How to Get Up from the Floor After a Fall: Safe Options for Older Adults

Having a plan and well-designed tools to assist you recover from a fall helps you react safely and confidently.

A fall can happen in an instant. You may lose your balance while getting dressed, trip over an everyday household object, slip while reaching for something, or simply find that your legs don't respond as expected.

Once you're on the floor, however, another problem can quickly become apparent: How do you get back up?

For many older adults and people with mobility challenges, getting from the floor back to a standing or seated position can be much harder than expected. Even when a fall doesn't appear to have caused an injury, the strength, balance, flexibility, and coordination required to rise from the floor can be a significant challenge.

That's why fall preparedness shouldn't focus only on preventing falls. It can also include having a safe fall-recovery plan in case one occurs.

First: Check Yourself for Injuries

Before trying to get up, take a moment to assess what happened. Stay calm and check for any pain, bleeding, dizziness, weakness, or difficulty moving. Pay special attention to your head, neck, back, hips, arms, and legs.

Do not attempt to get up if you believe you may be injured!

Call 911 or other emergency assistance if you hit your head and have concerning symptoms, have severe pain, cannot move normally, cannot bear weight, are bleeding significantly, feel confused or faint, or otherwise believe you may need urgent medical attention.

If you're uncertain whether you've been injured, getting professional assistance is safer than risking additional injury by attempting to stand by oneself.

If You Are Not Injured, Consider Your Surroundings

If you feel capable of moving and don't believe you've been injured, look around before trying to get up.

Is there a sturdy chair or other stable piece of furniture nearby? Is your phone or medical alert device within reach? Is another person available to assist?

Avoid grabbing lightweight furniture or objects that could slide, tip, or collapse when you put weight on them.

Most importantly, don't rush!

Getting up slowly gives you time to notice if you become dizzy, weak, in pain, or unstable as you change positions.

Getting Up from the Floor After a Non-Injurious Fall

People who have adequate mobility and strength may be able to use a sturdy chair or similar support to help themselves rise.

One commonly taught approach involves rolling onto your side, transitioning toward your hands and knees, moving toward a stable piece of furniture, bringing one foot forward, and gradually using your arms and legs to rise.

However, this method isn't appropriate for everyone. Kneeling can be difficult or painful. Some people don't have enough upper-body or leg strength to raise themselves directly from the floor. Others may have balance limitations that make the transition difficult.

Why Getting Up in Smaller Stages Can Be Easier

Think about the difference between standing directly from the floor and standing from a normal chair.

A chair has already elevated your body considerably above floor level. As a result, you don't have as far to lift yourself.

A staged fall-recovery approach applies a similar principle.

Rather than attempting one large movement from the floor to a standing position, the person progressively moves to higher seated positions. Each stage reduces the remaining distance.

This principle and functional design are behind the lift assistance provided by the ResQUp.

How the ResQUp Assists Lifting from the Floor

The ResQUp is a portable floor-recovery device that provides a series of progressively higher lifting levels.

Instead of rising directly from the floor onto their feet, a user with the necessary physical ability can move backward onto the first level and then progress upward onto the next two levels of the device.

The highest top level is approximately 14 inches from the floor. For comparison, many conventional seating surfaces are several inches higher; an average couch or chair seat is around 18 inches high.

Once the user reaches the top level of the ResQUp, the remaining transition to an adjacent stable chair, couch, or other appropriate seating surface is considerably smaller than attempting to rise directly from floor level.

The integrated handholds and padding provide additional places for the user to position their hands during the progression.

This is exactly what the image accompanying this article shows: the user moves backward and upward onto each level of the ResQUp, helping with the final transition to a stable seating surface.

Positioning the ResQUp Matters

A fall-recovery aid is most useful when it's accessible and appropriately positioned.

When using the ResQUp as part of a planned recovery technique, place the device adjacent to a stable chair, couch, bed, or other solid support. The goal is to create a logical progression from the floor, through the ResQUp's seating levels, and ultimately to a more conventional seated position.

Users and caregivers should become familiar with the device before an actual fall occurs.

Practicing an appropriate recovery technique under controlled circumstances can help determine whether the individual has the strength, mobility, coordination, and balance necessary to use that technique.

