Mobility
This is a long page, so we've put in headlines for navigation and buttons to show detailed text. Your browser's 'Find on page' function won't see everything unless you've shown it using this button:
General
For how to reduce the risk of falls, for suitable exercises to maintain strength and balance, and information on walking aids see our section on preventing falls.
An occupational therapist and/or a physiotherapist will be able to advise further on aids, exercises and abilities - in the UK your GP will be able to refer you as appropriate.
Advice on avoiding injuring your own back etc when helping someone with mobility problems is available in the NHS website's social care and support guide.
Note that lack of movement means the person's own weight presses on the same area for a prolonged period. This can cause pressure sores, which can be painful even when nothing's visible, and which can develop into skin ulcers. See our section on preventing pressure sores.
Standing up from a chair
Suitable chair
If standing from a seated position is difficult then the first thing to consider is whether the chair's suitable. If the seat is too low then the knee muscles won't be at the best angle for standing - the thighs should be horizontal with the feet flat on the floor.
If only one person is going to be using the chair, its height can be increased semi-permanently by placing purpose-made feet underneath each leg - these are variously called chair (or furniture) raisers or risers, or elephant feet. There's a good selection of these available in the UK on the Complete Care Shop website, under bedroom - chair raisers, and for those outside the UK this may give you some ideas and product names to look for. (We don't receive any money for mentioning this shop - but we have used them and do find their range useful.) Also see the Living Made Easy website, under at home - bed and chair accessories - furniture raisers and movers (note that the different products aren't ranked or rated, and you should check that any supplier listed is reputable).
Alternatively, an additional seat cushion can be used, including those designed to avoid pressure sores - but do use one that's purpose-made as a seat cushion and ensure that any fastening strap is used so it doesn't risk sliding forwards and off as the person stands up.
The depth of the chair, from the front of the seat to the backrest, also needs to be suitable for the individual - so that their knees and heels can be in the correct position and their back be supported at the base.
Another thing to consider is that to help with the effort of standing and to increase stability, a chair with arms to push on is best. The arms need be a suitable height relative to the seat, and it's best if the padding on the front of the arms isn't too soft.
Correct starting position
Before standing, if necessary encourage the person to bring their heels slightly back, so that the centre of their feet is vertically below their knees (which will mean that their shins aren't vertical and their heels are slightly nearer to the chair than their knees are). Try it yourself and you'll see what position works best.
Standing aid frame
Simple standing aid frames are available, which enable the person to pull themselves up using handles in front of the chair - for an example see the Complete Care Shop website, for 'stand easy standing aid frame'. In the UK, NHS and council occupational therapists may be able to provide loan equipment for aids like these.
Lifting cushion
A lifting cushion is a tilt/raise device that sits on the chair seat to aid standing. There are two types - electrically powered ones (unlikely to be controllable by someone with dementia, although they could be operated by a carer), and spring action ones that use a gas spring to store energy as you sit down and then automatically release this energy as you stand up. Make sure you get one that's suitable for the person's weight - you need to look at the minimum weight as well as the maximum weight it's designed for, otherwise it may not be pressed far enough down into the seating position. Also look for adjustable settings for weight, and make sure it's adjusted properly and the person is happy with it - it may take a little getting used to.
There's a selection of lifting cushions available in the UK on the Complete Care Shop website, oddly under bathroom aids - chair pads & pressure cushions - powered lifting cushions, and for those outside the UK this may give you some ideas and product names to look for. (We don't receive any money for mentioning this shop - but we have used them and do find their range useful.) Also see the Living Made Easy website, under at home - pillows, cushions and posture supports - riser cushions (note that the different products aren't ranked or rated, and you should check that any supplier listed is reputable).
Riser recliner chair
In an electrically powered 'riser recliner' chair the whole chair rises and tilts - you'll probably have seen these advertised. Again, they're unlikely to be controllable by someone with dementia, but they could be used by a carer to help with standing. Shop around as they can be very expensive, particularly from non-healthcare shops.
Raised toilet seat and frame
There are also two aids for standing after using the toilet: the height of the toilet seat can be increased by attaching a 'raised toilet seat', and a 'toilet frame' can be used to provide an arm each side of the toilet to push up with. In the UK, NHS and council occupational therapists may be able to provide loan equipment for these.
There's also a selection of equipment available for purchase in the UK on the Complete Care Shop website, under bathroom - toileting aids, and for those outside the UK this may give you some ideas and product names to look for. (We don't receive any money for mentioning this shop - but we have used them and do find their range useful.) Also see the Living Made Easy website, under health and personal care - bathing and toileting - toilet seats and the Living Made Easy website, under health and personal care - bathing and toileting - toilet frames and rails (note that the different products aren't ranked or rated, and you should check that any supplier listed is reputable).
Stand aid hoist (nursing home)
A nursing home may have a special 'stand aid' hoist for people who can walk once standing. The person sits on a special sling in the chair, and two carers attach loops on the sling to the hoist arm, which is then lifted electrically until the person is in a standing position. For people requiring less assistance, a nursing home may use a 'handling belt' or 'transfer belt', which goes behind the person's back and enables a carer pulling each end of the belt to assist standing.
Getting in and out of a car
See our section on getting in and out of a car.
Getting in and out of bed
There are bed aids / bed rails to help someone pull themselves upright in bed and steady themselves as they get up. These either fix in place by a plate on the floor under the bed wheels, or strap round the bed base underneath the mattress. Since it's important to get something suitable for the person and their abilities, and to make sure it's attached safely to your type of bed, we feel that it's best for an occupational therapist to advise on what's best for your particular needs (and in the UK they should be able to provide the equipment needed on loan).
If helping someone get in or out of bed, get them to do as much of the swinging their feet round as they can. If you lift and swing their legs for them there's a risk of twisting their back or hips, particularly if it's done quickly so they can't help shuffle round. As with all things, tell the person what you're going to do before you do it, and what you'd like them to do (before and whilst you do it).
Profiling bed
A profiling bed is one which raises the head, foot, or whole bed electrically - as used in hospitals. We mention them here because there's a limited potential for their use by a carer to aid standing, if this is assessed as safe. The person would get into a sitting position on the side of the bed with their feet on the floor, and with the carer making sure they don't topple forwards the whole bed can be raised to aid standing. Note that some beds on the non-healthcare market may not have the function to raise the whole bed - just the head or foot (and in any case they tend to be more expensive).
Bathroom aids
There are many different types of aids to make showers or baths easier and safer to use, such as non-slip mats, grab rails, shower seats, bath steps, bath boards etc. Since manoeuvering over the side of a slippery bath is potentially very dangerous, and people's abilities vary widely, we feel that it's best for an occupational therapist to advise on the aids that are most suitable for your particular needs (and in the UK they should be able to provide the equipment needed on loan).
Hoists
When someone is unable to transfer from bed to chair etc under their own steam even with assistance, they'll need two carers to use a hoist.
A special sling is positioned underneath them in bed (or they'll already be sitting in the sling in the chair), and the carers attach loops on the sling to the hoist arm, which is then lifted electrically. Care or nursing homes will have this equipment, and in the UK it can be provided on loan by the NHS for those who need it, for use by visiting carers. Slings come in different sizes, and types (including showering slings).
There are also 'stand aid' hoists (above) for those who can walk once standing.