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Life Support Skills

Nursing Care · 介護 - Kaigo · Written by Tokutei Pass based on the official study texts; not copied verbatim.

Body Mechanics, Repositioning, and Transfer Assistance

In body mechanics, spread your feet shoulder-width apart, bend your knees to lower your center of gravity, and stand close to the user.

Before turning a supine user onto their side or moving them toward the head of the bed, bend both knees and cross their arms to reduce friction.

When a user with hemiplegia sits up from supine, have them turn onto their unaffected side first and push up while lowering both legs.

For bed-to-wheelchair transfers, place the wheelchair at an angle on the unaffected side, lock the brakes, and raise the foot supports.

Body Mechanics, Repositioning, and Transfer Assistance

Key points


  • When moving a supine user horizontally to the edge of the bed, shift the upper body and lower body in two separate steps.

  • Placing cushions into gaps between the body and mattress to disperse body pressure and maintain comfort is called positioning.

  • If a user slides forward in a wheelchair, help them sit back deeply against the backrest with feet resting on the foot supports.
WordMeaning
center of gravity
repositioning (turning in bed)
transfer
unaffected side
affected (paralyzed) side

Walking and Wheelchair Mobility Assistance

Adjust cane length so the grip is at the height of the greater trochanter when standing, with the elbow slightly bent.

A user with hemiplegia holds the cane in their unaffected hand while the caregiver stands diagonally behind the affected side.

When climbing stairs with a cane, move in the order 'cane → unaffected leg → affected leg'; when descending, 'cane → affected leg → unaffected leg'.

With a wheelchair, tip the front casters up to mount a step forward, and go backward slowly when descending steps or slopes.

Key points


  • When using a stair handrail without a cane, step up with the unaffected leg first and step down with the affected leg first.

  • When guiding a visually impaired user, have them hold slightly above your elbow while you walk half a step ahead and describe surroundings.

  • If a user loses balance while walking, support them with your body and legs while protecting their head and lower them gently to the floor.
WordMeaning
cane (walking stick)
walker
step, level difference
front wheels (casters)
rear wheels

Meal and Oral Care Assistance

Before meals, assist with toileting and handwashing, turn off the TV for a bright, focused environment, and perform oral exercises.

To prevent aspiration, seat the user upright with the chin slightly tucked, and sit diagonally in front at the same eye level.

For a user with hemiplegia, place the spoon into the unaffected side of the mouth and confirm swallowing before offering the next bite.

Keep the upper body upright for about 30 minutes after meals, and carefully check the affected cheek for food residue during oral care.

Meal and Oral Care Assistance

Key points


  • Provide texture-modified meals adjusted in softness, shape, and thickness according to each user's chewing and swallowing ability.

  • Brush the gumline gently with short strokes, and wipe tongue coating gently from the back of the tongue toward the front.

  • Wash removed dentures under running water with a denture brush and store them in a container filled with water or cleanser to prevent drying.
WordMeaning
aspiration
texture-modified meal (swallowing-adjusted diet)
oral care
tongue coating
dentures

Bathing and Personal Hygiene Assistance

Check vital signs and physical condition before bathing; avoid bathing right after meals or alcohol, or when feverish.

Keep bath water around 38 to 41 degrees Celsius, and start shower rinsing from the toes farthest from the heart.

When entering the bathtub, have the user hold the handrail and step in with their unaffected leg first.

When bathing is not possible, provide a bed bath exposing only the part being wiped, or a foot bath to promote circulation and sleep.

Key points


  • When washing hair, check water temperature with your own hand first and wash gently with the pads of your fingers while keeping water out of the ears.

  • After bathing, dry the skin promptly to prevent chilling, apply moisturizer, and offer fluids.

  • If you find a new bruise during undressing, check for pain, report to a nurse and supervisor, and record it.
WordMeaning
pouring warm water before bathing
bathtub
bed bath (wiping the body)
foot bath
moisturizing

Toileting Assistance

In the toilet, confirm that the user is standing stably while holding the handrail before lowering their pants and seating them securely.

Adjust a portable toilet so the soles of the feet touch the floor, and use curtains to protect privacy.

When using a bedpan in bed, warm it beforehand and slightly raise the backrest so the user can apply abdominal pressure more easily.

During diaper changes, wipe the genital area from front to back (from the urethral opening toward the anus).

Key points


  • Choose diapers and pads that fit the body size, and stand up the inner gathers snugly along the groin to prevent leakage.

  • If you notice black tarry stool, do not flush it; leave it for inspection and report immediately to a nurse.

  • After excretion, keep the skin clean and prevent odors by ventilating the room and sealing soiled diapers.
WordMeaning
standing posture
bedpan
urethral opening
anus
tarry stool (melena)

Dressing, Grooming, and Living Environment Maintenance

For users with hemiplegia, the rule for jackets is: 'put on the affected sleeve first, take off the unaffected sleeve first'.

Put on pullover shirts in the order 'affected sleeve → unaffected sleeve → head', and change pants in bed by turning the user onto each side.

In grooming, wipe eye discharge from the inner corner to the outer corner, and use an electric shaver against the hair grain while stretching the skin.

Pull bedsheets taut without wrinkles to prevent pressure ulcers, clear floor clutter, and ensure foot-level lighting at night.

Key points


  • Clip nails after bathing when soft, leaving a small white edge, and clean ears gently only near the entrance of the ear canal.

  • Adjust air conditioner vents so air does not blow directly on the user, and never discard or move personal belongings without asking.

  • Respect the user's preferences and habits in grooming and dressing, encouraging them to do what they can by themselves.
WordMeaning
dressing and undressing
lateral (side-lying) position
grooming
inner corner of the eye
cutting nails too short

Daily Life Support Techniques

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Official references