Intro. People with dementia often need coaching in order to rise from a chair, as you'll see in this 4-Step Demo. The person still needs adequate strength and language comprehension for this type of transfer. In this demo, my husband plays the role of a person with Alzheimer's or other types of dementia, and I play the role of the caregiver.

1. First approach the person gently. Getting low can be helpful. You may need to spend a couple of minutes building rapport. Then invite the person to a favorite activity or destination. Sometimes just saying, "Let's go for coffee" (or some other activity) is all that's needed.

2. Next, remind the person to position his hands on the ends of the arm rest, while pointing or tapping. Then gently tell him to scoot, pointing to or tapping the seat. Give him time to respond and repeat instructions if needed.

3. Now, tell him to move both feet slightly back behind his knees, pointing or tapping the floor as a visual reminder. You may need to gently help position his feet. Then he should move his trunk forward until his nose is above the toes. If he tends to lean too far forward, you'll need to make sure he's stable and won't topple over when attempting to stand up.

4. Some people transfer more easily by rocking back and forth while counting to 3, giving momentum for rising. Gently place one hand on his shoulder and the other hand at his waist (or even hold onto his pants) and, on the count of 3, gently assist him to rise. Once he's standing, offer your arm or have his walker nearby. Now, you're ready to go!