Before a Transfer
- Prepare yourself physically for the transfer.
- Wear comfortable clothes that help you easily bend, stretch, and reach.
- Wear shoes to protect your feet and for greater stability and traction as you complete the transfer.
- Wear a lumbar support belt to protect your back throughout the process.
- Make the environment free of distractions.
- Do not try to do two things at once (i.e., fix breakfast and move your loved one to his/her wheelchair).
- Have only people who are necessary for helping you present in the room.
- Turn off the television and/or radio.
- Do not answer the phone if it rings.
- Position all of the equipment you will need for the transfer before you get started.
- Be sure that the bed and all related equipment are positioned so that you are able to access your loved one on the side that he/she is most functional.
- If you will be using a transfer belt, place it on a nightstand or table within arm's reach when you are next to your loved one's bed.
- If you will be using a wheelchair or commode, place it next to the bed and make sure that the legs are braced or wheels locked.
- Have a cordless phone in the room with you in the event that you need to contact emergency services.
- Check the room for obstacles regularly—moved furniture, unplugged electrical cords, loose rugs, etc.