Transferring into The Evolv

For certain individuals, transferring is never an easy task, especially at first. Like many things, transferring gets easier when you find a technique that works best for you, and practice. With assisted transfers, it is always a good idea to review the transfer strategy with the client before transferring, and talk them through the steps as they are happening. This will help reduce anxiety for the person being transferred. There are many different methods of transferring into the EasyStand Evolv stander, whether you transfer independently or need assistance. There are also a variety of options that can be added to the Evolv to help make your method of transferring more manageable.

Independent Transfer: A person with paraplegia or others who have good upper body strength can do a lateral transfer from their wheelchair to the seat of the stander. We have designed the Evolv base so that a wheelchair can be positioned at any angle from parallel to 90 degrees against the edge of the Evolv seat (the front wheelchair caster can even come underneath the front corner of the seat). The kneepads flip up and out of the way to give the person room to bring their legs in and position their feet.

Options that can help an independent transfer: Sliding board, Transfer Seat, Shadow Tray

Stand Pivot Transfer: A caregiver can assist a patient into the stander using a stand pivot transfer. The caregiver helping with the stand pivot transfer assists the person out of their wheelchair to standing, then turns or pivots, and sits the person down on the seat of the stander.

Options that can help a stand pivot transfer: Swing Away Front, Rotating Seat, Transfer Seat, Shadow Tray

Patient Lift Device: Caregivers can assist people who have a higher level of disability by using a patient lift device, such as a Hoyer lift or an overhead ceiling lift to get positioned in the EasyStand. The rear legs of the EasyStand Evolv are designed to allow room for the lifting device to be used from many different angles.

Hints: To make the transfer from a patient lift device go smoother, recline the back of the standing frame slightly. With some patient lift devices it may make the transfer easier to lift the Evolv footplates up to a higher position, allowing the transfer device to slide closer to the base of the Evolv. Be sure to reposition the footplates and back prior to standing.

Options that can help transferring with a patient lift device: Swing Away Front, Removable Back, Transfer Seat, Shadow Tray

Standing Frame Options to Help Make Transfers Easier

Transfer Seat:
To make lateral transfers easier, the wider Transfer Seat can be added to the EasyStand Evolv, providing a larger surface to transfer onto. The Transfer Seat acts like a built-in transfer board, and in some cases, can replace the need for a transfer board.

Swing Away Front:
The H-Frame style front allows one side of the table to swing away, making room for the caregiver/aid to position their body in front of the seat for easier standing pivot or patient lift transfers.

Rotating Seat:
To make stand pivot transfers easier, the Rotating Seat has a padded disk embedded in the seat that reduces shear while swinging the user’s legs into place. It rotates 90 degrees and locks into place.

Removable Back:
When transferring into the EasyStand with a patient lift from the rear of the unit, a removable back is handy. Two knobs on the back frame allow the back to be quickly removed and re-attached.

Shadow Tray:
When the Shadow Tray is flipped up, it can create more space near the front of the seat for an assisted transfer or independent transfer, especially when combined with the Swing Away Front Option. The Shadow Tray and kneepads flip out of the way for an easy transfer.

For clients who have difficulty transferring or prefer to stand directly from their wheelchair, we also offer the EasyStand StrapStand.

Want more transfer tips and techniques from paraplegics and quadriplegics? Check out our Life After Spinal Cord Injury videos.