How to Assist with a Shower Transfer

How to Assist with a Shower Transfer
When assisting a patient INTO the shower:
1. Bring wheelchair up to threshold of shower leaving room to allow patient to keep feet on the floor outside of the shower.
*Do not attempt the transfer with the patient's feet inside the shower threshold.
*To help keep the patient safe during the transfer and after assisting the patient with undressing for shower put a t-shirt on the patient then place a gait belt on the patient over the t-shirt.
2. After placing the gait belt on the patient ask the patient to scoot forward in the wheelchair, either:
*Have the patient lean back in wheelchair and push hips forward, or:
*Have the patient walk hips forward by weight shifting to one side and walking opposite side forward then weight shift to other side walking opposite side forward.
**Use tactile cues if needed to assist the patient in understanding which leg to weight shift and which leg to move forward.
3. Verbally cue the patient to stand:
*Ask the patient to push up from the wheelchair by placing patient's hands on the arms of the wheelchair, or
*Ask the patient to put one hand on the shower grab bar to help pull up and the other hand on the arm of the wheelchair to help push up from the wheelchair.
4. Tell patient "We're going to stand on the count of three.", "One, two, three."
5. Once the patient is standing ask the patient to place both hands on the shower grab bar.
6. Verbally cue the patient to "step into the shower" along with a tactile cue if needed by gently tapping on one side of the patient's hip to cue patient for weight shifting to one side and verbally cue the patient to pick up opposite foot and step into the shower. Repeat tactile and verbal cue for bringing remaining foot into the shower.
7. Ask the patient to sit down on the shower bench.
When assisting a patient OUT of the shower:
1. Assist the patient in thoroughly drying themselves after the shower.
2. Put a t-shirt back on the patient.
3. Place the gait belt on the patient over the t-shirt.
4. Ask the patient to place both hands on the shower grab bar to pull self up.
5. Tell patient, "On the count of three, stand up." "One, two, three."
6. Once standing give the patient tactile cues as before to assist with stepping out of the shower.
*Weight shift on one leg and step with opposite leg.
*Repeat on opposite leg.
*Pivot back and forth and verbally cue the patient to step to the side or to the back as needed to guide the patient back into the wheelchair.
*Verbally cue the patient, "It's like dancing" if needed.
7. When the patient can feel the wheelchair on the back of their legs, ask the patient to reach back for the arms of the wheelchair and to lower themselves into the seat.
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[@lindaguida4074]

It’s not easy!!

[@lakeshasteele937]

Some clients wheelchairs will not fit in the shower because of the way the shower is made. Some aides have to physically remove client from wheelchair and place them in the shower. Then once shower is complete..the Aide has to transfer client from shower to wheelchair