How should you position a resident to prevent foot drop and maintain comfort?

• A. Support the head and neck in alignment, use pillows to support arms.
• B. Place a large pillow under the back.
• C. Position to keep legs straight and away from the mattress.
• D. Support the head and neck in alignment, use pillows to support arms, and place a small pillow beneath the calves/feet to prevent foot drop as ordered.

Answer: (D)

Positioning a resident to prevent foot drop and maintain comfort focuses on keeping the ankles in a neutral position and supporting the legs and feet while maintaining overall alignment. Place a small pillow beneath the calves and feet as ordered to prevent foot drop, so the ankles stay dorsiflexed rather than pointed downward. At the same time, align the head and neck and use pillows to support the arms to preserve comfort and reduce strain elsewhere in the body. This combination directly targets preventing foot drop and supports overall comfort, whereas approaches that leave the legs unsupported or fail to address ankle positioning don’t provide the same protection.