If You Are A Caregiver, These Tips May Help

If You Are A Caregiver, These Tips May Help

 

 

When I go to people's homes to provide Physical Therapy, many of the caregivers/family members ask the same questions.  They are having difficulty transferring their family member into the shower (even though it is a step-in shower and not a tub) because the patient is unable to lift their leg high enough to clear the shower opening.  There are a few options that we try.  

 

 

 

First, if the patient has a wheelchair, I will wheel them right up to the shower step so that the wheels are touching the step.  Instead of having them stand outside the shower, and then step into the shower, I will keep them seated and place both feet on the shower floor.  Then I will help them to stand and they will be inside the shower already.  When they are finished with their shower, I tell their family member to just reverse the technique and have the patient sit in the chair and then take their feet out of the shower by wheeling the chair backward.

In this picture, I use a regular chair with wheels instead of a wheelchair, but you get the point.  My feet are already inside the shower and all I need to do is stand up.

 

If he/she has difficulty stepping into the shower, you can also try to step in/out laterally (sideways).  This is usually easier than forward.

 

Some tools that may also help with this transfer are grab bars placed inside and outside the shower as well as a shower chair for the patient to sit on once they get inside the shower