Elderly Falls What to Do

If your elderly loved one falls, arrange for them to see a doctor as soon as possible. Falling is often an indicator of underlying medical issues that require treatment, such as dehydration or a urinary tract infection.

Ask them if they’re hurt, and look for signs of injury (bruising or other evidence). Then help them get into a chair.

Call for Help

Elderly falls are one of the most serious and frequent types of accidents for elderly people. When they happen, it is important that you take the right steps to ensure that your loved ones are safe and do not suffer any injuries.

Firstly, it is important that you call for help. If you think that your loved one is not badly injured and can get up by themselves, you should try to encourage them to do so.

However, it is also worth remembering that many falls are accompanied by a number of different injuries including fractures and head trauma. This means that it is a good idea to call an ambulance just in case.

This is particularly important if you have elderly people living in your home who are at risk of falling. This is because prolonged periods of time on the floor can exacerbate any existing injuries and lead to a range of other complications including dehydration.

Check for Injuries

If your elderly loved one has a fall, it’s important to check them for injuries. This means assessing their head, neck and spine to see if there is any pain or swelling. If there is moderate to severe pain in the head, neck or spine, it is not advisable to try and move them and you should call 911 for an ambulance.

It is also a good idea to monitor your elderly loved one for 24 hours to make sure they are fine and that there is no lingering pain or other problems from the fall. Medical Alarms It is also a good idea to speak with their doctor about the fall so that it can be added to their medical records.

In order to prevent further falls, it is important to improve lighting in stairways and hallways, add handrails to the stairs and put in grab bars in the shower or bathroom. It is also a good idea to talk to your loved ones about their medications and any health issues that may affect their balance or lead to a fall.

Stay Calm

Many seniors feel embarrassed about falling and may downplay their incident. However, they should be encouraged to share their concerns with family and medical professionals. Frequent falls can indicate an underlying condition and increase the risk of serious injury or death.

Checking for injuries is the first step after an elderly person falls. Ask if they’re hurt and help them stay down while you look for any broken bones, bruises, or sprains.

If they don’t have any serious injuries, encourage them to get up slowly. Have them roll onto their side and then on to their hands and knees. If they have enough strength, they should be able to push themselves up into a sitting position.

If they have difficulty getting up, consider investing in an emergency response system that allows them to push a button for help. Also, keep their home free of trip hazards, such as loose rugs or carpeting, cords, and clutter.

Encourage Your Loved One to Get Up

When an elderly person falls, it can be difficult to get them back up without injuring yourself or causing further harm to their body. Try to assist them by rolling them onto their side and helping them to kneel slowly. Then, position two chairs that are stable and unlikely to move to where they can use them as support for getting up. Ask them to use the chair in front of them and then slide their strongest leg forward, starting with the knee, so it’s flat on the floor.

Remember to continue to check for any injuries that may have been exacerbated by the fall. And, if your loved one continues to insist on trying to get up, take it slow and stop them if they are feeling any pain or getting stuck in the process. If their fall has resulted in serious injury, call 911 and keep them comfortable while waiting for assistance to arrive.