How to Transfer Using a Gait Belt

Gait belts are used during physical therapy, in hospitals, nursing homes and home health care to assist the health care provider when moving a patient. The gait belt helps health care providers support patients and move them more safely than simply holding their hand or having patients rely on another inanimate form of assistance.

Things You'll Need

• Gait belt

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Instructions

• 1

  Ask the patient to scoot forward in his chair or bed in a seated position so the gait belt can be placed around his waist. Make sure the belt is positioned over the clothing and that the clip is in front. This will allow for easier belt adjustments and removal.

• 2

  Feed the end of the belt through the portion of the clip with teeth. Pull on the loose end of the belt to tighten it to the proper tightness. The belt should be snug to the person, but you should still be able to get your fingers between the belt and the person to hold on to her.

• 3

  Ask the patient to slide forward to the edge of where he is seated, making sure his feet are placed flat on the floor. Be sure the location you are transferring him to is close by.

• 4

  Place your fingers between the gait belt and the patient, using an underhand motion to grasp the gait belt. Ask the patient to stand as you lift her with the belt and guide her to the transfer location.

• 5

  Help the patient to safely sit down on the transfer location. Ask him to slide back a bit, so he's not in danger of falling from the seated location. Once the patient is safely seated on the transfer location, remove the gait belt.