What to Do If Your Elderly Parent Falls: A Step-by-Step Guide

Responding to a Fall: Immediate Steps

Falls are the leading cause of injury among adults 65 and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). How you respond in the moments after a fall can make a significant difference in outcomes. Stay calm, assess the situation, and follow these steps.

Step 1: Stay Calm

Your reaction sets the tone. Panicking can frighten your parent and make the situation worse. Take a deep breath and approach calmly.

• Speak in a reassuring, calm voice
• Don't rush to move them—this could cause additional injury
• Let them know you're there to help

Step 2: Assess for Serious Injuries

Before attempting to help them up, check for signs of serious injury.

Call 911 immediately if you notice:
- Head injury: Bleeding from the head, confusion beyond their baseline, loss of consciousness
- Possible hip or leg fracture: Unable to move leg, severe pain in hip or leg, leg appears shortened or turned outward
- Signs of stroke: Facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty (remember FAST: Face, Arms, Speech, Time)
- Severe pain: Pain that prevents any movement
- Visible bone deformity: Any body part looks bent or out of place
- Loss of consciousness: Even briefly

If you suspect a serious injury, DO NOT move them. Keep them comfortable and warm while waiting for emergency services. Cover them with a blanket if available.

Proper fall response includes assessing for injuries before attempting to help someone up.

Step 3: If No Serious Injury, Help Them Get Up Safely

If there are no signs of serious injury and they feel able to try getting up, help them do so safely. The National Institute on Aging recommends this technique:

1. Roll to side: Have them roll onto their side
2. Get onto hands and knees: Help them push up onto their hands and knees, and crawl to a sturdy piece of furniture
3. Use furniture for support: Place hands on the furniture (chair, couch, or bed)
4. Bring one foot forward: Put one foot flat on the floor, knee bent
5. Push up to stand: Push up with their arms and leg while you steady them
6. Sit down immediately: Have them sit in a chair to rest and catch their breath

Important: Don't try to lift them yourself if they can't help with the process. Improper lifting can injure both of you. Call for help if needed.

Step 4: Monitor for Delayed Symptoms

Some fall injuries don't show immediate symptoms. Watch for these warning signs over the next 24-72 hours:

• Increasing pain: Pain that worsens rather than improves
• Delayed bruising: Bruises that appear in new areas
• Head injury symptoms: Headache, nausea, vomiting, confusion, drowsiness, vision changes
• Difficulty walking: New or worsening mobility problems
• Behavioral changes: Confusion, irritability, or sleepiness beyond normal

If any concerning symptoms develop, seek medical attention promptly.

What to Do After the Immediate Crisis

Step 5: Contact Their Doctor

Report all falls to your parent's healthcare provider, even if there are no obvious injuries. The doctor may want to:

• Evaluate for injuries that aren't immediately apparent
• Review medications that might have contributed to the fall
• Assess underlying conditions (blood pressure changes, heart rhythm problems)
• Recommend physical therapy or exercises to prevent future falls
• Order imaging if concerned about internal injuries

Step 6: Document the Fall

Recording details helps identify patterns and causes. Document:

• When: Date, time of day
• Where: Specific location in the home
• What happened: What were they doing? Did they trip, slip, or lose balance?
• Conditions: Were they rushing? Was it dark? Were they wearing appropriate footwear?
• Symptoms before: Dizziness, weakness, or confusion before the fall
• Injuries: What parts of the body were affected
• How they got up: Did they need help? How long were they on the floor?

This information helps healthcare providers identify fall causes and prevention strategies.

Professional care can help during recovery and prevent future falls.

Step 7: Assess Home Safety

A fall is a wake-up call to evaluate home safety. Walk through the home looking for hazards:

High-Risk Areas to Check:

Area	Common Hazards	Solutions
Bathroom	Wet floors, no grab bars, slippery tub	Non-slip mats, grab bars, shower chair
Bedroom	Dark pathways to bathroom, items on floor	Nightlights, clear pathways, phone within reach
Stairs	Loose carpeting, poor lighting, no handrails	Secure rails on both sides, good lighting
Living areas	Loose rugs, electrical cords, clutter	Remove rugs, secure cords, clear walkways
Kitchen	Wet floors, reaching for high items	Immediately dry spills, store items at accessible height

Consider a professional fall prevention assessment to identify hazards you might miss. For a comprehensive guide, see our senior home safety checklist.

Step 8: Evaluate Care Needs

A fall often signals that current care arrangements need adjustment. Ask yourself:

• Is my parent safe alone, especially at night?
• Do they need more assistance with mobility?
• Would a medical alert system help?
• Should they have regular help with bathing and other risky activities?
• Is it time to consider 24-hour care?

Preventing Future Falls

Once your parent has fallen once, the risk of falling again doubles. Prevention is essential.

Medical Interventions

• Medication review: Many medications increase fall risk—ask about alternatives
• Vision check: Update glasses prescription annually
• Hearing check: Hearing affects balance
• Foot care: Address foot problems and ensure proper footwear
• Vitamin D: Ask the doctor about vitamin D supplementation
• Blood pressure monitoring: Especially orthostatic hypotension (dizziness when standing)

Physical Improvements

• Physical therapy: Exercises to improve strength and balance
• Regular exercise: Walking, balance exercises, or programs like Tai Chi
• Assistive devices: Canes, walkers, or grab bars as needed
• Proper footwear: Non-skid soles, proper fit, no walking in socks

Home Modifications

• Improve lighting: Especially in hallways, stairs, and bathrooms
• Remove hazards: Throw rugs, clutter, electrical cords in walkways
• Install safety equipment: Grab bars, handrails, shower seats
• Rearrange furniture: Clear pathways, ensure stable furniture to grab if needed

When Professional Care Helps

Professional in-home caregivers can significantly reduce fall risk through:

• Mobility assistance: Help with walking, transfers, and bathroom trips
• Medication management: Ensuring proper timing and dosing
• Exercise support: Encouraging and assisting with prescribed exercises
• Overnight supervision: Preventing falls during nighttime bathroom trips
• Home maintenance: Keeping walkways clear and identifying hazards

Emergency Preparedness

Prepare now so you're ready if another fall occurs:

• Medical alert system: A pendant or bracelet that calls for help at the push of a button
• Emergency contact list: Posted prominently with important phone numbers
• Medication list: Current medications readily available for emergency responders
• Key access: Ensure emergency responders can enter if needed (lockbox, spare key with neighbor)
• Practice getting up: If physically able, practice the technique for getting up from a fall

Signs It's Time for More Help

Consider increasing care support if:

• Falls are happening repeatedly despite prevention efforts
• Your parent is afraid to move around their home
• Recovery from falls is taking longer
• Falls are happening at night
• They can't get up after falling without significant help
• Cognitive changes are contributing to fall risk

At Home Healers Fall Prevention Services

At At Home Healers, we take fall prevention seriously. With over 20 years of combined experience serving families in Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana, we know that preventing falls is key to maintaining independence and quality of life.

Our fall prevention services include:

• Home safety assessments: Identifying and addressing fall hazards
• Mobility assistance: Help with walking, transfers, and bathroom trips
• Exercise support: Encouraging prescribed balance and strength exercises
• Medication management: Ensuring proper dosing and timing
• Overnight care: 24-hour supervision for those at high risk
• Post-fall recovery support: Assistance during healing and rehabilitation

We serve families throughout Fort Wayne, Auburn, Columbia City, Huntington, and surrounding Northeast Indiana communities.

Contact us for a free consultation to discuss fall prevention and care options for your loved one.