The easiest way into a car with a stiff hip or knee is backwards: sit down first, then bring both legs in together. Getting out is the same move in reverse, and it goes better when the car is set up before your parent walks out the door.
The aim throughout is to avoid reaching and twisting, the parts that hurt. Here is the order that works, step by step.
Set the seat up before your parent reaches the car
Get the car ready first, so your parent never has to adjust anything while they are halfway in. A few minutes of setup saves a lot of awkward shuffling.
- Bring the seat back fairly upright. A reclined back makes the hips sink and lean away from the door.
- Slide the passenger seat all the way back for legroom.
- Open the door as wide as it goes.
- Clear the floor mat of bags, umbrellas and loose shoes, so feet land flat.
- Have a firm cushion ready if the seat sits low.
If mornings are the stiffest part of the day for your parent, the first hour of a stiff morning covers the rest of the routine before the car comes into it.
The common mistake is parking where the door cannot open fully. At home, pull away from the hedge or garage wall before your parent comes out. In a parking lot, look for an end space with room on the passenger side.
When the family is renting a car or shopping for one, seat height matters more than most other features. A seat that sits close to the height of your parent's hip means less lowering and less pushing. A wide door opening and a roof that is tall enough to sit upright without ducking make the whole move easier. A low sports seat and a sloping roofline do the opposite. Ask to sit in the passenger seat before any paperwork.
Stand with the seat behind you and hold something solid
Your parent stands with their back to the open doorway, feet slightly apart, one hand on a fixed handhold. The door frame or the grab handle above the door both work well.
Avoid the window glass and the edge of the door itself. Glass is slippery, and an open door can swing when weight goes on it.
Check the ground before committing. Standing up on a high curb (kerb) makes the seat feel lower, while standing down in the gutter makes it feel higher. A slope tips weight forward or back at the moment balance matters most. Flat ground beside the door is worth a short walk.
Sit down backwards, then turn
Sit first and turn second; stepping in leg first forces a twist. An occupational therapist writing for Cleveland Clinic gives the same order: face away from the seat, sit, then swivel in, without twisting the back.
Walk it through like this:
- Back up until the seat edge touches the backs of the thighs.
- Hold the door frame, with both hands if that feels steadier.
- Lower down slowly, keeping the spine straight.
- Tip the chin slightly as the body drops, so the head clears the roof edge.
Feeling the seat with the legs matters. It tells your parent they are lined up before any weight goes down. If the edge is not there, they stand up and shuffle back a little rather than reaching behind.
Watch for reaching at the wrong moment. Grabbing for the seat belt or the far armrest mid-sit is exactly the twist to avoid. Hand over the belt once they are settled.
Use a firm cushion so there is less distance to drop
On a low seat, put a firm cushion or a folded pillow under your parent. It lifts the hips closer to the height of the seat edge. That means less lowering on the way in and less pushing on the way out.
Firmness is the whole point. A soft pillow squashes flat under body weight and adds almost nothing. Press it with your palm: if it flattens most of the way, find something firmer.
Check head clearance before you add height. Once your parent is sitting on the cushion, look at the gap between the top of their head and the roof. Too little room means more ducking, which brings back the bending you are trying to avoid.
The same Cleveland Clinic advice suggests a firm seat cushion for drivers too, since it can help them see past the windshield (windscreen). On a longer drive, a small pillow at the lower back fills the hollow some seats have. Sitting then feels supported rather than slumped.
Bring both legs in together as one
Once seated, your parent keeps knees and feet together and brings both legs in at once while the whole body turns. Hips, shoulders and knees all rotate together, like one piece.
Stopping halfway is the common mistake. With one leg in and one out, the hips sit at an angle and the stiff joint takes a twist. Lift or shuffle both together, even if it takes two or three small moves.
Fabric seats can grip clothing and make turning hard. A smooth surface helps, and so does a plastic bag laid on the seat under the thighs. Your parent can then slide round instead of lifting. Slide the bag out once they are facing forward, so it is not loose under them on the road.
The seat back angle matters here. A back that is tipped well down lets the hips slide forward as the legs come in, which turns one smooth move into two. Keep the back fairly upright until both feet are inside, then recline it for the drive if your parent prefers.
Two-door cars are harder for the same reason. The door is longer and heavier, the space beside the seat is smaller, and your parent has less room to stand square behind the seat. A four-door car with a door that opens wide is worth more than any accessory on a long trip.
If lifting the legs is hard, small heel shuffles work. Offer to steady the ankles only if your parent asks; they decide how much help they want.
Get out by swiveling first, then pushing up
Reverse the order: turn to face the doorway first, and stand only when both feet are flat on the ground outside. Swivel the whole body out, knees together, just as they came in.
Next, scoot forward to the edge of the seat. The Cleveland Clinic advice says to scoot as far forward as possible, because standing from the edge takes far less push than standing from deep in the seat.
Then push up with one hand on the seat edge and the other on the door frame. A strap with a handle that attaches to the door frame gives another grip, as that same occupational therapist suggests.
Wind is the quiet hazard on this step. An open door catches a gust and moves just as weight goes onto the frame. Hold the door with your hip or your free hand while your parent pushes up, and pick a spot out of the wind when it is gusting.
Shoes matter to the push as well. A flat sole with a closed heel grips; a soft slipper slides. Have outdoor shoes waiting by the door rather than swapping them at the curb.
Pause for a second once upright. That first step after sitting is the unsteady one. Let your parent find their balance before they let go of the frame and walk off. If the walk away from the car is the unsteady part, choosing between a cane and a walker, and setting the height covers what to use for that stretch.
On longer drives, set the pedals and stop every two hours
If your parent drives, adjust the seat before setting off so their foot presses the pedals flat. According to the Arthritis Foundation's road trip tips, reaching with the toes causes hip discomfort, so move the seat and steering wheel until no stretch is needed.
Raising the seat can help the seat belt sit across the middle of the shoulder. Keep the hips centered in the seat while you do it, square rather than tilted toward the door.
Plan stops before anyone feels sore. The same guidance recommends getting out to stretch, walk and move at least once every two hours. Long static positions are hard on muscles and joints and add to stiffness and achiness, so the break works best before the pain builds.
Common questions
Should I lift my parent into the car?
Usually no; steadying works better than lifting. Hold the door, offer a forearm to lean on, and let your parent control the speed. Pulling under the arms takes away their sense of where the seat is.
Is the front or back seat easier?
The easier seat is whichever has more legroom and a wider door opening on your car. Try both with the setup above and see which one your parent prefers. Many people find a seat that slides back makes the biggest difference.
What if my parent wants to keep doing it their own way?
That is their call, and it is fine to offer one change at a time. Start with the easiest win, such as opening the door fully or adding a firm cushion. A tip that works on the first try tends to stick.
When should we call the doctor?
Call the doctor if getting in suddenly becomes much harder, if pain is new or sharp, or after any fall. If your parent has had hip or knee surgery, follow the car travel instructions from their surgical team. Those instructions come before any general tips.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Please talk with your parent's doctor about their health.
