Transfer Support Tips for Seniors in Santa Cruz, CA and Nearby Areas

If you've been caring for an elderly parent or relative, one task you may find yourself helping them with regularly is transferring from one setting to another. Physical limitations can make it difficult for older adults to get themselves out of bed, get up from a chair or get in and out of the bath or shower. Therefore, it's essential to help a loved one do this safely.

However, if you yourself are having trouble helping your loved one transfer, consider the following tips from Visiting Angels Central Coast. We've been helping seniors in Scotts Valley, Watsonville, Marina, Carmel, Santa Cruz, Aptos, Salinas and surrounding areas in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties with mobility, transferring, ambulation and more for many years, so we can help you better understand how to help your loved one so they can continue aging in place.

Understanding Transfer Support and How to Help Senior Loved Ones in Santa Cruz, CA and Surrounding Areas

One of the most important duties of a family caregiver is to assist an older loved one in safely transitioning to a new location or position, sometimes known as a "transfer." When an elderly person needs help physically getting into and out of bed, a chair, the toilet or the shower, transfer support is necessary.

It is important to watch out for the safety of your elderly loved one as they go about their everyday lives. By offering crucial transferring assistance and direction, you can make their house, outside activities, and everyday tasks safer for them to navigate.

There are a number of viable options available to you for making transfer support easier and safer for you and your senior loved one. Consider these points to ensure a safe and stress-free transfer of your loved one:

Seek guidance from your loved one's healthcare provider

See a doctor or physical therapist with your elderly loved one before they need assistance with transfers. They can assess your individual circumstances and give advice on how to help them transfer without hassle.

Communication is key

It may be just as tough to be transferred as it is to move someone else. Establishing mutual trust and confidence by outlining each step of the transfer in clear terms may go a long way toward reducing the likelihood of accidents involving your elderly loved one and yourself.

Lift with your legs, not your back

Always use your legs, not your back, while helping an elderly loved one transfer from a position or location. The power to move and lift comes from your legs. The risk of back injuries and discomfort increases when you lift using your back. Furthermore, lifting yourself up with your legs provides you with greater strength and stability than crouching down to move your loved one.

Don't wear dangling earrings and necklaces

Your elderly loved one may grab onto anything that’s close by, even if it’s you, if they feel like they’re going to fall during the move. If you are caring for an elderly loved one, it is important to prevent skin and neck injuries by removing dangling jewelry and pulling back long hair.

Exercise caution when providing transfer support in the bathroom

Bathrooms account for almost 80 percent of all falls in the house, and this is mostly attributable to the combination of confined spaces, scattered clothing and wet floors. Before trying to remove your senior loved one from the bath, shower, or toilet, give yourself plenty of time and make sure you have good, sturdy footing. Look out for trip hazards such as loose rugs and cover the floor with non-slip mats to lower the chance of falls.

Use assistive devices

There are some tools that can help you lift your elderly loved one more safely. To learn more about the assistive devices that may improve your ability to transfer your loved one, see your physician. These may include walkers, grab bars, motorized chair lifts and gait belts. Never put on a gait belt without first receiving proper instruction.

Hire a professional in-home caregiver from Visiting Angels Central Coast

You may experience emotional and physical strain when your loved one's mobility declines with age. However, for you and your senior loved one, transferring doesn't have to be a stressful experience. Feel free to ask for assistance while transferring a loved one if you need to.

When it becomes difficult to transfer your loved one on your own, Visiting Angels Central Coast is here to help with personalized, one-on-one home care services. Our expert caregivers can help your elderly loved one be mobile and independent by creating a unique plan for their care and support that includes individualized assistance with mobility, transfers and ambulation to keep them safe and comfortable.

Call Visiting Angels Central Coast today at 831-430-0616 or fill out our form to learn how your loved one can benefit from our home care services!