Which technique helps move a dependent resident up in bed?

• A. Roll sides of turn sheet or large cloth, incontinent pad, to resident's body.
• B. Stand with back straight and bend at the hips and knees.
• C. Lean over the resident with a rounded back.
• D. Use the arms only to lift.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is to use a draw sheet or turn sheet under the resident to move them up in bed. This approach minimizes friction between the resident and the mattress and distributes the weight more safely, reducing the risk of skin shearing and caregiver back injury. By grabbing the sides of the sheet and sliding the resident up toward the head of the bed, you achieve a controlled, efficient repositioning without lifting with the arms. Good body mechanics support this—feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, back kept straight—so you can use leg power rather than your back. The other techniques either don’t move the resident up safely, introduce risky bending or rounding of the back, or rely on lifting with the arms, which is more likely to cause injury.