Does anyone have an idea how to lift a senior after she has fallen, considering she has a knee problem and can't help?

Post is from November 2023.

Stand in front of her hands and arms under their arms and around back n, bend your knee and do a count on three you both go up at the same time.

Hi Rosie,
I had a medical "Hoya Lift" on wheels, which was a great help to me. It is a kind of one-arm crane with 4 hooks, which has a fabric canvas with a hole for a hook on the 4 corners. So I could just "roll" mom over onto the canvas and lower the crane arm and hook the canvas onto the crane arm, then pump the handle until it raised her up. Then I lowered her where ever I wanted.

Before I got the HLift, if she fell or slipped down to the floor, I had invented what I called my,

"FLOOR ESCALATOR"
First get a 2"×18"x108" board (like a closet shelf; use 2 if your senior is heavy) and put one end on a foot stool so it's on an incline; kind of look like a ramp. Put it in front of the sofa/chair. Cover the ramp with a thick blanket.

Then just help her (your senior) inch and scoot her way over to the bottom of the incline ramp and sit up.

Starting at the low end of the ramp have the senior sit on the ramp and inch their way up little by little, to the sofa/chair/ bed wherever!

I find that seniors who have the strength, but are just afraid to trust themselves to get up alone, will easily scoot, scoot, up and up the ramp--- because they are just sitting down using their arms and hips to scoot up! They don't fear the threat of a fall this way. So, soon they are sitting on the sofa!
(If you don't have a board, just use pillows, foot stools and blankets, and other things to build the ramp.)

P.S. Don't make the incline too short or it will appear high! You don't want them to feel like they're climbing a mountain!)
I hope this helps you!!

Cheers!

This completely depends on the situation and the health of the person who has fallen. My dad had bad knees if he would fall or get on the ground he would not be able to get up. Even though he was only 74 and in good health otherwise. He had good upper body strength. Again this depends upon the situation and the mental capabilities and upper body strength of the person you are helping.
This may sound stupid but it worked wonderfully we had an outdoor chair that was a tall chair made of the lightweight metal tubing and my dad could hold on to a certain section of the chair and then I could very easily tip the chair and addist him up. It was extremely safe and effective and did not strain me at all.
My dad had the mental capacity and the upper body strength to make this possible. Otherwise I would have been calling an ambulance twice a week which mortified him.

Thank you all very much

RosiePap: NEVER attempt to lift an elder who has fallen by yourself as you will, in all likelihood, injure yourself. It is imperative that you call EMS, who are trained medical professionals skilled in all matters of how to lift elders who have fallen.

DO NOT! Call 911, let specifically trained personnel assess and move your senior. Even if you have lifted people in the past, it is never a good idea to lift anyone. There’s just too much probability of doing something to make the damage worse and that opens you up to financial liability even if it is a close relative.

Everyone here has given you good advice. My daughter was a fire captain and she had to go to one couples house so often that when she transferred, they gave her a going away gift. You don't say why she is falling. Physical Therapy is very helpful. I have to use a rollator and when I stand I have a tendency to fall backwards, so I always have my back to a wall when I have to stand alone. Whatever you do, DO NOT lift the patient by yourself.

My wife is somewhat overweight and had a broken ankle. When she fell to the ground I could not pick her up especially since I did not want her to put pressure on her ankle or break or pull something else. I finally maneuvered her up to get into a chair and then she was OK. However, it was revealing moment and did not want it to happen again. I am 81 and she is 78. After doing some research I ended up purchasing a chair lift that collapses to be almost flat on the ground so she could easily slide onto it while on the ground. The unit then has a control that lifts the chair using internal rechargeable battery to drive a motor and screw mechanism. Once the chair is raised to any desired level she could easily get off and get up onto her feet without stressing any part of her body, and without any lifting by me. So, easy on both of us and no danger of injury. Can also be used to get into and out of bathtub. These are sold on Amazon, EBay etc. I purchased a new open box on EBay for $150. Well worth it. Have not had the need to use it after that first incident. While many companies make these chair lifts the one I purchased has no brand (probably all made in China). Good luck.

