Overview

Assisting a client with mobility is key to supporting their independence and quality of life. Personal care tasks related to mobility are physically demanding. To prevent injury to clients and themselves, Home Care Aides use proper body mechanics and assistive devices when performing personal care tasks that involve helping a client move.

What challenges might a caregiver face when assisting a client to move?

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Learning Objectives

After completing this lesson, the Home Care Aide
will be able to:

1. Use proper body mechanics while performing tasks as outlined in the service plan; and
2. Demonstrate all critical steps, including the use of assistive devices and common care practices, to safely
3. Help a client walk; and
4. Transfer a client from a bed to a wheelchair

Key Terms

Assistive devices: equipment that helps a person perform a task and maintain or regain independence. Examples include but are not limited to a wheelchair, walker, cane, elevated toilet seat, and shower chair.
Body mechanics: the way we move during everyday activities. Proper body mechanics techniques prevent injury to the person and others when lifting or moving objects.
Enablers: devices that a client uses to maintain independence/anything that helps a client take their own medication (for example; cup, spoon).
Mechanical lift: a mechanical device that caregivers use to transfer clients between their beds, chairs, and other locations. Lifts are used when the client’s mobility is limited.
Mobility: the ability to move from place to place or surface to surface.
Positioning: how a client is appropriately placed when sitting or lying down.

Transfers: moving a client from one place to another; for example from a bed to a wheelchair.
Transfer belt/gait belt: a belt worn around the client’s waist to aid in transfers and walking.
Transfer board: a flat board that enables a client to slide from one level surface to another, also called a slide board.