My parent can't stand after surgery — what should I do?

What not to do

• • Don't pull them up by the arms — it can dislocate joints.
• • Don't let them push off a walker as a lever.
• • Don't seat them in a low couch or recliner.
• • Don't ignore sudden pain, swelling, or confusion.

Safer standing principles

• • Feet flat. Knees over ankles. Lean forward, then up.
• • Push from firm armrests — not from the seat cushion.
• • Use a chair with seat-to-floor height ≥ 19".
• • Have a caregiver to the strong side, not the weak side.

When to contact a professional

• • Sudden inability to bear weight on one leg.
• • Significant new swelling or warmth around the surgical site.
• • Confusion, fainting, or new shortness of breath.
• • Any sign that something has changed since discharge.

Why chair height & lift assist matter

Standing is a hip and quad movement. After surgery, those muscles are guarded. A powered lift chair gently raises the hips above the knees, removing the hardest part of the stand. That single change can be the difference between independence and a fall.