Summary: If you’re helping a parent, partner or someone else get out of bed, the safest starting point is not to pull them up or take over the movement. This guide follows the technique demonstrated by Jo Cleary, our Learning and Development Manager, and explains how to support someone from lying to sitting and then standing, plus when to stop and get professional advice.
Contents
- Why you shouldn’t pull someone out of bed
- What to check before helping someone get out of bed
- How to help someone move from lying to sitting
- What to check before helping someone stand from the bed
- How to help someone stand up from the bed
- When this technique may not be suitable
- What to do if getting out of bed is becoming difficult
If you’ve started helping a parent or partner get out of bed, it can be surprisingly hard to know how much help to give. The instinct is often to reach in, pull them upwards or take more of their weight. That can feel helpful in the moment, especially if they’re struggling, but it can make the movement harder for them and put both of you under unnecessary strain.
The aim is to work with what the person can still do for themselves. Jo Cleary, our Learning and Development Manager, demonstrates this approach in the video below. Jo has 26 years of experience in health and social care, including nearly 14 years leading moving and handling training at Unique Senior Care, with advanced training in people handling and risk assessment.
This is one part of our wider moving and handling training series, created to give families and Caregivers practical guidance for everyday situations.
Why you shouldn’t pull someone out of bed
When someone seems stuck, pulling on their arms or trying to haul them upright can feel like the quickest answer. However, it isn’t a good starting point, as poor moving and handling can cause injury to both the person being helped and the person supporting them, and it can also cause discomfort or affect the person’s dignity. Health and Safety Executive guidance on moving and handling people makes the same point.
There’s another reason not to take over. If someone can still roll, push through their arm, move their legs or stand with a little support, it’s important to maintain those abilities. Giving them time to use their own movement can help them stay involved rather than becoming a passive part of the transfer.
That doesn’t mean leaving them to struggle, but instead offering the right amount of support, at the right point, rather than doing the whole movement for them.
What to check before helping someone get out of bed
Before you begin, think about how the person is moving today, not simply what they could manage last week. Pain, tiredness, illness, medication changes or a recent fall can all affect how much support someone needs.
The HSE recommends that moving and handling support is based on the individual’s abilities, including how much weight they can take, whether they can cooperate with a transfer, whether they have pain or fatigue, and whether equipment is needed. If you’re supporting someone regularly, those details should form part of an individual assessment and care plan.
If you’re not sure where to start, our guide to preparing before moving someone covers the checks that come before the movement itself.
How to help someone move from lying to sitting
The technique in Jo’s video uses the person’s own body movement rather than the helper’s strength. It is designed for someone who can understand the prompts and take part in the movement.
Jo starts by asking the person to raise their hands above their head and bend one knee. If needed, the bent knee can be gently supported into position. From there, the person is helped to roll onto their side using their own body weight rather than being pulled upwards.
Once they’re on their side, Jo asks them to place their upper hand against the bed so they can push down. Their knees are drawn closer and their legs are moved towards the edge of the bed. When they’re ready, they swing their legs off the side while Jo gives gentle support at the shoulder. The movement of the legs helps bring the upper body into sitting.
In the demonstration, Jo uses the prompt “Ready, steady, sit” so both people know exactly when the movement is happening.
Raise the arms and bend one knee, if this is part of the person’s assessed movement.
Use the person’s body movement rather than trying to pull them upright.
The person uses their upper hand to push into the bed while the legs come towards the side.
The legs swing off the bed as gentle shoulder support helps guide the movement.
The video is particularly useful here because you can see the pace, hand positioning and timing rather than relying on written instructions alone. If what you’re seeing doesn’t match the person’s usual care plan or abilities, don’t adapt the movement by adding more force. Get advice first.
What to check before helping someone stand from the bed
Once the person is sitting on the edge of the bed, don’t rush straight into standing. Jo recommends giving them a few moments first. Some people experience dizziness or light-headedness when they move from lying or sitting to standing, which can be linked to postural low blood pressure.
If they feel dizzy, keep them safely seated and give them time. If dizziness or fainting keeps happening, NHS guidance advises speaking to a GP.
This is also the point to check footwear. Shoes or slippers should fit properly and have a good grip. That’s important because well-fitting footwear with good grip is one of the practical measures the NHS recommends to reduce falls risk.
How to help someone stand up from the bed
When the person feels ready, Jo asks them to move slightly towards the edge of the bed. Their feet are placed roughly shoulder-width apart, with one foot slightly forward so they have a stable base.
The helper gives only the gentle support the person needs. Jo then uses another clear cue: “Ready, steady, stand.” Once they’re upright, pause again before walking in case they feel dizzy or unsteady.
The same principle appears in our guide to helping someone stand up from a chair safely: good positioning, clear communication and allowing the person to use their own strength are more helpful than pulling them upwards.
When this technique may not be suitable
Everyone’s mobility is different, and it can change over time. The method shown in the video may not be right if the person can’t reliably follow the prompts, can’t take the weight needed for standing, has significant pain, has become much weaker or more unsteady, or has been advised to use specific equipment or two-person support.
In those situations, don’t try to make the technique work by using more strength. Individual moving and handling assessments are designed to consider what the person can do, the support they need, the environment and any equipment required.
An Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist can advise on the safest way to move and whether equipment such as a profiling bed, bed lever, transfer aid or hoist is appropriate. The NHS specifically recommends asking for an Occupational Therapy assessment for moving and handling advice rather than buying or improvising equipment without guidance.
What should you do if someone is struggling to get out of bed?
If getting out of bed is becoming more difficult, don’t assume you simply need to give the person more physical help. A change in their mobility, balance or strength can mean the way they’re being supported needs to be reviewed.
If you’re unsure what is safe, or you find yourself needing to pull, lift or take more of the person’s weight, stop and ask for professional advice. An Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist can assess how the person moves and advise on the safest approach, including whether any equipment would help.
It’s also worth thinking about what happens once they’re out of bed. If they need help moving into a chair, that’s a separate transfer and the safest method will depend on their mobility. For example, our guide to a safe bed-to-wheelchair transfer using a transfer board looks at one option that may be recommended for someone who can’t safely stand.
If getting out of bed isn’t the only thing they’re beginning to need help with, you may find yourself wondering whether they need more support at home. This could be help with getting dressed, washing, preparing meals or moving safely around the house. Our guide to arranging care at home explains where to start if you’re having that conversation as a family.
If getting in and out of bed is becoming difficult or you’re worried about whether the current support is still safe, you can talk through your options with our team. If you’re a family member of an existing client, you can also ask about our moving and handling training for families.
External references
- Health and Safety Executive: Moving and handling in health and social care
- Health and Safety Executive: Managing the risks of moving and handling
- NHS: How to move, lift and handle someone else
- NHS: Falls
- NHS: Low blood pressure (hypotension)
Unique Senior Care is a CQC-regulated provider of live-in and visiting care. This article gives general moving and handling information and does not replace an individual assessment by an appropriately qualified professional.
Jo joined Unique Senior Care as a Carer in 2011, transitioning from a nursing background. With 25 years of experience in health and social care, including mental health and children with disabilities, Jo has embraced numerous growth opportunities within the company.
Passionate about learning and development, Jo earned a Level 5 Diploma in this field and is committed to equipping teams with the skills needed for outstanding care.
Jo’s qualifications include advanced training in people handling, risk assessment, safeguarding, basic life support, first aid, health and safety, and dementia care. Jo has also completed numerous workshops and CPD courses, such as the SCIE’s Co-Production webinar.
These accomplishments reflect Jo’s dedication to fostering a culture of safety and excellence in care.