Part 1 · Moving and caring for the body
Getting in and out of the car
Content under professional review before publication.
1Before getting in or out: prepare the car
The problem
Getting in and out of a car is another transfer, with the added difficulty that the seat is low, the space is tight, and you have to turn. Rushing or holding the door is where most falls happen.
What is happening underneath
The car forces you to lower, turn, and bring the legs in almost at once. If the place is prepared and the person has something firm to hold, the movement becomes safe. The door is no support: it swings on its own.
Step by step
- Park on flat, even ground, away from traffic, and open the door as wide as possible.
- Slide the seat back to make room for the legs, and recline it a little if it helps to get in.
- Prepare a firm handhold: a car assist handle (the kind that fits into the door latch) or the seat back. Never the door.
- Have the transfer belt within reach and, if they use a cane or walker, leave them close, not in the trunk.
- If the person is heavy or does not bear their weight, do it with two people or with a swivel seat or transfer board. Do not force it alone.
What you must never do
- Never let them lean on the door to get in or out: it moves and the person falls.
- Never lift them by the arms or armpits: use the transfer belt, with your other hand on their back.
- Never do it with the car on a slope or on uneven ground.
When to ask for help
If it gets harder and harder or the person barely bears their weight, consult the therapist about aids: a swivel cushion, a transfer board, or a higher or adapted car. For cases without weight-bearing, car hoists exist.
2Getting into the car without twisting
The problem
The most common mistake is going in facing forward, bending down and twisting the waist. That way balance is lost and both backs are strained.
What is happening underneath
The safe way is bottom first, then the legs: the person sits down first, with their back to the seat, and only then brings the legs in. That way they do not have to turn while standing or get in bent over.
Step by step
- Have the person stand with their back to the seat and step back until they feel the edge of the seat behind their legs.
- Have them hold with the strong hand onto the assist handle or the seat back (not the door) and lower slowly to sit, ducking the head so as not to hit it on the frame.
- Once seated and well back in the seat, have them bring one leg at a time into the car, turning the body little by little toward the front.
- A swivel cushion on the seat makes that turn easier without twisting the hip.
- Settle them upright and fasten their seatbelt.
What you must never do
- Never have them get in facing forward, legs first: they twist and fall.
- Never let them hold the door to lower onto the seat.
- Never forget to protect their head as they sit, so they do not hit the frame.
When to ask for help
If they cannot sit and turn their legs without you bearing their weight, do it with two people or with a swivel cushion or transfer board. The therapist can show the technique for your car.
3Getting out of the car safely
The problem
Getting out, the person tends to come out facing forward, stand up suddenly, and grab the door. It is the part where most falls happen.
What is happening underneath
Getting out is getting in reversed: first the legs come out to the ground, then they hold a firm point, and only then do they stand. Coming out with the legs outside and the feet well planted avoids the forced turn.
Step by step
- Remove their seatbelt and open the door wide.
- Have them turn the body little by little and bring the legs out of the car until both feet are planted on the ground, facing outward.
- Have them hold with the strong hand onto the assist handle or the frame (not the door) and, with the feet well planted, stand up pushing with the legs.
- You accompany them with one hand on the transfer belt and the other ready near their back. Bend your knees, not your waist.
- Once standing, wait for them to find their balance before handing them the cane or starting to walk.
What you must never do
- Never let them stand before having both feet well planted on the ground.
- Never pull them up by force: the strength is theirs, from the legs.
- Never let them come out holding the door.
When to ask for help
If they cannot push with the legs to stand, do not lift them by force: do it with two people, with a car hoist, or with a swivel seat. At pain or dizziness on getting out, wait seated and consult.
What about the home?
This library is free. iliapp.com is a professional service that assesses the home to make it safer.
Discover iliapp.com- This content is for educational and general guidance purposes. It does not constitute medical, nursing, or therapeutic advice, and does not replace in-person evaluation by a qualified health professional.
- Every person and every situation is different. Every technique described should be reviewed and adapted by a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, or the treating professional before use.
- Inclusive Living International (ILI), together with its directors, employees, and representatives, shall not be liable for injuries, accidents, damages, or outcomes arising from the application of this information.
- Use of this guide is the responsibility of the person applying it. In case of pain, dizziness, difficulty breathing, or any warning sign, stop the activity and seek professional or emergency help immediately.
- The Spanish version is the governing legal document. Versions in other languages are a courtesy; in case of discrepancy, the Spanish version prevails.
- Use of this guide implies acceptance of the Terms of Service and the Privacy Policy.
Content based on public-health and caregiver-support guidance and on internationally recognized clinical consensus. Not affiliated with or endorsed by any organization.