If you are walking with an unsteady patient, how can you best prevent a fall?

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If you are walking with an unsteady patient, how can you best prevent a fall?

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My friend is a health care worker who assists an elderly woman with dementia. She has already fallen twice and fractured her pelvis. There have been no falls the last 6 months due to careful supervision. The patient should use a walker, with the worker following her to assist as necessary. My question is where should we position ourselves when walking with a frail elderly person? If we walk behind them, isn't this useless if the person falls forward? My husband fell in this way when I was walking behind him. He was using a walker and tripped when the walker encountered a step. I was useless to prevent the fall since he fell away from me.

What if the client doesn't use a walker? Should you walk next to them? Should you hold their arm?

Fall Prevention Falls Mobility

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Quiltin realtor said it near the end of her post, use a Gate Belt. If client is resistance, make a decorative cover appropriate to their interests! Grab back of belt while walking to side or behind.

I will also say hurrycanes ate more stable than standard canes, and LO/ client is less likely to catch their feet than a quad cane.

The issue is why are they falling. If knees suddenly give out or they trip, a cane won't help, but gait belt can, especially to soften/ control the fall/ landing, preventing injury.

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Get a "hurricane" cane, worth the money & walker.

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My last patient would lean to the right when he walked (from a neurological problem) but was essentially stable. He is epileptic so I needed to be very close to him in case he had a seizure. I would slide my arms under his armpits and lock my fingers around his chest. Then we would walk "in sync" together. This is only possible with a person who is your height or shorter. You have control of their sideways movements so they don't sway.

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If someone falls & you can't get them up on your own call 911 & the fire department will assist - while waiting place a light blanket over them to keep them warm

I used a walker for a while after my knee replacements [both at same time] - exercise common sense when using it - if you need to climb stairs have 1 on each floor - when no longer needed & you graduate to canes then store the walker in your car trunk so that if you are shopping you have a basket for all your items & a seat to sit on when you need it - I kept mine there for 4 months after I stopped using it & it was handy for occational use

As to where to walk that can change from person to person- if they can answer then ask them otherwise insist that they use a walker to lessen the chance of a fall

FYI .. my dad also installed a second handrail so that he had one on each side when doing the stairs - this is relatively easy to do & gives more assistance on the stairs

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Great answers as my husband is having knee replacement surgery next month and will be using a walker as well as having lots of steps in our home.
What about an elderly person who uses a walker/cane and falls but is too heavy to help back up by yourself?

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A nurse will help you with the stance of the caregiver as it relates to the elder on the walker. So let me walk you through it. Going out of the home, the CGer opens the door to the house and places the stopper at the top of the door, the CGer exits the home with the elder on the walker, the walker and elder are now on the porch, the walker is then taken away as the elder walks down each step holding on to the railing (3 in my mom's case) & the CGer has already put the walker at the bottom step landing, the elder on the walker gets in the car & the CGer puts the walker in the trunk. The process is reversed upon the rerurn home.
Tip: An elder's residence should NEVER contain a scatter rug as it is a big trip hazard!! (My late mom broke her femur on one of these at a cousin's trailer).
Never "walk next to them."
And a big NO to holding their arm as it's WAY TOO UNSTABLE AND THE ASSISTANT COULD GET HURT.
Second tip: The CCer should be "literally right on the elder's back to grab them in case of a fall.

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I had a very close relationship with my little 4'11" mom. For most of her time with Alzheimer's, I would hold HER left hand in my right, and we would simply walk very slow. There is NO sense in walking fast. Those days are over. And, with her being so little, that if there was any chance of her falling, I could move her left hand to my left hand swiftly, and put my right arm around her before she fell. As time moved along, I would hold her left and in my left hand with my right arm around her back, and holding onto her right arm just below the elbow (closer to the wrist), being careful not to hold too tight to keep from bruising. There were other times when I acted as her walker, i.e., I would take her right hand in my left hand and her left and in my right hand walk ahead of her backward (being careful not to run into anything)...like I was a metal "walker". She always seem comfortable and secure that way. Be SURE to keep your thumbs up in this method, so you do not bruise the tops of her hands. I hope this has been of some help.

