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In providing asistance to the visually
impained, you are primarily guiding
them through their environment.
Position yourself on one side of the
patient about one step ahead of them.
If the patient has a white can, position
yourself opposite the white cane.Offer
him or her your arm. As you walk,
constantly talk to the patient as you
walk and describe the area your are in
(hallway, kitchen, hospital lobby),
ground surface (sidewalk, asphalt), the
the objects that are within the next 10
.
Skill 11 - Visual Impaired Assist
Skill 10 – Assisted Lateral Transfer
This maneuver is more challenging and should only be used on patients who are smaller and
lighter than the MAVO. Position the wheelchair next to the patient’s chair. Place one foot
behind each chair with a strong stance. Lock the brakes and remove the arm and leg rests.
Inform the patient of the procedure and ask the patient to cross his/her arms and lock hands
tightly. Position your arms under the patient’s shoulders, and grasp the patient’s forearms
tightly. Lift the patient off the chair, and transfer him or her laterally to the wheelchair. Finish by
securing the seatbelt and replacing the arm and leg rests.
feet of proximity (chair, door). If the patient is able to ambulate well,
he or she will likely not need additional assistance. When entering
a vechile, they may need several points of reference to be seated
safely. Gently take the patient’s hand, and touch it to the top of the
door jam, the top of the door itself, and the seat. With those points
of reference, an able bodied visually impaired person should be able
to seat him or helfself.