Page 22 - Mobility Management, August/September 2020

ATP Series
The Technique of the Transfer
up, you’re able to transfer downhill from the chair to the bed. Same thing with your commodes or your tubs.”
But seat elevation doesn’t solve every transfer dilemma. “It’s not the only consideration,” Peterson noted. “Is it a straight transfer? Is it a side transfer? Is it one in which someone will have to rotate? You’re looking at what side your joystick is on in terms of how they’re going to
pull into a surface to transfer. Maybe
it just means someone is going to back into a transfer position instead of pulling forward. It’s wheelchair skills and driving, as well.”
Peterson recalled working with a client who had a bathtub-related request: “We had to get his footrest to retract in so he could pull up to his tub. Then he could independently put his feet into the tub and do a safe transfer onto his bench. Otherwise, he’d have a huge gap [between chair and bench]. He had a history of falls, and he didn’t have caregivers every day. So we looked at the transfers he had to do on his own on a regular basis to make them as safe as possible.”
Every situation is a little different, depending on the client’s physical abilities, the availability of caregiver assistance, and the environment of the
transfers. “We’ve had people use lateral tilt for transfers as well,” Peterson said. “We [worked with] someone who elevated and was able to do almost a full recline. And that way, they rolled into bed. Granted, that’s not everyday. But they went from an unsafe, very time-consuming transfer to a very easy, safe transfer. It was something that while it was a little costly and a little different, it was able to be justified based on taking videos of how they transferred previously and how it made their transfers easier and safer.”
Manual Chair Transfers: Placement & Position
Clients who use ultralightweight wheel- chairs might have greater physical abilities than power chair users do, but they can’t benefit from the assistance of powered seating functions.
“Manual wheelchair transfer success depends on the clients’ deficits that need to be considered,” Sweeney said. “In general, higher surface to lower — or at least level — is the goal when weakness is involved or a transfer board is in use. It is tricky because the height of the wheelchair surface cannot be adjusted on the fly, as in the case when using a power
wheelchair with tilt or seat elevation. So when evaluating the wheelchair, every surface height in the home needs to be pulled into the equation when making final selection of wheelchair frame and seat cushion. Having the measurements of each transfer surface in the home is essential, as well as knowing what can be adjusted and helping the consumer know how to adapt surfaces.”
Sweeney said placement of the wheel- chair plus preparation are crucial: “Positioning the chair as close to the transfer surface as possible; locking the wheel locks; removing/flipping back the armrests; and correct placement of the feet are key. If using a sliding board, the seat cushion surface needs to be consid- ered, as well as the transfer practiced, to ensure the person knows how the sliding board position or technique needs to be adapted.”
A transfer assessment should include examining the client’s functional abil- ities, which will vary from person to person, Sweeney said. “Ultralight manual wheelchairs include a wide variety of people with a wide variety of deficits, because efficiency and configuration are essential for anyone using a wheelchair as
TRANSFER TECH: Q&A with Ability Products’ Torsten Eikemeier
Ability Products, a new Bloomfield, Iowa-based distributor that specializes in components for seating systems and wheel-
MM: Why is it important to teach wheelchair users (and their caregivers) how to safely and efficiently transfer between their wheelchairs and their beds, toilets, cars, bath/shower chairs, etc.? TE: You may have a perfectly adapted wheelchair, but without
the knowledge of how to easily and safely get in and out of it, the transfer process will be very strenuous for the wheelchair user and the caregiver. Accidents can happen. If a transfer fails, it can take a lot of effort to get the person back into the correct position.
MM: What qualities should ATPs look for in transfer equipment? TE: The basic requirement is having high-quality material. Development and production should be well processed. Look
for safe function, no sharp edges, and certification markings that indicate conformity with health, safety, and environmental protec- tion standards. Make sure the transfer products are easy to trans- port and have grips for easy handling. Transfer boards should include sliding boards with cut-outs for wheels. This ensures a safe crossover to the wheelchair. When considering a turntable, a non-slip surface is crucial. m
Rolko EasyTRANSFER Turning Table
chairs, features Rolko products, including transfer items. Mobility Management asked Ability Products CEO Torsten Eikemeier about the importance of these accessories.
Mobility Management: Why was it important to include transfer equipment among your product offerings?
Torsten Eikemeier: To use mobility products such as wheelchairs, you need to be able to get in them
and out of them. We want to be able to offer everything that
a wheelchair user would need. Not only are the spare parts or accessories for the mobility product important, but also the parts for the transfer, too.
20 AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2020 | MOBILITY MANAGEMENT MobilityMgmt.com