What to Do if an Elderly Person Falls Down?
Falls can be very common among the elderly. They can be very frightening and traumatic, not just for the person who has fallen. Once the initial shock of the fall wears off, family members are invariably left with the issue of how to get them safely back onto a chair or into bed.
Who to call when an elderly person falls?
Sometimes deciding whose help is needed isn’t always that easy. This can depend on many factors, but the first thing to find out is whether they have been injured in the fall. Calling 999 is always the safest option to summon emergency help. Even if you think that medical help is not required, remember that the first responder can often provide the know-how to get an elderly person off the floor safely, and they, of course, will also have the expertise needed to confirm whether the person needs to go to the hospital, either for tests or for treatment.
It is quite common for a caregiver or family member to actually hurt themselves while trying to pick up someone after a fall quickly. This can cause long-lasting consequences and can mean that they themselves could be injured for days, weeks or longer, depending on the injury or course. This can also put the person who fell at additional risk of additional trauma and/or injury by being dropped or manoeuvred incorrectly. If you doubt you cannot get the person off the floor safely, then call for medical assistance. Below we have listed some guidelines that can help you get someone who has fallen back up, without hurting them (or yourself) in the process.
Please note that these strategies should only be used when you know for sure that the person who fell hasn’t sustained an injury, as any subsequent handling or movement could cause further harm.
What to do if an elderly person falls down?
- Stay calm. Help the person who fell to remain calm by talking to them and encouraging them to take slow, deep breaths to compose themselves.
- If possible, assess for any visible injuries like bruises, bleeding, sprains or broken bones.
- To help with this assessment, speak to them and ask if they are experiencing any pain, where it is located and try to assess how severe it is.
- If they are in severe pain, they may have a serious injury, such as a broken bone, dislocation or bleeding, so do not move them!
- