ASSISTIVE DEVICES 3.

Axillary crutches
- Less stability and support, more
- Any device that is designed, made or
mobility
adapted to assist a person perform a
- Allow greater selection of gait pattern
particular task.
and speed
- Assist or help disabled people
- Increase base of support; ambulate
- Reason for using:
faster
a. Improve functional mobility
- Need upper extremity strength &
b. Enhances body function
coordination
c. Assist in fracture healing
- Reduce weight bearing on lower
d. Paralysis involving one or both
extremity
extremities
- Easily adjustable and transported
e. Amputation of lower extremity
- Can be used in crowded/narrow areas
Types and Parts of Assistive Devices

1. Parallel bars
- For Maximal stability, support and
safety
- Limits mobility

4. Cane
- Widens base of support and increase
balance & stability
- Patients with slightly weakness of lower
2. Walkers extremities
- For maximal stability and support - More functional in stairs, narrow &
- Allows mobility crowded areas
- Patients with poor balance and - Easily stored and transported
coordination
- Used more often with elderly
 back & other/ strong arm to push from
arm rest).
5. Wheelchair
15. At the count of 1,2,3 pivot patient to
- Type of mobility device for personal
sitting or standing position from
transport
wheelchair to bed slowly & carefully.
- Used when walking is difficult
16. Let patient rest and remove gait belt &
- Due to illness, injury or stability
footwear.
17. Assess the condition. (Ask if he/she
feels dizzy).
18. Place one arm around back of patient &
other on back of the knees.
19. Slowly pivot to supine or comfortable
position.
20. Let patient to rest.
21. Assess and take vital signs of the
patient.
22. Place the topsheet or blanket.
23. Return wheelchair to its proper use.
24. Hand wash.
25. Documentation. (If having discomfort)

Transferring patient from Bed to Wheelchair

Transferring patient from Wheelchair to Bed
1. Check doctor’s order ( if there’s an
1. Introduce to the patient.
order to bring to the radiology or any
2. Assess the condition.
laboratory test).
3. Perform hand hygiene.
2. Assess patients condition.
4. Explain the procedure.
a. Clients body size
5. Provide privacy.
b. Ability to follow instruction, activity
6. Take the initial vital signs.
tolerance, muscle strength
7. Position the wheelchair to the head
c. Joint mobility
part of the bed. (Parallel 45°Angle).
d. Presence of paralysis
8. Lower the bed, make sure breaks are
e. Space for maneuver
applied.
f. Number of assistant, skills &
9. Take off feet from footrests.
strength of health care provider
10. Ask patient to scoot her/his knee.
3. Perform hand hygiene.
11. Apply the gait belt around patient’s
4. Explain the procedure to patient what
waist.
will happen during transfer & how
12. Lock patient’s foot/knees to prevent
patient can help.
from sliding.
5. Provide privacy.
13. For caregiver, hold gait belt with both
6. Take vital signs.
hands.
7. Position wheelchair parallel at 45° angle
14. Ask patient to use their arms to push
at the end part of the bed. (place
from arm rest. (If presence of weakness,
wheelchair at patients stronger side;
place patients weak hand on caregiver’s
 check condition of wheelchair; lock
wheelchair’s breaks).
8. Lower the bed & remove blanket or
topsheet.
9. Place arms on patient’s back & on the
back of the knees and carefully position
patient near the bed side (ask patient
to scoot or move near to edge of bed).
10. Ask patient to chin tucked in cross
patient arms across his/her chest &
place weak leg over good leg.
11. Do to patient pivot to sitting position
(arms on patient’s back & back of the
knees)
12. Let patient rest with his or her feet
dangle to the floor ( ask the patient if
he/she feels dizzy) ( also to prevent
orthostatic hypotension).
13. Put on the shoes or slippers & massage
legs to promote blood circulation.
14. Adjust wheelchair near the patient if
needed & make sure it locks.
15. Apply gait belt around waist. ( if
required)
16. Place patient hand over gait belt &
other hand at caregiver’s back ( weak
hand- gait belt; stronger- caregiver’s
back).
17. Lock patient’s weak side (knee & foot) /
lock both feet ( to prevent patient form
sliding).
18. Instruct patient at the count of 1,2,3
toward the wheelchair using rocking
motion (pivot to sitting/standing
position) keeping elbows in & back
straight.
19. Sit comfortably; remove gait belt.
20. Place patient’s foot over the foot rest.
21. Assess the patient’s condition & take
vital signs.
22. Do hand hygiene.
23. Documentation.