Getting into bed

• Approach the bed as you would a chair; feel the mattress behind both legs.
• Slowly lower yourself to a seated position on the bed, using your arms to control your descent.
• Lean on your forearm while you allow your trunk to lean down to the side.
• As your trunk goes down, the legs will want to go up, like a see-saw.
  ✦Don’t crawl onto the mattress.

Getting out of bed

• Bend your knees up, put your feet flat on the bed.
• Roll onto your side toward the edge of the bed letting the knees fall to that side.
• Reaching across with the top arm. Turn your head and look in the direction you are rolling.
• Lower your feet from the bed as you push with your arms into a sitting position.

Rolling over in bed

• Bend your knees up with feet flat.
• Allow your knees to move to the side as you begin to roll.
• Turn your head in the direction you are rolling and reach top arm across the body.
• Wearing satin pyjamas or using satin sheets can make it easier to turn due to reduced friction.

The “Getting On and Off Furniture” video on this page demonstrates these techniques.

Depending on what you find difficult, an Occupational Therapist may suggest different equipment to help, for example:

• A bed lever attaches between the mattress and bed frame. It helps you push yourself into the right position.
• Slide sheets can be used by a family member or carer. They are positioned under someone and help slide them into position in bed.
• Bed raisers increase the height of the bed and make it easier to get out.
• A pillow lifter can assist in raising the person from lying to sitting
• An electronic adjustable bed known as a “profiling bed” can help with all aspects of bed mobility.

Choosing an appropriate chair is important for people who have problems moving around. The chair you sit in should be an appropriate height for you. (Your occupational therapist can provide advice on this.) The seat of the chair should be firm with flat base cushions and arm rests on both sides. A low chair with soft cushions and no or lower arm rests can be harder to get up and down from and can increase the risk of falls. Your occupational therapist might suggest adding an additional cushion or placing chair raisers under the base of the chair.

Electric raiser/recliner arm chairs can be helpful for people who have trouble getting out of a chair. These may be beneficial for people who have tried other options and continue to have difficulty sitting down safely or rising from the chair alone. These chairs reduce manual handling for family or careers and provide flexibility and support fluctuations in ability throughout the day.

If getting on or off the toilet is difficult, an occupational therapist can arrange for rails to be fitted to hold on to, or a frame to go around the toilet with arm rests to use when lowering yourself down and pushing up.

Sitting down on a chair or toilet:

• Back up to the chair or toilet until you can feel it at the back of both knees
• Reach back for the arms of the chair, or rails if you have them for the toilet
• Sit down lowering yourself gently onto the seat.

Standing Up:

• Move your hips forward to the edge of the chair or toilet seat
• Move your feet so they are a shoulder width apart. If you have a weak leg, then put the good leg slightly further to support your balance.
• Make sure your bent knees are over your feet.
• Lean forward until your head is positioned ‘nose over toes’
• Push forward and up from the arm rests using both arms (rocking back and forth can support the momentum to stand).
• Continue looking forward and stabilise your balance before continuing to walk.

How to get up from a seated position when ‘feeling stuck’:

• First, imagine moving to the front of the seat.
• Next, imagine placing feet close to the chair or toilet and slightly apart.
• Think of your hands ready to push down on the armrests …
• Then, imagine the feeling of pushing down through legs and arms, and rising up easily, into a standing position.
• After having briefly run through the actions in your mind …
• Now prepare for real action with a ‘1, 2, 3, stand-up’ (or use other phrases to suit).

The “Getting On and Off Furniture” video on this page demonstrates these techniques.

An Occupational Therapist may recommend a bath board if getting in and out of the bath is difficult. A bath board is designed to sit across the width of the bath. The user then sits on it whilst showering if a shower is fitted over the bath, or can lower themselves onto a seat in the bath from the board to bathe. The board is secured by brackets or suckers. Grab rails are often fitted at the same time. Different models are available to fit a range of settings and requirements. The occupational therapist will measure the width of the bath to ensure the appropriate piece of equipment is fitted. 

If the bath board is going to be taken off regularly for cleaning it is essential whoever will be taking it on and off can do it safely and is aware of the fitting instructions.

Getting on to the bath board

• Back up to the side of the bath so your buttocks are in line with the bath board. Ensure you can feel the board at the back of both legs
• Reach for the sides of the bath board and gently lower yourself down.
• If you have a hand rail (on the bath board or on the wall), reach back for it
• Holding the rail and the side of the bath, gently lift one leg at a time into the bath
• Using the hand rail to steady yourself, slide into the center of the bath board.

Getting off the bath board

• Holding the hand rail, slide a little closer towards the edge of the bath board
• Holding the rail and the side of the bath, gently lift one leg at a time out of the bath
• Once your feet are both flat on the floor, hold the sides of the bath in preparation to stand
• Move your hips forward to the edge of the bath board
• Move your feet so they are a shoulder width apart, with your stronger leg slightly in front.
• Lean forward until your head is positioned ‘nose over toes’
• Push forward and up from the arm rests using both arms (rocking back and forth can support the momentum to stand)
• Continue looking forward and stabilise balance before continuing to move off.

Watch the “Getting Off and On Furniture” video on this page to see an Occupational Therapist demonstrating these techniques.

Getting into the car

• Ensure the seat is pushed back to allow greater space for moving legs into the car.
• Turn and back in toward the seat so that your buttocks are going into the car first.
• Reach back for the seat or dashboard and slowly lower yourself onto the seat. Never hold on to the moving door!
• Reach over to the inside edge of the seat and step one leg in at a time
• A plastic bag on cloth seats can make turning easier and repositioning in the seat easier. A swivel slide seat cushion and car transfer handles can also be privately purchased. Your occupational therapist can support with technique and recommendations for appropriate equipment.

Getting out of the car:

• Reach forward to support yourself on the dashboard with the nearest hand
• Begin stepping one leg at a time out of the car. Your body should be in the car and your legs should be out on the ground.
• Move forward towards the edge of the seat and lean forward while pushing up from the seat or dashboard. NEVER pull up on the car door.
• When standing up straight ensure you have your balance before moving off.

Watch the “Getting in and out of Cars” video to see an Occupational Therapist demonstrating these techniques.