If you're working with a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or other healthcare professional, ask them to help evaluate which fall-recovery method and list assist tools fit your abilities the best.

When Self-Recovery Isn't the Right Option

No fall-recovery devices are appropriate for every person or every fall. The ResQUp is not a powered patient lift and is not suitable for all situations. The user must have enough physical ability to move from one level to another.

Someone with extremely limited arm and leg strength, severe mobility impairment, an injury, or a cognitive inability to safely reposition themselves may require assistance or a different type of lift equipment.

Recognizing those limitations is an important part of fall recovery preparedness.

The objective isn't to get off the floor quickly at all costs. The objective is to choose the safest recovery option for the situation.

Caregivers Need a Fall-Recovery Plan Too

Falls can also create a difficult situation for family members and caregivers. The instinctive reaction may be to reach down and physically lift someone from the floor. But manually lifting another adult can place substantial strain on the caregiver and may also be uncomfortable or unsafe for the person who fell.

Instead, caregivers should have a predetermined response plan. Know how you'll summon additional assistance when necessary. Keep important telephone numbers readily available. Understand the person's physical capabilities and have appropriate recovery equipment available when needed.

A good plan for providing lift assistance reduces uncertainty in an already stressful situation.

Don't Wait Until a Fall Happens to Think About Getting Up from the Floor

Fall prevention remains extremely important, but preparedness matters too. Consider what would happen if you fell in your bedroom tonight.

• Could you reach a telephone?

• How else could you summon help?

• Is there stable furniture nearby?

• Could you physically get onto your hands and knees?

• Could you otherwise get to a seated or standing position?

Those questions can reveal weaknesses in a fall-response plan before an emergency exposes them.

Simple preparation may include keeping a phone or medical alert device accessible, improving lighting, removing trip hazards, wearing appropriate footwear, discussing balance concerns with a healthcare professional, and keeping lift assistance equipment in a location you can reach when needed.

In Conclusion

True independence in the home includes, in part, being prepared for the unexpected.

For many older adults, maintaining independence isn't about pretending that a fall will never happen. It's about being prepared when one does.

Knowing how to assess yourself after a fall, understanding when to call for help, maintaining strength and balance, practicing appropriate recovery techniques, and having the right lift assistance tools available can all contribute to a more complete, safe fall-recovery plan.

The ResQUp was designed around a straightforward idea: Safe lift assistance for getting up from the floor without requiring one large, rapid, and strenuous movement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do immediately after falling?

Remain still for a moment and assess yourself before attempting to move. If you have significant pain, bleeding, dizziness, confusion, difficulty moving or bearing weight, or suspect a serious injury, seek appropriate medical assistance rather than attempting to get up by yourself.

Should I get up immediately if I don't feel injured?

There generally isn't a reason to rush. Assess how you feel and your surroundings first. Move gradually, and stop if movement causes pain, dizziness, weakness, or other concerning symptoms.

What is a fall-recovery device?

A fall-recovery device is equipment designed to help lift a person from floor level toward a seated or standing position. Designs vary widely, ranging from powered mechanical lifting equipment to non-powered lift-assist devices such as the ResQUp. Ask your physical or occupational therapist for recommendations.

How high is the ResQUp?

The ResQUp's highest rear seating level is about 14 inches above the floor. Each graduated level is 4 1/2 inches high. Its staged design allows an appropriate user to progressively move upward rather than attempting to rise directly from floor level.

Does the ResQUp lift someone automatically?

No. The ResQUp is a non-powered fall-recovery device and requires active participation of the person who falls. It does not mechanically lift the user. The individual must have sufficient strength and mobility to participate in lifting themselves up through its different levels and finally to a seat height.

Can caregivers use the ResQUp?

It can be part of a caregiver's fall-recovery plan when appropriate for the individual using it. Caregivers should avoid attempting techniques beyond their capabilities and should seek professional or emergency assistance when necessary.

Should I practice using a fall-recovery device before I need it?

Becoming familiar with an appropriate recovery technique beforehand can be valuable, regardless of the lift-assistance equipment used. For people with mobility limitations or medical concerns, practicing with guidance from a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or other qualified healthcare professional may be particularly helpful.