Transferring People For Bathing And Toileting

What is the problem?

Transferring people between different locations and heights manually, while bathing and toileting.

What are the risks involved?

Nursing and care staff may be at high risk of musculoskeletal injuries, e.g., strains and sprains to the back, shoulders, neck, legs, arms, knees, wrists, and hands from twisting, bending, lifting, and awkward postures.

What is a solution to the problem?

Care staff should assess how much they can help a person being transferred by consulting with the individual and encouraging participation as much participation.

Before starting a transfer, workers should ensure the commode or wheelchair brakes are activated. The following safety measures can eliminate or reduce the risk of injuries.

Person transfers self to the toilet or uses aid (e.g., hoist)

This method may require the assistance of the individual with one worker.

Workers are advised to follow these steps in order:

A second chair should be placed next to the first, with the nearside arms lowered or removed on both sides.Place a slide-board or other aid across the second chair and under the person’s nearside buttock if appropriate.Position the person’s feet so that they’re facing forward and stay alignedThe person must grasp the second chair by the far chair armEncourage the person to raise their buttocks up across the sideboard and move their body over to the second chairReinsert or rise into the arms position of the chairs after removing the sideboard.Moving a person from chair to toilet: Electric standing hoist

This method may require the assistance of the individual with two workers.

Workers are advised to follow these steps in order:

Assist and encourage the person to lean forwardPosition the sling under the person’s arms and across the person’s lower backThe sling should be attached to the hoist, which is placed above the bedTransfer the person from the chair and lower them into the second chair using the hoist mechanics.Encourage the person to lean forward and detach the sling from the hoistSelf-Propelled Shower Commode Wheelchair. Image credit: Dearjane MedicalMoving a person into a bath: Electric hoist with adjustable height, the bath, and immersible sling

This method may be without the assistance of the individual and require two or more workers.
Workers are advised to follow these steps in order:

The bath should be raised to the appropriate heightPlace the sling under the personAttach the sling to the hoistTransfer the person into the bath using the hoist mechanicsRemove the sling from the hoist and detach the hoist. Workers may remove the sling and reapply it when the bath is finished, or they can also leave the sling under the individual during the bathReverse the procedure to transfer the person from the bath.

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