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What to Do When Mom or Dad Falls at Home
Falls are scary. Your first instinct is to rush over and pull them up. Stop. Take a breath. Moving them too fast can make things worse. Here is what to do, step by step.
Step 1: Stay calm and get down to their level. Kneel beside them. Talk to them in a calm, steady voice. Ask if they can hear you and if they are in pain.
Step 2: Do not move them yet. Check for signs of serious injury first. Look for bleeding, a bent or twisted limb, or complaints of hip or neck pain. If you see any of these, call 911 and wait.
Step 3: Call 911 if you are not sure. It is always better to call and not need help than to need help and not call. Paramedics are trained for this. You do not have to handle it alone.
Step 4: If they seem okay, help them up slowly. Bring a sturdy chair close. Ask them to roll to their side first, then push up to hands and knees. Help them move to the chair one step at a time. Never pull them straight up by the arms.
Step 5: Watch them closely for the next 24 hours. Even a fall that seems minor can cause hidden injuries. Watch for confusion, dizziness, new pain, or trouble walking. Call the doctor if anything seems off.
Step 6: Figure out why it happened. Was it a loose rug? Poor lighting? The wrong shoes? Falls usually have a reason. Fix the cause so it does not happen again.
Falls are one of the leading causes of injury in older adults. If your parent falls more than once, talk to their doctor. There are programs that can help reduce the risk.
Introducing Our Dementia-Friendly Coloring Book — A Calming Activity for Your Loved One
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means if you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I believe will be helpful to caregivers and their loved ones.
Discover our new dementia-friendly coloring book, designed with simple, calming images to bring joy and engagement to your loved one. A perfect activity for caregivers and seniors.
What to Do When a Parent Needs More Help Than You Can Give
Realizing that your parent needs more help than you can give is one of the hardest moments in caregiving. It does not mean you failed. It means you are paying attention.
Step 1: Say it without guilt. There is a limit to what one person can safely provide. Recognizing that limit is not giving up. It is being honest about what your parent actually needs.
Step 2: Understand the options. Care does not have to mean a nursing home. There is a wide range of options between “I do everything” and “full-time facility care.” In-home aides, adult day programs, assisted living, and memory care communities are all different things with different levels of support.
Step 3: Start with a care assessment. Ask the doctor for a referral to a geriatric care manager or social worker. They can assess your parent’s needs and lay out what level of support makes sense. This takes the guesswork out of it.
Step 4: Involve your parent in the decision. When it is safe to do so, include them. Ask what matters most to them. Ask what they are afraid of. Their voice should be part of this conversation, not just the subject of it.
Step 5: Research before you are in a crisis. Touring assisted living communities, calling home care agencies, or learning about Medicaid benefits is much easier when you are not in the middle of an emergency. Start looking before you have to.
Step 6: Give yourself permission to grieve. This is a transition. For both of you. It is okay to feel sad, relieved, guilty, and exhausted all at once. Those feelings make sense. They do not mean you made the wrong choice.
You are not alone in this. Millions of families go through this every year. Asking for help — for your parent and for yourself — is the bravest thing you can do.
