How can a nursing assistant best support residents with mobility issues?

Supporting residents with mobility issues is essential for maintaining their independence, dignity, and overall well-being. Assisting with transfers and encouraging safe ambulation directly addresses their needs by promoting movement while ensuring their safety. It empowers residents to practice mobility skills in a controlled environment, which helps them build strength and confidence.

Encouraging movement also reduces the risk of complications associated with prolonged immobility, such as muscle atrophy, pressure sores, and deep vein thrombosis. This approach not only contributes to physical health but also enhances the residents' mental and emotional state by allowing them to engage more fully in daily activities and social interactions.

In contrast, suggestions to keep residents in bed or to restrict their movement can lead to negative outcomes. These practices may contribute to physical decline and can result in feelings of isolation or frustration for the residents. Providing therapy sessions, while beneficial, usually falls under the scope of specialized practitioners rather than nursing assistants, who focus more on daily support and care. Thus, actively assisting with mobility is the most effective way for nursing assistants to foster residents' independence and quality of life.