I'm not assuming this senior is overweight, so average weight senior you can try to get behind them, put your arms under their arm pit as far as both of you can go and secure your arms around front of senior with good grip, and lift with your knees, not your back. In nursing home they use a belt (large thick strap) to do the lifting, maneuvering. Best to use 2 people to do lift when available. Possibly best to get them into chair not to stand them up (getting senior balance may be difficult with knee problem.) EMS can and many time do charge a $100-$300 charge for the run out to location. Medicare will not reimburse. Caution: dead weight is extra heavy!! You don't want to hurt them or yourself. Mom only weighs 115 pounds and is difficult to move around sometimes by myself. There are classes available to help learn some tricks and methods of helping seniors in need.

Elder care facilities call 911.
They do not pick up / move anyone who falls.

Perhaps call the fire dept?
Whatever you do, never ever put yourself in a situation / position to be injured.

The answer might be how to do all you can to avoid the falling.
Rails?
more care givers? 24/7?
Rings on bed / mattress so it makes noise when a person attempts / gets up
limited ability (time) to move around (esp without person there watching)
Move person to assisted living.

This might be the warning sign to consider care needed.

Gena / Touch Matters

Call 911. You could cause more damage by lifting her alone.

There's a post in this thread that says there's a "considerable expense" in NYS for EMS to come assist. Not sure where poster is from, but it's NOT true anywhere in rural upstate NY. Most of our EMS is volunteer.

EMT's and Fire Department will help for an immediate fall, but if this involves frequent falling, the senior needs more permanent mobility accomodations. I think the lift ClaraKate mentions is the Hoyer Lift which is used for transferring someone from bed to wheelchair etc, but I don't think it would work to help someone who has fallen to the floor.

For immediate needs, call EMS or the fire department for assistance. If this is an ongoing problem, your insurance company may be willing to help pay for a device called a hover lift, depending on her mobility challenges, to prevent further falls. Or they may send in a home health nurse and/or OT to evaluate your home and make suggestions for changes or equipment that may prevent falls.

Call your local fire department; they will come to the home 24/7, assess the need and, if appropriate lift the person back into chair or bed. Or if there are other emergency needs required they will facilitate contacting them.

Do NOT try to lift a fallen person yourself as you can further unknowingly injure them and, you can injure yourself.

When I was very young I took a course to become a lifeguard. Now 50 years later I use the techniques I learned to pick up my disabled wife. She can not walk or stand on her own. I have picked her up off the floor and transferred her from bed to wheelchair to car. Actually the car is the most difficult. It’s all about learning how to do it safely unfortunately these thing are not taught because of our sue happy society.

As others stated, don't try to get the person up alone.

Get one of those fall alert pendants, particularly one that has 2-way communication. They are great in situations like that - press the button and explain to the person on the other end that you need lift assistance. They will contact EMS who will come and assist. You bypass 911.

Good luck!!!

I made the painful mistake of lugging my husband up when falling became more frequent. EMT gave us one courtesy assist and advised they must charge for future calls. Insurance will not pay in NYS if the person is not transported.

PT has improved the situation somewhat, as long as he continues with his home PT exercises. Either way, I refuse to hurt myself anymore with excessive demands. Knowing this, my DH has been a bit more motivated to follow PT recommended exercise plan to increase independence and staying home.

Ditto to everyone who advised not to attempt it. My dad had many falls. The local paramedics or fire dept came and kindly picked him each time. They always assessed for injury and treated dad with dignity. And they always reminded me that it wasn’t safe for either of us to lift him myself

Call the fire department and tell them you need a lift assist.

You can call the non emergency number to the Fire department. Ask for a "LIFT ASSIST" typically if there is no transport to the hospital there will be no charge. You will have to sign a release. If there is an obvious injury they may suggest transport. If the Person is on Hospice also call the Hospice and let them know of the fall.
The good thing about calling for a Lift Assist is that they will know there is a disabled person in the house and they will know it may result in more calls.
If you call after hours the call will probably be routed through to the 911 dispatch.
(I have called 911 for a Lift Assist and was NOT charged for the call.)
Do NOT try to lift a person yourself you could get hurt or you could hurt the person you are trying to get up off the floor.
If you are walking with someone and they begin to fall do NOT try to stop the fall most likely they will take you down with them. (If the person is unsteady use a Gait Belt always, even if they use a walker or cane)

Side note about calling for a Lift Assist.
Make sure your house is well light at night.
Make sure walkways are clear. (good safety in any case)
If you have any animals lock them up before help arrives.
I used to put a note on my door that said "Dogs Locked up. Door Open"
As soon as I had finished with the call for the Assist I would lock the dogs up then go stay with my Husband so he would not panic. Did that routine 9 times while he was on Hospice.

