Mom fell at 2 a.m. What now?

Take a breath. We'll go one step at a time. This is general guidance, not medical advice. When in doubt, call 911.

1. Step 1 · Right now

   Is any of this true?

   • They hit their head, or take a blood thinner and may have bumped it
   • They can't get up, or it hurts to move (especially a hip, wrist or back)
   • They're confused, very drowsy, slurring words, or not acting like themselves
   • There's bleeding that won't stop, or trouble breathing
   • You're on the phone and they don't answer, or you can't tell
   Yes, one or more No, they seem OK

2. Call for help

   Call 911 now

   • Don't try to lift them. Moving someone with a broken hip or a neck or back injury can make it worse.
   • Keep them warm with a blanket and a pillow under the head if it doesn't hurt to move it. Stay with them or stay on the phone.
   • If you're far away, call 911 for their address, then call a neighbor or anyone with a key so paramedics can get in.
   • Gather their medication list, or the bottles, for the paramedics. Mention any blood thinner.
   Help is on the way; what next?

3. Step 2 · Getting up

   Help them up slowly, or not at all

   If they feel able to, they can get up the way the National Institute on Aging suggests. Don't pull them up by the arms.

   1. Rest a few minutes on the floor first. Take a few deep breaths.
   2. Roll onto one side, then onto hands and knees.
   3. Crawl to a sturdy chair (not one that rolls) and put both hands on the seat.
   4. Bring one foot forward flat on the floor, then push up slowly and turn to sit.

   If they get dizzy, feel new pain, or can't do it, stop, keep them warm on the floor, and call 911 or the non-emergency number for a "lift assist".

   They're up and sitting They can't get up

4. Step 3 · The next 48 hours

   Watch for signs that show up later

   • Ask how they feel now, again in the morning, and again the next evening. Some injuries, including head injuries, show up hours later.
   • Go to urgent care or the ER for a headache that gets worse, vomiting, new confusion or drowsiness, weakness on one side, or pain that stops them putting weight on a leg.
   • If nobody can stay overnight, set up a morning check-in call at a fixed time, and agree what you'll do if they don't answer.
   Next: this week

5. Step 4 · This week

   Tell their doctor, even if they're fine

   A fall is a reason for a check-up, not just an accident. Ask the doctor to:

   • Review every medication, including sleep aids and blood pressure pills, for dizziness or drowsiness.
   • Check blood pressure lying down and standing, vision, and feet.
   • Refer them to physical therapy for strength and balance work.

   Write down what happened: the time, where, what they were doing, and whether they felt dizzy first. Doctors ask.

   Next: stop the next one

6. Step 5 · The next month

   Make the next fall less likely, and less scary

   • Fix the spot where it happened first: a night light on the path to the bathroom, the rug gone, a grab bar by the toilet or tub. Our room-by-room safety checklist takes about 20 minutes.
   • Make sure they can call for help from the floor. A medical alert with automatic fall detection calls even if they can't press the button. See our medical alert picks, or check what one will really cost over three years.
   • Talk about it without taking over. Our guide on how to talk to your parent about getting help has words that work.

   The full checklist for the first two days is in Mom fell. What do I do now? For what to buy, in order, see our starter checklist.

   Start over