Transitions Transfers and In-between

~The deadline is looming for entering my

Halloween Contest Giveaway.~ 

There’s an old Peter Sellers movie called Being There.

The plot is kind of like an early Forrest Gump. For all his lack of intent, just by being there the main character moves into an enviable position.

With that movie in mind I once wrote an essay called Getting There – which was about walking and the importance of PT. (The local newspaper rejected the piece when I submitted it for the ‘readers write’ column.) [Now I can blog. phffthtt!! dying newspaper!]

(Image from here.)

 

But today I will cover a very short distance ~ getting there. Like between two chairs. Or a chair and a toilet seat. Or a bath chair and a wheelchair. Or a wheelchair and a bed. Therapists most often call this movement a transfer.

Distinguishing transfer from the therapist-language-term transition – which is used to mean movement of your body from one position to another. Like: supine -> prone (rolling) or sit to stand. 

Sit to stand is an incredibly important and functional transition. So important I recommend parents begin working on sit to stand in conjunction with standing.

Here’s the habit to foster sit to stand >>>>  Each time you go to lift your child, before you lift, help his feet to the nearest surface, bring his shoulders over his knees and help him to stand or as near-stand as possible. Hover there for a moment or as long as you choose before lifting him off his feet entirely.

If this seems hard to do, ask your child’s therapist to help you figure-out your unique method to help your child to transition from sit to stand > so that she can learn to transfer from chair to chair.

My Halloween posts last year were so good - I recommend you read them again! 

Comments

[Julie]

I added 'Being There' to my Netflix key...

My grandfathers inability to transfer himself meant that he moved from assisted living into a nursing home. He broke his hip first. He knew he needed help with transfers. We knew he needed help with transfers. But, admitting that meant he would have to give up the freedoms he enjoyed in assisted living and move to the nursing home earlier. Freedoms like driving his electric wheelchair to the store, dairy queen or just to look at the Mighty Mississippi. No regrets.

I have caught up on your blog.

[starrlife]

I'm still reading. That character was so interesting wasn't he?

[Stephanie @ Ralphcrew]

Did you link to your essay or did I miss it?

[The Barbara who lives here]

Wow, those are some significant losses of freedom, Julie. I assume by 'no regrets' you mean he was safer in the nursing home. I would agree. Falls are a major factor in the decline of the elderly - spiralling towards death in 15% of those over 65 who fall. Your grandfather's story emphasizes the importance of the ability to transfer - thank you.

I was very happy to see your name come up again! Welcome back, My Friend!

Heh, starrlife. I'm due for some major reorganizing on the blog - to help others navigate here. Thanks for persisting through my word jungle.

No, Stephanie, the essay was written about 10 years ago - guess I better get over it, eh? lol. I still have a copy, somewhere.

[mommy~dearest]

Yes! I can't even begin to tell you the arguments we have with our therapists about transfers! They can most definately be therapeutic (and billable!), and not just a mode to get the person from point A to point B. Just throwing someone in a bed is neither therapeutic nor beneficial.

Great post.

[Dad @ Kintropy]

Thanks for the reminder and encouragement. When Hannah throws up her arms, it's very easy just to pick her up (like a nice Daddy) rather than have her help me out a bit. That said, she is striking out more on her own these days. Lots of sit to kneel to stretch or leap a bit to grab a toy or jump and hug me if I'm beside her. Coming along...

[The Barbara who lives here]

Thanks, m~d! Your comments make clear 2 things: transfer training IS therapy and the insured-side view. Both important.

Comming along, indeed, Dad@K! That saying-no thing does.not.get.easier. Believe me. ;)

[Bethany]

Whenever we had a child transition from one position or location to another, we had them go through a sit-to-stand with the minimal assistance required (even if we were then going to pick them up to carry them). We used the cue "nose over toes" to prompt them through a proper standing motion of leaning forward from a seat and maintaining alignment. While it did add time to our transitions throughout the day, it also added functional learning and skills that benefited the children in all of their environments. Plus it cued children through the "developmentally standard" process of movement - after being seated you stand and then move rather than having someone scoop you up and magically transport you wherever you want to go without effort. :) Bonus when the child could go through a sit to stand and do a pivot to another positioning device or to lower to the floor - huge back saver!!

[david]

i havent seen being there in years, time to re-rent it.

i'm going to get into your contest, got to beat the deadline!

[Mother Mayhem]

Emily has some transitions of her own that are unique to her nature. You should see her go from sitting on the floor to standing. LOL

[Danette]

I'll have to check out that movie.

Thanks for the links to last year's Halloween posts, I had missed them :).

[The Barbara who lives here]

Again, Bethany, your words are an excellent addition to the post! Can't thank you enough.

Yea, david - post an entry!

Well, MM, GETTING THERE is the point, right? lol. I'll be watching for a video...*wink*

Thanks for going back to last year, Danette! I've got sooo much to do on this blog....every weekend I intend to do the organizing thing, and I'm lucky to post. Sigh. A blogger's work is never done.