Sliding boards, Sliding products and Swiveling Cushions

There may be many reasons why you need a smaller assistive product for assisting tranfer. Maybe you do not have enough strength in your legs to get up, or you may have reduced mobility. It may also be due to reduced balance, and in such cases, it may be safer for you to use an assistive product for a low level transferring, so that you can avoid having to get all the way up to an upright position.

When using the assistive product for transfer on your own, you must be sure that you have the strength and balance necessary to control the transfer.

If in doubt as to which type of assistive product for transfer best suited for your needs, you may contact your local authority to let a professional make a qualified assessment. Even if you are not applying for getting your assistive product granted by the local authority, they may still advice you of choice and use of the assistive product for transfer.

When choosing a smaller assistive product for transfer, you must consider for which transfer situation you need assistance. In the following, you will find a description of four typical transfer situations, where different assistive products for transfer are used.

In order to make the transfer easier, it is important for the two surfaces between which you want to move to be at the same level. In case of a slight difference in level, it will always be easier transfer from the higher to the lower level.

Transferring between a wheelchair and an ordinary chair

If you need to transfer between a wheelchair and an ordinary chair or an armchair, you may choose a sliding board. Some sliding boards are pliable, so that you may slide easier across the drive wheels of the wheelchair. The sliding board may also have a carving for the drive wheels of the wheelchair. Such a carving ensures that the sliding board can be moved further onto the seat of the wheelchair thus making your transfer more stable. Many sliding boards are supplied with a handle, which makes it easier to remove the board after the transfer.

It may be a good idea to add a tyre shell. You press the tyre shell onto the wheel of the wheelchair with the effect that the surface of the wheel becomes smooth, enabling you to transfer without being caught in the rubber coating of the wheel.

When choosing a sliding board, you have to consider whether the surface to which you are transferring is soft or firm. It may be an advantage to choose a stiff and stable sliding board, if the surface to which you transfer is firm. If the surface of the seat, however, is softer, as for instance that of an armchair, you can use a more yielding sliding board.

Transfer between wheelchair and toilet

Some sliding boards are especially useful for transferring between wheelchair and toilet. They may come with special carvings for wheelchair wheels and toilet seat, which may ease the transfer. With this special design, the board does not have to be removed during the use of toilet, which may be an advantage when it comes to safety. Some boards are supplied with a handle that makes it easier to remove the board after the transfer.

When choosing a sliding board for transfer between wheelchair and toilet, you should be aware of whether the material and shape of the sliding board is easy to clean, due to hygienic reasons.

You may need to have a fixed grab bar mounted by the toilet, so that your transfer will be safer. You can read more about grab bars in the guide Grab bars, handrails and toilet arm supports.

Transfer between wheelchair and bed

You can use a sliding product, if you have to transfer between a wheelchair and a bed, but have difficulties coming all the way to the back support of the wheelchair or further in on the edge of the bed. A sliding product is made out of textile with very low friction making it easy to slide on it.

It some situations it may be an advantage that the sliding product can only slide in one direction, and in this case, you can use sliding products with one-way sliding function. These sliding products can slide in one direction and be locked in the opposite direction. When using this function, it is easier for you to push the buttocks backwards on the bed or the wheelchair seat without the risk of sliding off.

If the wheelchair and the bed differ much in height, it would be an advantage to have a bed, which is adjustable in height, e.g. a care bed.

Transfer between car and wheelchair

You may also use a sliding board, if you need to transfer between your car and your wheelchair.

In addition to this, a swiveling cushion on the car seat may be helpful. A swiveling cushion is divided in two layers, which slide one against the other without friction, so that you may avoid twisting your back, when getting in and out of the car.

You may also supplement with a fixed grab bar for cars. You place the grab bar in the locking clamp of the doorframe between the front door and the rear door. This makes your transfer safer at both entry and exit, because this allows you to hold the grab bar on one side and the door on the other side.

It is advisable to follow the instructions from the supplier with regards to cleaning and maintenance.

Most sliding boards may be cleaned with water and soap. You should be aware of which kinds of detergents can be used on sliding board without having its sliding capacity on the surface compromised.

It is important for you always to have your assistive product for transfer within reach in situations, where you need it. It you have to stretch far to reach your sliding board when lying in the bed or sitting in a chair, you may be in danger of sliding out of control.

Consider the situations in which you must use your assistive product for transfer. If required, ask for a therapist from your local authority to assist you in finding an appropriate way to keep it handy. This may for example be in relation to transporting the board on the wheelchair or in relation to keeping the board in the bathroom, by the bed, etc.

A professional will be able to help you assess whether training may help to improve you functional capability in order to make the transfers safer for you.