What do family members need to know about how to assist with a wheelchair transfer after a spinal cord injury? - Laura Wehrli, PT

Well family members are very important for those patients who maybe don’t have the strength or the level of injury that would allow them to lift themselves into the chair. Sometimes patients may need to use a transfer board or a lift, and family members can be very helpful, and very key in being able to bring someone with a spinal cord injury back home again, versus needing a lot more help from outside the home. Family members are involved in inpatient rehab usually, maybe some outpatient training in order to get very good at assisting with these transfers, so the patient can be more independent, be able to go home, maybe just with minimal caregiver assistance. And then hopefully eventually be able to get stronger, and more independent with their transfers if they need something like a transfer board or lift. We also really encourage the patient to learn to direct their care, and direct family members as well as home healthcare workers to safely transfer them the best and most comfortable way for them.