Week 2 3

We walked a patient who has been using a hoist to get out of bed and into the toilet. She doesnt like using the hoist. She had been walked the previous 2 days by the PT and PTA. I was walking her withe the PTA. The previous days she had walked about 4 m. She wouldnt walk unless she had no shoes on and was outside.
The biggest issue we were going to have was to communicate with this patient as she has dementia, which we beleive is the reason she isnt walking, opposed to not being able to walk.

The PTA and I got her standing and with the RN walking behind with the wheelchair we began walking. Teh patient was doing very well and seemed steady, so we loosened our grip on the weight belt and eventually let go completely. I was hesitant at first to let go, as I didnt want the patient to fall, but once I felt confident that she was safe and that we were still there to support her it was easier to release grip.

The patient walked the whole length of the corridor (15m or more) and half of that was without us holding on to the belt. This was also teh first time we got her walking inside and with shoes on.

In the future I would make sure she didnt get too quick, since she began to pick up pace once she was steady. I also think that a seated wheeler would be a future option for her, as she had been walking around on one prior to being admitted ~4/52 ago. THis would probably be a better option for her since she kept commeting on the frame and refering to her old frame style.

I was happy with the way today went with this patient, since it was the furtherest that she had walked in her time at the placement.