4 Simple Steps for Assisting Parents in Sitting and Standing
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Patient Handling Health For Seniors For Caregivers

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  1. Standing: Prepare Your Parent
  2. Standing: Assist with the Movement
  3. Sitting: Find Proper Positioning
  4. Standing and Sitting: Use Equipment to Assist

The actions of sitting and standing can become difficult for our parents, especially as they age. Luckily, helping your parents sit and stand is fairly simple; here are four simple steps.

Standing: Prepare Your Parent

Proper preparation is key to helping your parent to safely stand up. Start by asking your parent to sit on the front half of their chair, or close to the edge of their bed. Have your parent position his or her feet so that they are shoulder width apart, and so that one foot is just a bit in front of the other – this will help to provide a solid, sturdy base. Your positioning matters, too. Stand so that you are on your parent’s weaker side, and move so that you are as close to your parent as possible. Your back foot should face your parent while your front foot should be positioned in the direction that you will be moving.

Standing: Assist with the Movement

When it comes time to help your parent to stand, put one hand across your parent’s back and bring your other hand in front of you, placing it on your parent’s collarbone nearest you to keep him or her from leaning too far forward during the process. Have your parent place his or her hands straight down on the arm rests of the chair or the bed, so that he or she can push downward in order to stand. Give a clear preparatory command of “one, two, three,” or some other variation, then lift and support your parent as he or she pushes down to stand.

Sitting: Find Proper Positioning

When helping a parent to sit down, make sure that you have them properly position themselves. While supporting your parent with one hand across their back and one hand supporting a wrist, back up until your parent can feel the chair behind his or her legs. Have your parent put his or her hands on the arms of the chair, and move your hand from your parent’s wrist to his or her collarbone. Tell your parent to sit gradually, and support your parent as he or she sits down and back into the chair.

Standing and Sitting: Use Equipment to Assist

Helping your parent to both sit and stand is a physically demanding process. When your parent fully depends on your support to keep them balanced, positioned, and supported, there is room for things to go wrong. A loss of balance or a lack of strength can result in a fall or injury. Consider using one of the many home medical devices designed to make the sitting and standing process safer and smoother. Sit to stand lifts are excellent for helping people who are partially weight bearing. A sit to stand lift provides more stability and support than your body can, creating a more comfortable and confident experience for your parent. The more often that you help your parent to sit and stand, the easier the process will become. For more tips read 4 SIMPLE WAYS TO ASSIST YOUR PARENTS WITH SITTING AND STANDING.