When helping an older adult get up from a chair, you want to keep good body mechanics and you want to keep the older adult safe from falling.
First, instruct them to sit towards the front of the chair – instruct them to scootch their hips forward until they are close to the edge of the seat.
Next, instruct them to bring their toes back, underneath their knees, lean forward, with shoulders over knees
Then, instruct them to push forward over knees and not to push straight up – if they push straight up, their bottom will not clear the chair. *Nose over toes is a motto a lot of therapists use*
(DailyCaring, n.d.) (Simple Steps Mobility, 2018)
If an older adult has arm rests on their chair, instruct them to push up from the arm rests. If they don’t have arm rests, instruct them to push up from their knees or if they have enough room to place their hands on the chair, to push up from the seat.
Educate them to never pull up from a walker – the walker will not support their weight and they may fall backwards. If you need to assist an older adult when they get up, never pull them by their arms – this may cause a dislocation of a joint. If they have a gait belt, utilize that to help assist and if they don’t have a gait belt, if their pants have enough support, you can help by lifting from the waist of their pants.
Before physically assisting them, stay close enough for safety, but instruct them to try on their own. This will increase strength and independence.
If you, or your loved one, is needing assistance with strength, endurance, balance, or independence with transfers, reach out to Home Therapy Solutions. Our physical and occupational therapists can provide an evaluation and identify goals for your loved one, to assist with improving their independence!! 218-230-2171
Resources:
- Sit to stand exercise: The best way to improve senior mobility. DailyCaring. (n.d.). Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://dailycaring.com/the-best-way-to-improve-senior-mobility-the-sit-to-stand-exercise/
- How to get an elderly person out of a chair. Simple Steps Mobility. (2018, January 16). Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://simplestepsmobility.com/mobility/transfers/how-to-get-an-elderly-person-out-of-a-chair/