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Lot's of great advice and methods here. I just wanted to be sure to add, falls can and are likely to happen even when you are doing everything right and being diligent. You will minimize them and can very well minimize them, really what you are there doing is making a fall less damaging, easing them to the ground rather than "preventing" or catching them from falling (you don't want to hurt yourself in the process or your both screwed) and you should never feel guilty or responsible for falls or injuries when you are taking all the precautions. Even when something happens because you didn't happen to be in your regular spot or helping your LO from the walker to the bed or down the hall in the house because they decided to do it on their own, don't let yourself feel responsible or beat yourself up. No "if only's" because falls and accidents happen, sometimes for a bigger reason and sometimes just because they do, it's the nature of life. Good for you for educating yourself in every way you can you re obviously very diligent, aware, concerned and I feel very confident in saying it wont be your fault! :)

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Walk just a bit behind so if they start to fall you can use your body as a slide and help them gently to the floor.

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Unfortunately no matter what you do or how careful you are, falls happen. That is the way gravity works. Also, sometimes the bones of an elderly person are so brittle that the bone breaks while the person is standing or walking thus causing the person to fall.

In regards to your husband's fall, since his fall was due to the walker hitting a step, try to watch where your husband is placing his walker and attempt to anticipate any problems. DO NOT GRAB for the walker as it falls forward because the weight of your husband and the leaning walker can cause you to lose your balance and to fall also. (I had a CNA who grabbed the walker from behind as the resident was falling forward and she fell forward also landing on top of the resident and their walker.)

Always use a gait belt with someone who is unsteady on their feet (even when the person is using a walker-- That way you have something to hold to so that you can help steady the person if they are having trouble with the walker.) If a gait belt is unavailable, then you can hold on the waistband of their pants or slacks while they walk.
Contact your local Physical Therapist and ask to be shown how to use a gait belt on your Loved One.

Google "How to use a gait belt" and you will find several YouTube videos on how to use a gait belt.

Copy and Paste the URLs listed below to your web browser for some videos and PDFs on "How to use a gait belt".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaGHn0JOpkQ
"Using a Gait Belt Safely and Effectively On Any Size Person" shows how to correctly put a gait belt on a person.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_947055&feature=iv&src_vid=OBVqxwggZ3U&v=_irfJdCL2Dw
"Transfer from Bed to Wheelchair CNA Skill NEW" shows how to transfer a person from a bed to chair. (I brace one or both of my knees against the patient's knees to prevent their knees from buckling during the transfer.)

http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/FallsPreventionCommittee/UsingAGaitBelt.pdf
"Using a Gait Belt from University of Michigan" pamphlet

https://www.caregiver-aid.com/ambulation-gait-belt/

http://www.elder-home-care-help.com/gait-belt.html

Hope that this information is helpful.

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You said it yourself, the key is close supervision. Many people with dementia have trouble using walking devices because they can't remember how. If someone is using a walker, stand behind them with your hands at their waist. If you don't have a gait belt, use any belt with a secure buckle. If you grab them by the arms or armpit, you upset their natural mechanism.

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If your elder will allow it, use a gait Belt. It goes around the elder at waist high. You hold the belt in back. Helps to hold on to the elder in case of fall and getting them up after a fall.

Ask your family doctor for "home health help". The therapist is is an excellent resourse and will give you practical information and how to use a gait belt if that's an option.

Or contact the local hospital to see if the have people to advise you.

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Gait belts are good in casual situations but if someone is dressed up or the belt is too small with coat etc it wont work ... obviously.

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Put your hand under their armpit. Lower on their arm just pulls the arm away from their body and you’ll lose control.

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There is a belt available for this purpose. You put this on the patient and hold on to the belt. Walk behind holding to the belt tight. That is how they trained me after my open heart surgery. I use this to walk with my mother in law. Check with a PT or durable medical supply store

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Of course advice depends of a case by case basis of the individual, but a PT said it was safest for my parents (mom has since passed, but never fell) to walk down steps unassisted by me. They (now just dad) walk stairs sideways holding a railing. I walk in front when they go down steps and I walk behind when they go up. Regular walking (not steps), a walker is good but when not using it sometimes short distances in the street, then dad holds on to me, arm in arm. I don't hold his arm, he puts his through mine. But the side by side position described by country mouse is correct/best and safest for those less stable than my folks.
Diana it's sooooo easy for all of us to blame ourselves after the fact for many things, but we're all here to tell you that you not to be so hard on yourself. You are not a professional and doing the best you can. You're learning as you're going and hope we help along the way. Hugs

