May 01st, 2020

Getting yourself up from the floor

Currently, one in seven New Zealanders are 65 years and over. Around 30% to 60% of people in this age group have a fall each year. And 10% to 20% will end up in hospital with a fracture.
 
Those over the age of 85 are 15 times more likely to fracture their hip in a fall than a 65-year-old. Hip fractures can have a huge impact, with 30% of those over 85 who suffer one, requiring placement in aged residential care.
 
It’s important for those of us who are ageing and those around you, to know how to get up off the floor if you are not badly injured. The majority of calls to London ambulances from over 65 year olds are for help after a fall.  Of these, 40% do not need hospitalisation – they simply cannot get up from the floor. 

Many carers hurt themselves, and the person they are trying to get up off the floor, because of lack of knowledge. 
 
To avoid further injury, here are some tips on how to get yourself or help someone up from the floor:

• Stay calm and take things slowly, take some deep breaths.
• Check for injuries like bruises, bleeding, possible sprains and broken bones.
• Check any pain, where is it and how severe it is.
• If there is severe pain or obvious major injury (eg a broken bone), then don’t move.  Call 111. Keep comfortable, warm and as still as possible until help arrives.
• If not badly hurt get up slowly when you’re ready. Stop at any point if you become stuck, experience pain or become too tired to get all the way up.
• Find a sturdy chair or get the person to crawl to a sturdy surface nearby eg some stairs

​Follow the instructions in the Chart below:

Our friendly Physiotherapists recommend all older people, their families and carers practise getting up from the floor regularly, before you need to do so, after a fall. 
 
If you want advice on falls prevention our friendly Physiotherapists can help, just contact us here at .Therapy Professionals

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