Mobility is a very important part of people's lives. We like to be able to get where we want to go without much resistance or problems. When a person loses that ability of moving themselves around, it in most cases becomes a goal of restoring that mobility as quickly and efficiently as possible. There is a hierarchy of mobility skills that can be followed in this kind of situation. The steps include bed mobility, mat transfer, wheelchair transfer, bed transfer, functional ambulation for ADLs, toilet and tub transfer, car transfer, functional ambulation for community mobility, and community mobility and driving. These steps set up a system that can be used to gradually restore the person's mobility in the most safe and efficient way possible and helps to also gradually restore the person's confidence in their mobility skills.
During high school I received my CNA license and during the time I spent in different facilities, I saw some of these steps, but not all and sometimes not in the same order. I think that the hierarchy was put in this order because it is the most functional and safe process to use for the patient, but sometimes people will progress differently causing the hierarchy to maybe be changed for some. This hierarchy of mobility skills I believe is effective in treatment of others because it goes from the basic needs of mobility and self care and proceeds to more difficult tasks that should be implemented at a later time when some/most mobility has been restored. As an OT, it will be my job to make sure that whenever someone of trying to restore their mobility that we are doing it in the safest, most efficient, and personally accepted way for the patient or client. This hierarchy seems to be a good guide to go by.
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