Ambulation Tipsheet: M1860

🎯Purpose:

This tool can be used to aid in the interpretation and coding of this OASIS item. Review the General Instructions and CMS Instructions for each answer.

(M1860) Ambulation/Locomotion: Current ability to walk safely, once in a standing position, or use a wheelchair, once in a seated position, on a variety of surfaces.

ANSWER	M1860 AMBULATION DESCRIPTION	CMS INSTRUCTIONS
0	*Able to independently walk on even and uneven surfaces and negotiate stairs with or without railings (i.e., needs no human assistance or assistive device)	*SAFE on all surfaces "routinely encountered in his or her environment No device or human assistance needed during all mobility Human assistance includes hands on, supervision and/or verbal cueing If clint requires an assistive device and/or human assistance to walk safely, it is NOT* a 0, continue down the responses.
1	*With the use of a one-handed device (e.g. cane, single crutch, hemi-walker), able to independently walk on even and uneven surfaces and negotiate stairs with or without railings	*SAFE on ALL surfaces "routinely encountered in his/her environment" (including stairs) Independent using single-handed device If the client requires ANY human assistance (supervision, SBA, manual assistance, etc.), to be safe, it is NOT a 1, continue down the responses
2	*Requires use of a two-handed device (e.g., walker or crutches) to talk alone on a level surface and/or requires human supervision or assistance to negotiate stairs or steps or uneven surfaces	*SAFELY walks alone (or independent) on level surfaces without assistance Requires assistance on non-level surfaces If device used, must be a 2-handed device If human assistance needed to ambulate SAFELY* on level surface, it is NOT a 2, continue down the responses
3	*Able to walk only with the supervision or assistance of another person at all times.	Requires human supervision or assistance on all surfaces to be SAFE* Requires supervision, verbal cues, SBA, CGA, manual assistance, etc. to ambulate SAFELY* on level surfaces If does not have a walking device or does not use device but is not safe walking alone (independent) Client is SAFE ambulating with continuous assistance from another person If client is NOT SAFE* with continuous assistance of another person, it is not a 3, continue down the responses
4	*Chairfast, unable to ambulate but is able to wheel self independently.	Non-ambulatory, "A client who demonstrates or reports ability to take one or two steps to complete a transfer, but is otherwise unable to ambulate should be considered chairfast" Independent with wheelchair *If ambulatory, but NOT SAFE with continuous assistance of another person and only safe if using wheelchair, independent with wheelchair
5	*Chairfast, unable to ambulate and is unable to wheel self.	Non-ambulatory Requires assistance with wheelchair *If ambulatory but NOT SAFE with continuous assistance of another person and only safe if using wheelchair, not independent with wheelchair or does not have one.
6	*Bedfast, unable to ambulate or be up in a chair	*Unable to tolerate being out of bed

General Instructions:

If the client does not meet all requirements for a specific item, look to lower responses
It does not consider the availability o fa caregiver to assist
Observe the client ambulating and the type of assistance required. All components of assistance (hands on, supervision, verbal cues, etc.) should be considered when assessing the client's ability to ambulate safely. If chairfast, assess ability to safely propel wheelchair independently, whether the wheelchair is powered or manual version.
GG0170 I-O, R, S, Clinical Summary and therapy evaluations should correlate with this response.
REMINDER: This item is scored PRIOR to intervention provided.

📅 Effective: 08/18/2021 | 🛠️ Revised: 7/9/26 | ✅ Approved: JM