Wheelchair-bound residents in nursing facilities: the basics.

More than 70% of nursing home residents spend at least part of their day in wheelchairs. Ideally, each resident would be fitted for his or her own wheelchair. A well-fitted chair can improve mobility, safety, and comfort. Wheelchairs that are ill fitting, however, can cause or exacerbate medical problems. These include posture-related complications like poor breathing or dysphagia, falls, pressure sores, and several other conditions. Pharmacists who are involved with quality improvement activities can make wheelchair use and selection a priority, improving care for wheelchair-bound residents.