For too long care staff have been discouraged from supporting people on the stairs. This is largely due to fear that a person may fall, as well as a lack of knowledge on how to do this safely. It has therefore always been an assumption that Physiotherapists (PT) and Occupational Therapists (OT) are the only people that are allowed to do this.
It’s essential for a person to have an initial assessment by a physical therapist or occupational therapist to ensure they can manage the stairs. However, we now know that a Prevention and Enablement Approach emphasises the importance of promoting and maintaining independence.
Therefore, it is vital that care professionals provide individuals with the chance to practice using the stairs, using a Risk-positive approach rather than just avoiding it because ‘we have always done it that way’ or because there are risks involved. Like a person who may need supervision while using a mobility frame, they may need supervision on the stairs to ensure they maintain their confidence and most importantly, their functional ability.
The new HCPA “Supporting a person on the stairs – busting myths and how to do it safely!” resource (which includes videos) has been written by our in-house Physiotherapist and has been designed both to empower you and to show you practically, how to do this.