This article is a transcribed edited summary of a video Bob and Brad recorded in May of 2024. For the original video go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1U8EtLNVS8
Mike: Do you struggle to get up from a low chair or off a low toilet?
Brad: Well, today we're going to give some wonderful tips on how to make it easier and safer.
Mike: So as many of you know, Bob has been diagnosed with ataxia, which has affected his balance and some of his coordination. So getting up from a low surface has become problematic for him.
Brad: So he has found some tips that have really helped him out and he wanted to share them with you if you're having the same problem. This is really good information and will be helpful.
Brad: All right, now, if you're on the stool and you're having difficulty arising and getting standing safely, the first thing you want to do is actually slide forward to the edge. You can put your hands on your thighs or your knees, lean forward, and that might be enough for you to get up stably if you're stable at this point.
Brad: However, to make it much easier and much safer, or if you're not strong enough to do that, simply get some grab bars, a horizontal one or a vertical one. Now, it is nice to have both horizontal and vertical. It gives you more options. Now, with these, you have to make sure someone who is installing them knows what they're doing and has some, you know, mechanical or craft skills. They have to be bolted into the studs as these are, and then they're very solid. So we simply, again, scoot forward, hand on the vertical or horizontal bar. And it's amazing how much easier it is to get up with just a little help from your hand in either position.
Brad: All right, now, if you cannot get these installed by someone who's very skilled, there is a product, it's called lever lock grab bars. We've got a picture of it here.
Brad: The only thing with that is you have to have either a smooth tile wall or a fiberglass wall. I personally would not try them on a painted wall because they work on suction, and the suction could let loose, and then you'll, you know, defeat the purpose of using them. So smooth tile wall or a fiberglass wall like in a shower. I've used them personally myself. They really do grab in nicely and tight with the proper surface. Now there's one nice alternative if you have no bars at all. You could also simply turn sideways and make sure that your water tank is solid like this one. Sometimes the top kind of slides around on some of the cheaper toilets. Make sure that's solid, and then you can use that for a push off as well.
Brad: Alright, now we want to address a soft, easy chair that you're going to relax and they're very comfortable. However, the disadvantage for getting out of these is the fact that they're soft and they're not solid to push off from. You sink further into the chair, which can make a big difference on how hard it is to get up. So again, use the same mechanics that we talked about, slide to the edge of the chair. Hands on the arm rests, get your feet solid, slide them underneath you. Lean forward so your nose is over your toes a little bit. That can be all it takes to get up comfortably.
Brad: However, there's going to be a number of people where that's still difficult, where you're still needing multiple attempts. That's what we want to avoid. So one thing you can do before you sit down is, look at the furniture surrounding it. In this case, there is a table here, and you can use that to actually pull on, but you need to assess it, make sure it's solid. Now this table is amazingly solid. I have no problems using this just like I use a grab bar. But use good judgment. If it's wobbly at all, do not do it.
Brad: Then there's other options. Okay, now if you already know that's a difficult chair to get out of because it's squishy and soft and you're too low to get up comfortably, all it takes sometimes is putting in a pillow and it elevates you maybe an inch and actually an inch can make a huge difference. I've experienced it many times with weak patients that I've worked with, a pillow and it's like, "Oh wow, is that a big difference." Now, even better yet is if you have a cushion that's a little firmer, okay, you could put that in there and that actually elevates you a little more while being comfortable to sit on. Yeah, and I can definitely feel that makes a big difference on going up.
Brad: Now, if it happens to be like this chair, which is an electric controlled lift chair, so as we sit on this, they're simply, and these are quite abundant and available out there. They are a little spendy, but not too bad. Push the button and you can see this rising up. Okay, once the chair gets to the appropriate level that you can get up and you still want to work a little bit, because you want to keep those muscles strong, it works well. Now, if you get it up too high and it feels like you're just getting up without any effort, that's too high. Do not go that high. We want a little exercise while you get out of the chair, okay? So that works very well. Good, good option to have if it's available.
Brad: Two points I want to emphasize that we didn't cover. Make sure you're in a chair that has good armrests. Big point, I know we don't have to mention it, but I thought I would. The other thing, if there's a chair and it's one of those chairs that rocks back and forth, those are extremely challenging to get out of. Don't even think about getting into one of those rocking type chairs. They just make your life difficult, and I know someone who's actually had a couple falls out of one of those chairs, so he went to a chair just like this, that lifts up, solved his problem.
Mike: If you want to check out more videos on how to actually strengthen your legs to make this problem go away even more, check out "3 Leg Strengthening Exercises Every Senior Should Do."
Brad: There you go. Good luck with it, I'm sure these tips will help.
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