Why do elderly sleep in the fetal position?

Answer 1

Adults lay in the fetal position because at the core they are still the same human beings that were initially developed in the womb. Our bodies naturally form in this position because it is not only space efficient for the mother, but it's also safest for the baby, protecting head, neck, chest, and vital organs. As adults, we enter this position as a means of returning to the feeling of safety and comfort that can only be had by a person who has yet to be exposed to the perils of the world outside a womb. Or simply because it literally is a position that, inside and outside a womb alike, protects your vitals. We are aware of this on an instinctual, animalistic level, and reach for it as a coping mechanism, much like other behaviors that have been coded into us since we were in the trees, such as laughing and crying.

Answer 2

Two possible reasons. (1) Contracture of the legs and hips: They shouldn't be permanently in a fetal position. Their legs must be exercised at least twice a day by getting the caregiver to gently rotate the legs clockwise and anti-clockwise several times. It can be very painful for the elderly but this must be done gently so their muscles do not waste further. Train the caregivers to do so. After many months, there should be improvement. In some cases, some even improve well enough to move from being bedridden to being able to sit in a wheelchair. (2) Another possible reason is spinal stenosis.