One other note of caution...if the person has a DNR or a POLST make sure it is CLEARLY visible if you ever call 911. If they do not see the document or if you can not find it they WILL make all attempt to resuscitate a person. Carry a copy with you at all times.

You call the fire department and ask for a “fall assist”. They come for free and help. Do not call 911. Then you will get the police, ambulance and the fire department and may be charged

Please ask doctor for a referral to physical therapy for evaluation and treatment. Your senior needs a cane (at least) or a walker (most likely). He/She should be able to negotiate in the home and out of the home with one of these mobility devices. If somebody falls all the time, they may need to use a wheelchair more of the time. When somebody falls, he/she should be able to crawl to a low, steady chair; use the chair to either stand or sit into the chair. If not, it takes 2 people to lift an average size person off the floor. Larger people may take 3 or more people to get them off the floor. Some lift devices can help with this task and a physical therapist can show you how to use them. A physical therapist can also recommend the right types of devices for the type of mobility issues your senior has.

You call 911 without telling Lo that is what you did.

Call 911, do not move your LO yourself. They are trained to do this, you are not.

What to Do if an Elderly Person Falls Down
1.   Stay calm and help your loved one to remain calm by encouraging them to take slow, deep breaths.
2.   Examine them for injuries like bruises, bleeding, possible sprains and broken bones.
3.   Ask them if they are experiencing any pain, where it is located and how severe it is.
4.   If they have a serious injury (e.g., a broken bone, bleeding), then don’t move them. Call 911 and keep your loved one as warm, comfortable and still as possible until help arrives.
5.   If they aren’t badly hurt and they want to get up, proceed slowly. Stop at any point if they become stuck, experience pain or become too tired to get all the way up.
6.   Find two sturdy chairs. Place one next to the senior’s head and the other down by their feet. Keep in mind that your loved one must be capable of doing the physical work required to get up. Your role is to help guide them through these steps and keep them steady, not lift their weight. If they cannot do this, then call to request a lift assist.
7.   Help your loved one roll over onto their side and assist them in getting onto their hands and knees. If they suffer from sore knees, place a towel beneath them to make this step more comfortable.
8.   Move the chair closest to their head directly in front of where they are so they can rise up to place their hands evenly on the seat and assume a kneeling position.
9.   Ask the senior to lean forward on the seat as they bring their strongest leg forward, leading with the knee to place their foot flat on the floor. The senior should look like they are in a kneeling lunge at the end of this step.
10.                Move the second chair directly behind your loved one, then ask them to use both their arms and legs to push themselves up and sit back into this chair. You can use your hands to keep your loved one steady, but keep your back upright and make sure they are doing the physical work to lift themselves.
11.                Keep the senior seated until you’re confident they can stand and continue moving around without hurting themselves or falling again.
12.                Immediately notify their doctor that they’ve had a fall and keep an eye out for emerging pain and signs of injury.

Does she have osteoarthritis in her knee?

Don't. When it gets to this point, a home caregiver usually can't handle it. As others have said, call 911 for assistance.

The larger question is, How can you continue to keep her at home when she needs this level of care? She won't get any better. Start thinking about what's down the road and make plans for her 24/7 care.

My yoga teacher, who was 81 and could balance on her hands with her knees tucked on her upper arms, stressed the importance of upper body strength for the elderly. Those who have strong arms and chest muscles are more likely to be able to get themselves up from the floor when they fall. They're less likely to lie there for hours or days. She would say that this person needs to build upper body strength. True. But so few elders do it.

Good luck.

My sister fell twice in one month. One fall requiring a visit to ER. Both times we had to call 911 for Lift Assistance as they call it. They are so good about it. Don't hesitate to use it!!