Step 1. Sit the person up:

• Make sure the person is wearing proper footwear before they stand.
• Prepare the wheelchair by locking the brakes and removing or swinging away both leg rests and the armrest that is closest to the bed.
• Place the wheelchair near the person's unaffected side, if there is one.
• Help the person roll onto their stronger or unaffected side, facing you.
• Tell the person to help by pushing down on the bed with their bottom arm, elbow, or forearm and their top arm or hand as they are able.
• Put your arm under theirs and reach around to their upper back with your hand to support their shoulder. Put your other hand behind their knees.
• In one motion, swing their legs over the edge of the bed, while lifting their torso with your other hand to help them to sit up.
• Maintain touch or eye contact with the person in case they lose their balance.
• If needed, attach a transfer belt around the person's waist.

Step 2. Stand the person up:

• Have the person scoot to the edge of the bed, ideally with their feet touching the floor.
• Position your legs on the outsides of the person's legs.
• Put your arms around their chest and clasp your hands behind their lower back. Do not let them grab or hold you around your neck. Use a transfer belt if needed.
• Help the person shift their weight forward in a rocking motion while telling them to stand up. Talk to each other while rocking so you are both prepared to stand at the same time, like by saying: "Stand on 3. 1, 2, 3."
• Never pull on the person's weaker arm or lift them by the armpits.

Step 3. Sit the person in the wheelchair:

• Once standing, have the person take shuffle steps or pivot on their stronger leg toward the wheelchair, as you continue to hold on. Always transfer toward the person's stronger side, if there is one.
• Have the person take a few steps back until they can feel the wheelchair on the back of their legs.
• Tell the person to grasp the arm of the wheelchair and lean slightly forward toward you.
• As the person bends toward you, bend your knees and lower the person into the back of the wheelchair.
• Once they are seated, be sure that they are comfortable in the wheelchair and sitting all the way back.

Important safety tips

Lifting a person can be hard on your back. To reduce the risk of a back injury, remember to do the following:

• Organize the steps in your head before you start.
• Remove any clutter in the immediate environment.
• Explain the steps of the move and ask the person to tell you when they are ready to transfer.
• Keep your knees bent and your back straight. Any lifting power comes from your legs and not your back.
• Avoid letting the person grasp or hold behind your neck.
• Use a transfer belt to provide a firm hold, rather than clasping your hands behind the person's back.
• Get help when you need it.
• Ask to practice with supervision.