The bed-to-wheelchair transfer combines setup and technique: position the wheelchair at a slight angle to the bed on the person's stronger side, lock both brakes, and swing away or remove the footrests before anyone moves. The person sits on the edge of the bed, plants their feet, and stands and pivots into the chair with the caregiver guiding by the gait belt. Most transfer injuries come from skipped setup — unlocked brakes, footrests in the path, or a chair placed too far away — not from the lift itself. Always let the person do as much of the work as they safely can; assisting is not the same as lifting.
A bed-to-wheelchair transfer starts with setup: the wheelchair angled on the person's stronger side, both brakes locked, and footrests out of the way before anyone moves. The person sits at the edge …