Is there any equipment or "aids" to help get an elderly person up from a fall?

This is a huge problem. I've always thought there should be someone local we can call for help when our elders fall. Sometimes, with the aid of a chair and a walker or other sturdy objects, people can help themselves, but when my mother fell, she was completely totally. I had to call 9-1-1. That gets old believe me. I hope someone has come up with some miracle aside from strong human arms (and backs), but I don't know of any one answer. Maybe someone else on the site will be able to give you more help. Believe me, I know what you are dealing with.
Carol

when FIL was under hospice, they just said to call 911 which we only had to do once. Once he had tia and was out cold. He was tall and thin, but even between my husband and myself, we could not even lift him enough to get in a chair. We had to wait till he came around and let him assist us. till that time, I did not really understand the term "dead weight"

Check with a medical supply store. There is a "lift" to get someone out of bed or up from chair. Don't know if it works from floor, but you can ask. Medicare may cover cost.
Also, CNA showed me how to assist (lift) my husband when he fell. Done correctly it doesn't hurt you or patient. *I am much younger than my husband so it depends on your ability as well. After learning technique it was amazing that lifting him was not a problem even though he is taller. He is thin, but outweighs me.

Check out UTube. There are some videos that show you how to help people who fall and moving them.

My 101-year-old dad fell a few times over the years, and amazingly never broke a bone or injured himself seriously. (We called him the Iron Man.) While he was still on the floor, before moving him, I would ask him to move his arms, legs, etc., just to see if he had broken anything before I tried to get him up. If he had pain, or couldn't move, I would have called the police right away. I suggest that if you can't help the person get up, call the cops and tell them it's not an emergency but that you need help. Our small-town police were very kind and said that we should call them day or night and they would help us. If there are no broken bones you don't need 9-1-1; and the 9-1-1 paramedics might want you to come to the hospital just to check everything out, which will turn the whole thing into an ordeal. And don't try to pull anyone up if they seem too heavy (which they probably are). You'll hurt your back and then you'll both be in trouble. All the best to you.

There is an inflatable device that can get them up off the floor that I've heard of. It's not a product we carry, but you can find it on the Internet by doing a search. It's called "The Mangar Camel Inflatable Lifting Chair". Below is a description:

"The Mangar Camel Inflatable Lifting Chair is a floor recovery system designed to lift the person up from the floor and move them in to a seated position. The chair can be used independently or with the aid of a carer."

I hope this helps!

I don't know, I've found the local firemen to be very helpful and eager. We've had to call them a number of times since my husband had a stroke -neither of us can leverage him up then. He spent too many long times on the floor or with me struggling to get him up with a gait belt before I learned to just call 911 right away--one fireman said, "No problem, that's what we're here for." I think it's less traumatic waiting 5 minutes for them than struggling for much longer.

We recently got a hoyer lift for my dad. It has been a life saver for lifting him from bed and moving him around. Last year my mom fell 2x and we had to call fire dept once and 2nd time my brother's friend and my husband were able to lift her off the floor. I do believe this lift would be helpful...even though I am very grateful that we have not put it to the test. It has a sling that can be adjusted and it is just a matter of putting under person and then lifting. It says it lifts up to 300 lbs. Hope this helps you.

Oh my, this is one of the worst things that could happen to our elderly. There's no specific equipment for this, but my friends told me to always provide a phone or a monitor for them in case of situations like this. If they can't use this gadgets, I think a full-time guardian is necessary, just to be sure all the time. You can get safety equipments like this. whenever they go the bathroom. I got one of this for my grandma and fixed them there.

You may consider taking a look at the ResQUp device. The fallen individual needs to raise themselves up at ~4 inch increments.

You may consider taking a look at the ResQUp device. The fallen individual needs to raise themselves up at ~4 inch increments.

My dad is a big guy and when he would fall I'd call 911. They were wonderful and helpful and never made me feel like a jerk for calling them and unless I insisted they never pressured my dad to go to the hospitial. The paramedics are also great allies. If my dad needed medical attention but refused to see the Dr. 911 was a great way to get him to the hospital so he could be treated for whatever was going on.

One thing NOT to do: Never use non-stationary objects to help a person off the floor. Never use an office chair or a coffee table, things like that. No walkers or wheelchairs. Things will fly out right from under a person and sometimes our elderly loved ones don't have the best judgement.

Using a gait belt is a great aide in preventing falls. I mean, a person wearing a gait belt is just as likely to fall as someone who isn't but if someone is wearing a gait belt you can hang onto the belt as your loved one ambulates. There are YouTube videos on how to use a gait belt. And if you've got your hand on someone's gait belt and they start to go down, put out one of your legs like you're taking a step. Position your feet about a foot apart and ease the person down your extended leg, just slide them down gently, and they won't crash to the ground.

If there were a sure fire way to get people off the ground once they've fallen everyone would have such a device. Hospitals would have them, nursing homes, etc.

There is NOW a mobility device that assists a fallen individual to get back up from the floor. It is called the ResQUp. It is a new device that was invented by a Dr. of Physical Therapy who expressed concerns about this growing problem.

i saw a device the other day on the web that is essentially a set of three vinyl steps. they slide into each other. the elder climbs back onto one step, then another then the third. then the first 2 slide underneath to fascilitate standing up. without buying devices i can bring my sturdy footstool in behind the elder and with a hand under the left armpit and a right hand under the thigh i can pick the elder up and sit them on the stool. im kinda strong tho.. from the footstool its a helping hand to reach a standing position..

desert192: can you describe your method for getting someone up without hurting your back? Thank you!

Hi Robyn,
I don't know how any other person is getting someone who has fallen up from the floor, but I have the ResQUp mobility device that my Mom has used to help her get up into a seated postion. I can bring it to her whenever she has fallen( you should only use it when a person has not injured themselves). Since the first level is only 4.5," this does not hurt her shoulder when she raises herself up onto the first level.
This device not only helps with her own ability to get back up on her own, but with little or no assistance at all! In the end, no call to 911 and I do not hurt my back.
It is called the ResQUp. I hope that helps Robyn.

You might want to rent or purchase a Hoyer Lift. I have one because I deal with mom falling and I have chronic back problems. Lifting her off the floor has almost crippled me.

I have found that the portable Hoyer Advance Lift (manual) has been invaluable. My mom weights 175 pounds and I could not manage her at home without the lift. I have three full body slings to use in the event that one gets soiled. Many of these lifts go for over $2,000. I surfed and found one for $1,200 that included one sling. I ordered the manual version that doesn't need electricity. It weighs around 75 pounds. Owning one of these will ease your stress as a caregiver because you know that if they go down you can get them up. I also suggest bath mats that can cushion a fall and can be easily washed when soiled.

There is a product from Up & About Products called EZ-Up Stand Assist that is a light weight, portable frame that may be worth a look.

Hoyer lifts and other inflatable devices are extremely expensive. The least expensive fall aid is the ResQUp, It is a fraction of the cost. see how this mobility aid works. There is nothing else on the market like it. IF the fall is non injurious, no need to call paramedics, etc. There is little or not assistance needed to help the fallen person up. This is also light weight and portable. Great product!

I am a man in a wheelchair. This is very recent for me. I need help on how to get my pants up after the restroom. I can only stand a couple of seconds and if my wife is not at hand I cannot get my pants back up. Please help me.