I Need Help After a Fall
A fall can mean someone is injured. It can also mean the current care plan is no longer enough.
First decide whether the person needs emergency help. Then figure out what changed.
Call 911 If
- they may have a serious injury or broken bone, or there’s severe pain, heavy bleeding, or trouble breathing
- they hit their head and are confused, vomiting repeatedly, unusually sleepy or hard to wake, having a seizure, or have slurred speech or new weakness
- they lost consciousness, or can’t move part of their body
- you think moving them could make the injury worse
Don’t try to lift or move someone if you think they may be seriously injured.
Tell the dispatcher what happened and what you see.
“They fell. This is what I can see now: [describe what you see].”
If the Person Is on Hospice
A fall doesn’t automatically mean 911.
If there’s no obvious emergency and the fall may be part of the illness, weakness, or dying, call the hospice 24-hour number first.
“The person fell. They’re [what you see]. I don’t know if they’re injured or what I should do next.”
Tell hospice whether the person hit their head, has pain or bleeding, can move normally, and whether they can get up.
If there’s a serious injury or another immediate danger, call 911.
If They’re on the Floor and You Can’t Get Them Up
Don’t hurt yourself trying to lift them.
If there’s no obvious emergency, call the health care or hospice team:
“They’re on the floor, and I can’t safely get them up. Who can help?”
You can also call your local fire department’s non-emergency number and ask whether they do lift assists. In some communities, fire or EMS can help without automatically transporting the person, but availability varies.
While you wait, stay with them if you can. Ask whoever you called what you should and shouldn’t do until help arrives.
“I can’t lift them” is important information. It may mean the care plan needs more help, equipment, or another person.
Even If They Seem Okay
Tell the health care team about the fall if:
- they hit their head. If they take a blood thinner, call right away, even if they seem fine
- there’s new pain, weakness, dizziness, confusion, or trouble walking
- this isn’t the first recent fall
- you aren’t sure whether they were injured
Ask:
“Does this person need to be checked, and what should I watch for?”
If Falls Keep Happening
Repeated falls may mean something has changed.
Tell the health care team how often they’re happening and what’s different from before.
Ask:
“This keeps happening. What’s changed, and is the current level of care still enough?”
Ask whether a nurse, physician, physical therapist, occupational therapist, social worker, or care manager should assess what’s needed.
Falls may mean the person needs more help, different equipment, changes to the home, or another level of care.
If the home itself may be contributing to the risk, see I Need Help Making My Home Safer and More Accessible →
Before the Call Ends
Ask:
“If this happens again tonight and I can’t get them up, who do I call?”
Also ask what changes mean you should call 911 and whether anything needs to change before the person is left alone again.
If time alone is part of the question, see Can This Person Be Left Alone? →
Helpful Resources
Find local aging services, home-safety help, and caregiver support. Also 1-800-677-1116.
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