How to Walk a Resident With Gait Belt

A gait belt, also referred to as a walking belt, is a device worn around the waist. This device is used to provide support and increase safety during transferring or walking. A gait belt is available in different materials like cotton or nylon and in different styles such as a plain belt or a belt with handles. This assistive device is indicated for residents that are cooperative and those that are able to bear some weight on their legs. Proper use of a gait belt is necessary to decrease potential injury to the caregiver or patient.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Gait belt

Suggest Edits

1. • 1
     Fasten the gait belt around the resident's waist with the buckle placed in front of the resident.
   • 2
     Check the tightness of the gait belt. The belt should fit snugly, but you should be able to slip your fingers between the belt and the resident's waist.
   • 3
     Assist the resident to a standing position.
   • 4
     Place one hand on the portion of the gait belt at the front of the resident's waist and place your other hand on the portion of the gait belt at the resident's back.
   • 5
     Instruct the resident to walk forward beginning with her strong leg.
   • 6
     Walk to the side and slightly behind the resident.
   • 7
     Assist the resident into a chair or onto the side of the bed after walking.
   • 8
     Remove the gait belt after the resident is comfortable.

How to Select Ambulation Aids for Older Adults

Whether an older individual requires an ambulation aid because of gait problems related to pain, weakness or decreased balance due to a chronic health condition like arthritis, the goal is to help the person maintain independence. The key is to select the least restrictive walking aid that offers the most help. However, assistance with walking is not the only thing to be considered. Several factors need to be taken into account when selecting a practical but safe walking aid.

Difficulty:  Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. • 1
     Assess the individual's specific needs. Observing a person in his or her normal living environment is the best way to determine what that person needs to function adequately in day-to-day life. Ambulation aids, which may prove useful in some situations, may actually be unsafe in others. For example, heavier walkers with wheels and fold-away seats may make sense when out shopping; however, they can be cumbersome and even unsafe when ambulating around the home, especially when walking on carpet or going up and down stairs.
   • 2
     Consider whether the individual must use steps. If the person lives in a two-story home, install securely mounted handrails to assist with climbing and descending stairs. It is also helpful to keep a cane or walker at both the top and bottom of the stairs, particularly if the person can manage without the added burden of navigating the stairs with an ambulation aid in tow.
   • 3
     Select a walking aid that allows the person to walk at a speed required for safety. Older individuals crossing a street may need to consider other alternatives if an ambulation aid such as a walker slows them down. In some cases, a person may have to learn to use a cane when crossing streets, as this usually allows one to walk at a faster pace.
   • 4
     Evaluate the individual's endurance level. A person's strength is often a primary factor when determining an appropriate walking aid. For example, standard walkers are lightweight, but require upper body strength to move. In some cases, a wheeled walker or even a wheelchair may be better alternatives, particularly if an older person is weak or becomes easily exhausted.
   • 5
     Determine whether the person needs an ambulation aid that requires both hands or leaves one hand free for carrying things or using a stair banister for support. If an older adult must use two hands on a walker, tying a plastic bag to the front rail of the walker is one solution for transporting small, lightweight items. Baskets should not be attached to the front of walkers, as the weight can cause a walker to tip forward causing a person to fall.

What Are Assistive Devices for Ambulation?

Ambulatory problems have a variety of roots, from muscle and joint damage to hyperobesity to paraplegia. For almost every type, there are devices designed to aid the user while walking and moving, and vary from simple to highly complex.

1. Cane/Crutches

   • A one or two point system of support is a cheap and effective method when there is a weakness in one leg. It allows the arms and upper body to stand in for the weak or damaged limb.

   Walker

   • If both legs are too weak for satisfactory ambulation, the use of a 4-point walker may be required. This is a U-frame shaped device with an open back that allows support during both left and right leg steps.

   Scooter/Motorized Cart

   • For users with proper upper-body function, a motorized scooter is a good alternative. It can be mounted and dismounted fairly easily and reduces energy exertion compared to other alternatives.

   Prosthetics

   • Prosthetic limbs and braces can help those with certain mobility issues, and vary in price and function. Some allow fast running and do not resemble limbs, while others are more for aesthetics and slow walking.

   Robotic Aids

   • Newly developed robotic walking devices are an expensive but effective strategy for increasing ambulation. Argo Medical's ReWalk helps even those with no leg control, while other versions aid those with some remaining ambulatory function.

How To Care for The Hearing Impared

A hearing impairment or deafness is a partial or total loss of hearing in one or both ears. A hearing impairment is caused by a broad range of environmental and biological factors, happening to absolutely any living organism capable of perceiving sound. Deaf people are commonly called hearing impaired.
How a sound wave travels depends on the amplitude and frequency. The sound wave's peak pressure variation is called amplitude, while the sound wave's number of cycles per second is called the frequency. A person's loss of the ability to perceive frequencies or to identify low-amplitude sounds that a living organism naturally notices or detects characterizes hearing impairment. People with hearing impairment need extra family support and care.

Difficulty:  Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Pen and paper
• Pictures
• Hearing aids
• Small container
• Telephone

Suggest Edits

1. • Communicate with the hearing-impaired child or person by facing him directly. Ascertain that you are not directly in front of a window. Position yourself in such a manner that your face can be clearly seen by him.
   • Reduce environmental noise when communicating with a hearing-impaired individual by closing the door or minimizing the source of the noise.
   • Seek the aid of a pen and paper when trying to make a hearing-impaired person understand an important message, or use pictures to help him understand.
   • Use nonverbal cues to communicate, such as tapping lightly on a table's surface or lightly touching his shoulders or arms to catch the attention.
   • Teach the hearing-impaired child some hand signals that indicate an emergency. Attach lights to the existing alarm system.
   • Learn and improve your skills in sign language by enrolling in a sign language class.
   • Keep hearing aids clean by teaching the deaf person how with the use of a wax pick and wax brush purchased from an audiologist. Ensure that there is a designated small container and area where he or she can safely keep the hearing aid when not being used.
   • Contact resources in your community by telephone or personal appearance that can offer seminars or meetings about the proper use of the types of adaptive equipment or devices used and applicable for hearing impairment, such as local telephone companies that install amplifying telephones and telephone communication devices for the deaf. Contact national organizations for additional information.