Are you living alone? If you were to fall, would you be able to get back up? The following videos will demonstrate techniques to help you regain your footing if you fall and find yourself without assistance.

Getting up off the floor can be done using a practical approach.

If you lived through the ’80s and ’90s, you might recall those medical alert commercials featuring an elderly woman who calls for assistance because she’s unable to get up after a fall.

The challenge of performing floor-to-stand transitions becomes especially concerning with age, particularly after a fall, where nearly 50% of individuals aged over 70 find themselves unable to stand up independently. What’s notable is that a significant portion of those who fall don’t sustain injuries; rather, they struggle with the task of getting back up on their own.

For individuals residing alone, such circumstances can lead to dire outcomes. Staying on the floor for an extended period can lead to dehydration, pressure ulcers, delirium, rhabdomyolysis, and ultimately, renal failure. In a study involving 125 individuals aged over 65 who experienced falls in their residences, it was found that half of those who remained unable to get up for more than an hour (referred to as “long lies”) had passed away within six months.

Considering the severe outcomes linked with prolonged periods of being immobile on the floor, healthcare providers ought to assess floor-to-stand transition times for individuals aged 50 and above. It is recommended that individuals in their 50s should ideally be capable of standing up from the floor in under three seconds, while those in their 60s should aim for less than four seconds. Individuals in their 70s and 80s should aim for transition times of five and six seconds, respectively.

If you have any questions, please call our office or visit our website at drstevesikorsky.com

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