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Section 4
Track #4: Working Surface Assessment

Table of Contents | NCCAP/NCTRC CE Booklet

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Trancript of Track #4

When you work with the resident with an activity like caps in a bowl, to facilitate their independence, you need to place the bowl and caps on a surface as appose to holding the bowl for them. Often times residents are siting in a lounge or hallway. I found that an over the bed table in most cases is the easiest and most readily available working surface.

Height
Thus, bringing the working surface to the resident rather than bringing the resident to the working surface, I find to be a more efficient use of time. The over the bed table needs to be adjusted to a height that usually is at the resident’s elbow level.

Above the elbow
If it is above the elbow, their arm may end up at about a 30 degree angle and they have a hard time angling their wrist to do any form of an activity comfortably. I usually adjust the over the bed table to get around this problem at as low a level as possible of course without putting pressure on the resident’s knees.

However, without a doubt, you have found like I that it takes a bit of doing to gently and carefully get the support legs for the table threaded between through and around foot pedals, feet, and stiff, perhaps, almost immobile legs. In some cases you just have to settle for the best you can get regarding the placement of the over the bed table so as not to create a negative experience for the resident.

Angle of their forearm
Also, in addition to looking at the resident’s shoulder height and angle of their elbow for comfort, you might assess the angle of their forearm as it relates to their wrist. Many residents have very stiff wrists and you might use a pillow to prop their elbow up in order to get their hand at the right angle for the working surface. The proceeding basics regarding adjustment and provision of a working surface need to applied to all success therapy object manipulation projects that require a working surface and these methods will be referenced throughout this Section and other courses.

Question 4: What is an advantage of bringing the working surface to the resident as apposed to bring the resident to the working surface?

NCCAP/NCTRC CE Booklet
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Table of Contents

Note-Taking Exercise
Working Surface Assessment

What three areas should you assess when setting a working surface height for a resident?
1.

2.

3.