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You need a Gait Belt.
Once the gate belt is on you walk to the side and a bit behind the person with your hand on the gait belt at all times.
If the person begins to fall you can get behind them and position yourself so you can guide them down safely Do NOT try to prevent the fall or you both may go down. Once they are safely down then you can try getting them up but if you can not do it safely call emergency service and request a "lift assist" there will be no transport to the hospital so in most areas there will be no charge for the lift assist. You may have to sign a paper stating that there was no request for transport to the hospital.
The gait belt should be positioned between the waist and chest
It should not be loose enough that it will slide around and you need to get your 4 fingers under it and be comfortable. It should not be so tight that it is uncomfortable for you to keep your fingers in place and the person you are guiding should be comfortable.
There are different kinds I would get one that is wide and sturdy. I had two, one wider and heavier duty and a thinner more light weight one. The heavier, wider one was more comfortable and easier to get one and buckle.
When buying one the person selling should be able to show you the correct way to put it on. I wrote my Husbands name on the belt on the inside so I could quickly tell at a glance what was the inside and if it was upside down or not. Made getting it on faster and easier.

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We were always told to use a gait belt, or to have one person walk on each arm....

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Use a gait belt or hold onto the waist of their pants. That's how we do it at the nursing home.

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Echoing Countrymouse's advice. When Mom became really unsteady, I tried a gait belt on her. Magic device. Mom could walk without anyone hanging on to her, which she hated. She hated the walker too. She seemed to feel more free, but if she staggered--in any direction--holding her by the belt steadied her until she could get her balance. (I really appreciate CM's recommendation for the PT, as there may be something particular with the client that your friend should do or avoid in helping her client.)

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If they have falling problems they should use a walker.

There is a way to hold someone when walking. When I had Mom my daughter showed me but its hard to explain. You put their arm on top of yours. Holding their wrist. This allows your side to support them. Tried to find a video but no luck.

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Is this image (click the link, below) close to what you're describing? - it sounds like a really secure way to assist, as you're using your body close, next to theirs, so there is less strain on your back, and more stability for both people... https://www.alamy.com/assistant-helping-an-elderly-person-walk-image281008019.html
Ugh! now I just read the comment below about now holding by the arm, and I can't delete this post. Disregard my post please.

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No! Do not hold the person by their arm! You dislocate more shoulders that way.

The best thing to do is to get a qualified and experienced Physical Therapist first to show you how to support the person, then to watch you doing it and correct your technique.

You need to get up close and personal. You stand hip to hip with the person, and you place your arm behind their back, around their lower waist, and hold on to their opposite hip so that you are holding the person actually up against you. This prevents any stumble developing enough momentum to become a fall before you can get a firm hold. The person then holds on to your arm, and off you both go, as with a three-legged race.

If the person is using a walker, you may prefer to use a gait belt. This, again, fits around the person's lower waist/upper hips rather than waist as such, and has handles which you can hold firmly as you stand behind the person.

It is of no use trying to catch a person who has already started to fall. You're most unlikely to have the physical strength or speed to be able to do it, and you may injure the person in the attempt. That's why your hold needs to be firm enough to prevent their weight overtipping their centre of gravity in the first place.

There is also a lot to be said for a wheelchair, of course :)

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If the person can't walk safely, then you shouldn't be the prop. Very few people are stable themselves if the weight of another adult falls on them or pulls away from them. For guidance for the blind or vision impaired who are stable on their own feet, the method is normally for them to put their own arm through yours as you walk side by side. Was your husband's fall a sheer accident? or caused by low vision? or is he past a walker and needs a wheelchair? Think first of the safety or the helper. If the helper falls and fractures something, they can't be the helper any more, so they are important themselves.

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My husband fell because he used his walker to go down two steps. However, the walker rolled quickly down the steps moving away from him. He kept holding onto the walker, so he fell down the steps and scraped the skin off his wrist. I wasn't trained to realize that he shouldn't use the walker to go down steps. Since I was walking behind him, he fell ahead of me, and I couldn't save him. I'm pretty strong so I think I could have prevented this fall by being in front of the walker instead of behind it. But REALLY no one should use walkers to go downstairs. I blame myself, but I was sleep deprived and reluctant to challenge my husband who might feel shamed by his disabilities.

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If you are walking with an unsteady patient, how can you best prevent a fall?

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