Mom fell. What do I do now? The first 48 hours
The call comes, and suddenly you are the one who is supposed to know what to do. Here is the checklist we wish we had.
If your parent hit their head, cannot get up, is confused, or is in pain, call 911 or get them to urgent care now. People on blood thinners should be checked after any head bump, even if they feel fine.
In the first few hours
- Ask how they feel, then ask again later. Some injuries, including head injuries, show up hours after the fall.
- Find out how long they were on the floor. A “long lie” of an hour or more is a medical concern on its own and a strong sign they need a way to call for help.
- Write down what happened. Where, what time, what they were doing, whether they felt dizzy beforehand. The doctor will ask.
Within 48 hours
- Call their primary care doctor, even if they seem fine. A fall is a symptom. Ask about:
- medications that cause dizziness or low blood pressure,
- vision and hearing checks,
- a referral to physical therapy for strength and balance,
- a home safety evaluation by an occupational therapist (often covered by Medicare when ordered by a doctor; confirm with their plan).
- Walk the house with our room-by-room safety checklist. Start with the bathroom and the path from bed to toilet.
- Make sure they can call for help from wherever they might fall, including the shower and the garden. A phone across the room does not count.
Making sure help is one button away
A medical alert system is the single biggest change most families make after a fall. The key question is whether you want automatic fall detection, which calls for help even if your parent cannot press the button. If they have fallen once, we think the answer is usually yes.
Compare the main options in our guide to medical alert systems with fall detection, or take the 30-second quiz.
The conversation
Your parent may be embarrassed, scared, or insistent that it was “nothing.” That is normal. Our guide on how to talk to your parent about getting help has words that work.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Always follow the guidance of your parent’s doctor.