Moving someone in and out of bed

If you regularly lift or move someone, it's best to get training or have someone demonstrate the correct techniques to avoid injury to yourself or the person you care for.

The GP, district nurse or occupational therapist can give information about suitable equipment to help you care.

A Carer's assessment from social services can help you plan what support you need. Your local Citizen's Advice can guide what practical and financial support you can access. Please see our service directory for contact details.

The video below from Hospice in the Weald shows you how to help someone with:

  • moving out of bed into a chair or commode
  • going to and from the bathroom with a walking frame
  • showering

Recommended Resources

Marie Curie - Moving someone in bed

Published 26th October 2023

NHS - How to move, lift and handle someone else

Published 26th October 2023

Hospice in the Weald - Online guides

Published 26th October 2023

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Key clinical procedures offered to outpatients:

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Family and loved ones are also supported in their caring roles. Advice, guidance and techniques on how to safely move and handle someone when caring for them can be accessed through conversation with the Physiotherapy team.

The offer includes:

  • individual assessments to help provide appropriate equipment, e.g. mobility aids
  • personalised treatment plans including non-drug pain relief treatments and exercises to improve mobility, independence and balance
  • treatments to assist with shortness of breath, fatigue or insomnia
  • group exercise classes and confidence building

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Palliative care teams

Adult Carer Core Support
Close

Adult Carer Core Support

T. 0300 303 1555

W. https://www.carersfirst.org.uk/

This free service has been commissioned to support adult carers. 

The offer includes:

  • One to one information and support to carers 
  • Support via phone, text, email or face to face visits including home visits
  • Groups and activities for carers
  • Help to get Carers Trust grants
  • Referrals to carefree breaks
  • Free SIM cards

The offer in Southend includes funding for breaks for carers, support to help carers to access their own appointments and one-off respite break funding.

Bliss
Close

Bliss offers a wide range of free services for the families of premature and sick babies including a video call support service.

Breatheasy groups
Close

The support group is a way to learn more about living with a lung condition and share your experiences and stories with others.

Children's Community Nursing Service: North East London Foundation Trust
Close

Children's Community Nursing Service: North East London Foundation Trust

T. 0300 300 1521 option 1

W. https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/services-bsbwtk-community-nursing-clinicians

The Children’s Community Nursing Team consists of nurses who have specialist training and experience in the care of sick children. We provide a vital link with other professionals to provide holistic care including palliative care to children and their families. We aid in preventing hospital admission and supporting early discharge by teaching and supporting families to manage their child’s condition in their own home.

Rainbow Trust
Close

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity supports families who have a child aged 0 to18 years with a life-threatening or terminal illness.

St Francis Hospice Patient Therapies
Close

St Francis Hospice Patient Therapies

T. 01708 753319  ext. 2220

W. https://www.sfh.org.uk/patient-therapies

The patient therapies team help with a range of symptoms through groups and individual sessions to help managing pain and symptoms.

The team consistes of:

  • Physiotheraphy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Complementary therapy
St Francis Hospice Social Workers
Close

St Francis Hospice Social Workers

T. 01708 753319 ext. 2285

W. https://www.sfh.org.uk/patient-therapies

Social workers offer a wide variety of support to patients, carers, family and loved ones.

St Luke's Hospice Carer's Support
Close

St Luke's Hospice Carer's Support Coordinator will discuss a wide range of practical advice, financial advice, training and emotional support, as well as ways to look after yourself whilst in your carers role.

They also offer a variety of support groups – both virtual (online) and face to face

St Luke's Hospice Clinical Outpatients
Close

St Luke's Hospice Clinical Outpatients team offers convenient, accessible and specialist key clinical procedures and palliative care, in a relaxed environment with appointments to meet your wellbeing and lifestyle needs. 

Key clinical procedures offered to outpatients:

  • Advance Care Planning clinics
  • Ascetic and Pleural drainage
  • Blood product transfusions
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist symptom management clinic
  • CVC line care
  • Intravenous fluids
  • IV Bisphosphonates infusions
  • IV Iron Infusions
  • Long term condition clinic – supporting heart failure, renal and liver conditions
  • Venepuncture

The service opening hours are 9.00am to 5.00pm.

St Luke's Hospice Community Service
Close

St Luke's Hospice community service provides assessment, support advice and care for people wishing to be cared  and supported in their locality community setting. The team also provide support in care homes, the hospice's rapid access service and there is the provision of clinical nurse specialists.

St Luke's Hospice Physiotherapy Support
Close

St Luke's Hospice Physiotherapy team can help when living with a life limiting illness.  Specialist Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists will listen and assess to support independence and aid mobility to manage symptoms and positively impact quality of life and wellbeing.

Family and loved ones are also supported in their caring roles. Advice, guidance and techniques on how to safely move and handle someone when caring for them can be accessed through conversation with the Physiotherapy team.

The offer includes:

  • individual assessments to help provide appropriate equipment, e.g. mobility aids
  • personalised treatment plans including non-drug pain relief treatments and exercises to improve mobility, independence and balance
  • treatments to assist with shortness of breath, fatigue or insomnia
  • group exercise classes and confidence building

Rehabilitative care is also provided by our Occupational Therapy team. 

Together for Short Lives
Close

Together for Short Lives have a helpline and family support hub to provide help and advice for those caring for a child with a serious illness.

Young lives vs Cancer
Close

Young lives vs Cancer support young people under 25 with cancer, and their families, to get the help they need during their cancer treatment and beyond, including bereaved families living with emotional distress. 

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15th July 2024

Moving someone in bed

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