedal. Note if one side feels stronger.
4. Check for Obstructions and Wheelchair Locks
Ensure the transfer path of an immobile patient is clear of any obstructions or slipping hazards. Check the area around the transfer spot for loose wires or tubes. Adjust these so they’re not in your way. Also, make sure your own standing position is stable and free from slipping hazards. It’s best to wear non-slip shoes to ensure you maintain a firm footing. If you’re transferring the patient from a bed, check that the bed wheels are locked to prevent movement during the transfer.
5. Position the Chair or Wheelchair on the Stronger Side
Place the wheelchair or chair next to the patient’s bed on their stronger side. Make sure the chair is within easy reach. If using a wheelchair, ensure the wheels are locked and swing the footrests out of the way so the patient can easily get into it. Placing the chair on the patient’s stronger side makes the transfer easier because they can provide more support during the transfer. If there are arm guards on the bed, lower them to avoid obstruction.
6. Use Your Hands to Rotate the Patient Towards the Chair or Wheelchair
Use your hands to gently turn the patient on the bed so they face the wheelchair or chair. Slowly turn the patient onto their side, facing the chair. Ask the patient to place their arms across their chest or under their head for support. When pulling the patient towards you, get them as close to the edge of the bed as possible.
7. Bring the Patient to a Sitting Position on the Bed
Dangle the patient’s legs off the edge of the bed and move them to a sitting position. Place one arm under the patient’s shoulders and the other arm behind their knees. Bend your knees as you swing the patient’s legs off the edge of the bed. Shift your weight back onto your legs and gently bring them to an upright sitting position, facing you.
8. Use a Gait Belt for Immobile Patient Transfer (If Applicable)
If the patient cannot stand on their own, use a gait belt. If the patient has had a stroke or has other issues affecting their motor function, fasten the gait belt around their waist. A gait belt also gives you a better grip during the transfer so the patient doesn’t fall from your arms. Wrap the belt around the patient’s waist so it’s secure but not too tight. Tuck any excess fabric at the end of the belt into the belt to eliminate the risk of tripping. Do not use the gait belt as a handle or a way to lift the patient. Its purpose is to provide friction when you lift the patient to prevent them from slipping.
Lock your hands behind the patient or the gait belt. Stand as close to the patient as possible and reach your hands around their chest. Lock your hands behind the patient, in the middle of their back. If they have a gait belt, you can grip the gait belt between your hands and align your arms with the belt to create friction.
9. Lift the Patient Using Your Legs
Place the patient’s outer foot between your knees. The outer foot is the foot farthest from the chair. Place the patient’s foot between your knees for support, bend your knees, and keep your back straight. Tell the patient you’ll count to three, and on “three,” you’ll stand up and lift them. Ensure the patient keeps their hands at their sides so they can support themselves when you lift them. If the patient has strength in their legs, instruct them to bear their weight on their legs during the transfer.
Stand up, lifting the patient, and pivot towards the chair. Count aloud, “1-2-3.” On “3,” gently stand up, using your legs to lift the patient. As you lift the patient, ask them to push off the bed using their hands. Pivot the patient towards the chair, ensuring your back is aligned with your hips.
10. Lowering the Patient onto the Chair or Wheelchair
Lower the patient onto the chair. Once the patient’s legs touch the seat of the chair, bend your knees and gently lower the patient into the chair. Ask the patient to support themselves with the armrests of the chair or wheelchair as you lower them. If you’ve lowered them into a wheelchair, adjust the footrests and instruct the patient to place their feet in the footrests for proper support in the chair.
Ask the patient, “Are you comfortable in the chair?” If they say “yes,” you can turn them in the chair or let them settle into the chair themselves.
How to Move an Immobile in Bed
Moving an immobile patient frequently throughout the day is crucial for elderly bathing, feeding, performing stretches, and preventing bedsores in physically disabled individuals. The principles for safe movement of immobile patients for any type of transfer are similar to those explained above. However, if we’re talking about how to move a patient in bed without lowering them, we can add the following tips:
- Elevate the patient’s head and back with pillows to bring them to a semi-sitting position.
- Place your hand behind the patient’s back and stand firmly. Then, gently and without extra pressure, turn them to the necessary side.
- Consider the patient’s level of independence and how much they can assist you. This might make the task easier for you.
- If the bed has controls, use them to adjust the height to your shoulders.
Beyond all the principles you apply for moving a patient, remember that there are other needs, such as creating a suitable emotional environment for these individuals. Therefore, by placing the bed next to a window or near the family’s common area, create a sense for the patient that their disability doesn’t prevent them from being part of the group. Also, if they unfortunately need to be cared for in a care facility, it’s good to ensure the nurses’ appropriate behavior. This way, if the injury isn’t permanent, the speed of recovery will increase.
Concluding Remarks
How to move a patient who is unable to move? It’s true that some seniors can maintain their normal lives and mobility through self-care, without needing a dedicated elder care nurse or caregiver. This independence can lead to a more comfortable old age, as the world is run by the wisdom of elders and the efforts of the young. Therefore, we should help seniors prevent becoming immobile. Patient care transfer techniques with mobility issues are undoubtedly challenging. Their needs might require you to move them multiple times a day.
A crucial point in moving an immobile patient is that if you’re transferring a patient or senior home after hospital discharge, practice with a nurse at the hospital. This will allow you to learn the appropriate techniques to safely transfer a patient from their bed, preventing injury to both yourself and the patient. Depending on the situation, you might even need additional equipment for moving an immobile patient. Some patients, for example, require a lift for transfers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to move an immobile patient regularly?
Regular movement is vital for immobile patients to prevent complications like bedsores, muscle atrophy, and stiffness. It also helps with circulation, digestion, and can improve their overall comfort and mental well-being, as staying in one position for too long can be very uncomfortable and isolating.
What should I do before attempting to move an immobile patient?
Before any transfer, always wash your hands thoroughly, inform the patient about the movement, and assess their stronger side. It’s also crucial to clear the transfer path of any obstacles and ensure any equipment like wheelchairs or beds have their brakes locked to prevent accidental movement.
How can I protect myself from injury when moving a patient?
To protect yourself, always use proper body mechanics. Bend your knees and keep your back straight when lifting, and use your legs, not your back, to bear the weight. Placing the patient’s stronger side closer to the transfer destination can also allow them to assist more, reducing your strain.
What should I do if the patient is very heavy or difficult to move alone?
ِDo not attempt it alone if there’s a risk of injury to either of you. Seek assistance from another caregiver, or consider using specialized equipment like a patient lift, which is designed to safely transfer individuals with limited mobility.