Restorative Skills Ambulation and Mobility Training 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Before ambulating a resident for the first time after a period of bed rest, what should the restorative aide do first?
- Dangle the resident at the bedside to assess for orthostatic hypotension (Correct answer)
- Immediately stand the resident and begin walking
- Apply a gait belt and begin walking without sitting up first
- Check blood pressure only while the resident is still lying down
Correct answer: Dangle the resident at the bedside to assess for orthostatic hypotension
Dangling at the bedside allows the resident's cardiovascular system to adjust to positional changes and helps the aide assess for dizziness before standing.
Question 2: What is the correct placement of a gait belt when assisting a resident with ambulation?
- Snugly around the resident's waist over clothing, with two fingers fitting underneath (Correct answer)
- Loosely around the hips for comfort
- Around the resident's chest under the arms
- Around the wrist for light guidance only
Correct answer: Snugly around the resident's waist over clothing, with two fingers fitting underneath
The gait belt is placed snugly around the waist over clothing; it should be tight enough to stay in place but allow two fingers to slide underneath.
Question 3: During ambulation, a resident begins to fall. What is the correct aide response?
- Guide the resident to the floor in a controlled manner using the gait belt (Correct answer)
- Try to hold the resident up and prevent any contact with the floor
- Release the gait belt and call for help
- Quickly lower the resident to a nearby chair regardless of distance
Correct answer: Guide the resident to the floor in a controlled manner using the gait belt
Attempting to stop the fall entirely risks injury to both the resident and aide; controlling the descent to the floor using the gait belt is the safest intervention.
Question 4: Which type of walker provides the most stability for a resident with significant balance impairment?
- Standard (pick-up) walker (Correct answer)
- Rolling (wheeled) walker
- Hemi walker
- Quad cane
Correct answer: Standard (pick-up) walker
A standard pick-up walker offers maximum stability because all four legs are on the floor during weight-bearing, with no wheels that could roll unexpectedly.
Question 5: When walking behind a resident who uses a walker, where should the restorative aide position themselves?
- Slightly behind and to one side of the resident, holding the gait belt (Correct answer)
- Directly in front of the resident to catch them if they fall forward
- Several feet back to give the resident independence
- Alongside the resident holding their hand only
Correct answer: Slightly behind and to one side of the resident, holding the gait belt
Positioning slightly behind and to one side while holding the gait belt allows the aide to support and respond quickly if the resident loses balance.
Question 6: What is orthostatic hypotension?
- A drop in blood pressure when moving from lying or sitting to standing (Correct answer)
- High blood pressure during exercise
- Normal blood pressure fluctuation during sleep
- Chronic low blood pressure unrelated to position
Correct answer: A drop in blood pressure when moving from lying or sitting to standing
Orthostatic hypotension is a drop of 20+ mmHg in systolic or 10+ mmHg in diastolic blood pressure within 3 minutes of standing, which can cause dizziness and falls.
Restorative Skills Ambulation and Mobility Training 1
Before ambulating a resident for the first time after a period of bed rest, what should the restorative aide do first?