After a Fall: What to Do When Your Elderly Parent Falls at Home
By Rohit Tamhane, Founder · Updated July 2026 · 8 min read
Your parent just fell. Your heart is racing. Here's what to do right now, step by step, in order.
Immediate steps
Stay calm
Your composure helps your parent stay calm. Panic makes everything harder.
Don't rush to pull them up
Pulling a fallen senior up too quickly can cause additional injury. Assess the situation first.
Check for injuries
Ask where it hurts. Look for swelling, bruising, or deformity, especially at the hip, wrist, and head. Check for confusion or disorientation.
Call 911 if needed
Call immediately if: head injury or loss of consciousness, severe hip or leg pain (can't bear weight), visible bone deformity, bleeding that won't stop, confusion or slurred speech, or they can't get up after multiple attempts.
Help them get up safely
If no serious injury: roll to side → push up to hands and knees → crawl to a sturdy chair → place hands on seat → bring one foot forward (strongest leg) → push up to standing. Don't rush.
Call 911 immediately if your parent:
- • Hit their head or lost consciousness
- • Has severe hip, leg, or wrist pain
- • Can't bear weight on either leg
- • Shows confusion, slurred speech, or disorientation
- • Has bleeding that won't stop
- • Can't get up after several attempts
The next 48 hours
Even if your parent seems fine after a fall, monitor them for 48-72 hours. Some injuries (particularly head injuries and hairline fractures) may not show symptoms immediately. Watch for increasing headache, new or worsening pain, dizziness, nausea, unusual drowsiness, or worsening bruising. When in doubt, see a doctor.
Preventing the next fall
A fall is a warning signal, not a one-time event. Seniors who fall once are 2-3x more likely to fall again. The most effective prevention combines exercise (balance and strength training), home safety modifications, medication review, and professional assessment.
Fall Prevention Programs
Comprehensive guide to preventing future falls.
Why Seniors Fall: 7 Risk Factors
Understand the root causes to target the right interventions.
Balance Exercises for Seniors
Exercises that rebuild strength and confidence after a fall.
Fear of Falling
How to help your parent overcome fear and rebuild confidence.
Need daily supervision after a fall?
If your parent was hospitalized after a fall or needs daily supervision during recovery, our sister service Arcadia Home Care's hospital discharge team provides trained personal support workers for post-fall recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
If they're conscious and not in severe pain: keep them warm and comfortable on the floor, place a pillow under their head, call for help. If they're in severe pain, confused, or you suspect a head injury or hip fracture, call 911 immediately. Never try to force someone up if they're in significant pain.
Go to the ER for: head injury or loss of consciousness (even brief), severe pain especially in the hip or wrist, inability to bear weight, visible deformity of any limb, persistent confusion or dizziness, or symptoms that worsen in the hours after the fall.
Yes. Some injuries (subdural hematoma, hairline fractures) may not show symptoms immediately. Monitor for 48-72 hours for: increasing headache, worsening pain, new bruising, dizziness, nausea, or confusion. When in doubt, see a doctor.
A single fall increases the risk of future falls. Start a fall prevention program that includes balance and strength exercises, a home safety assessment (remove hazards, add grab bars, improve lighting), medication review with their doctor, and vision check. An RST can design a personalized prevention program.