Written by Mike Price, OT
If there’s one thing that caregivers of all types share daily, it’s the need for safe and comfortable transfers. Most daily activities require transfers, whether it's positional movements, moving between sitting and standing, or transitioning from room to room.
Transferring people from one room to another, or from one position to another is no easy task, and numerous patients and caregivers are injured every year due to improper lifting practices. Using proper transfer aids is the best way to reduce falling risks for the patient, and overexertion injuries for the caregiver.
The wide variety of patient lifting and transfer equipment ensures the right kind of device is available for every unique lifting or transfer situation.
Transfer belts, also called gait belts, come in many styles and sizes and are most often shaped like regular belts. They loop around the patient’s waist and provide hand-holds for a caregiver to grab so they can better support patients as they change positions.
Depending on the degree of involvement, children and adults may be able to use independent mobility aids, such as walkers, canes, and assistive bed rails and poles to perform safe transfers. Those with more extensive physical challenges will require the assistance of a caregiver to move around in their environment and reposition themselves in wheelchairs and beds.
If the person you’re caring for retains some weight-bearing capacity, a transfer belt may be all you need to assist in their daily mobility and positioning activities. Usually designed with built-in handles, they’re intended to provide a firm hold for caregivers to use to help transfer the wearer from various positions.
These positions include:
Patients with the following circumstances should not use a transfer belt for their safety and comfort.
If the patient has feeding tubes or other abdominal apparatus attached, it’s important to consult with the patient’s doctor before attempting to use a transfer belt.
Transfer belts should be positioned in the lower abdominal section, close to the hips and the patient’s center of gravity. Avoid positioning the belt too high, as this can cause discomfort, slippage, and can cause the belt to become inefficient. A belt that is too tight can also affect breathing and movement during use. Caregivers should be able to fit two fingers between the belt and the patient’s body to ensure the correct tightness and fit.
Please note:
Contrary to popular belief, gait belts and transfer belts are not technically the same thing but are often used interchangeably. Gait belts, also known as walking belts, are used by caregivers and medical personnel to offer stability to someone who has difficulty walking or ambulating. Transfer belts, on the other hand, are used to help reposition or transfer patients from one location to another. While both belt types typically come with handles to assist caregivers, the construction of a transfer belt is designed to withstand the shifting weight of patients during repeated transfers. Transfer belts are also usually padded though more recently, gait belts have also been manufactured with padding.
Transfer slings may look similar in form to a pair of shorts, or an open type of back brace, and are usually formulated in a more robust or padded design than typical transfer belts. Providing added support for the lumbar area along with the lower trunk, they have handles for caregivers to grab to support their patients as they change position or walk.
~5.jpg&newwidth=365&maxheight=200 "Etac Patient Transfer Sling") | Etac Patient Transfer Sling View Product |
When a patient is prone to emergency medical attention because of certain cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, and other types of health conditions, transfer belts are one of the best choices to employ. The belts can fold down quite small and can fit in the pocket of most scrubs for quick access in emergency situations.
 | Econo Comfortable Gait Transfer Belt View Product |
Transfer belts typically come in lengths that vary between 54 to 60 inches, and widths of 1½ to 4 inches wide. Bariatric transfer belts will be wider, longer, and typically have reinforced stitching to ensure the safe transfer of the patient.
 | Handicare FlexiBelt for Transfer Aids, Standing and Walking Support View Product |
Transfer belts generally have multiple handles in both vertical and horizontal positioning to give caregivers the support they require to assist their patients. While some also feature a quick-release buckle for fast and easy access.
 | Assure Safety Transfer Belt View Product |
Transfer belts come in a wide variety of buckle styles with the most common ones being constructed of a heavy-duty plastic or metal. The metal buckles have teeth that help the buckle fasten to the cloth of the belt itself, ensuring the belt does not slide out once fitted to the patient. These belts are not recommended for patients that are a danger risk to themselves or others, as the metal can be used as a makeshift weapon.
 | Cotton Transfer Belts with Metal Buckle by Medline View Product |
 | Quick-Release Gait Belt View Product |
 | SafetySure Transfer Belt with Fix-Lock Buckle View Product |
If an individual still retains some level of weight-bearing ability and their caregiver has average strength, the use of a transfer belt can help immensely in providing support for all of the multiple transfers, repositioning, and walking performed daily.
Designed to be comfortable, durable, and reliable, transfer belts are assistive and affordable patient transfer devices that will benefit both the caregiver and the loved one they are caring for, keeping both safe and secure during transfers, ambulation, and positioning. Be sure to browse more articles about safe patient transfer at Caregiver University, and let us help you choose the best support for you and your loved ones!
Co-Founder of Rehabmart and an Occupational Therapist since 1993. Mike has spent his professional career working in multiple areas of Occupational Therapy, including pediatrics, geriatrics, hand therapy, ergonomics and inpatient / outpatient rehabilitation. Mike enjoys writing articles that help people solve complex therapeutic problems and make better product choices.
.jpg&maxheight=250&width=365&product_name=Skil-Care Cotton Gait Belt "Skil-Care Cotton Gait Belt")
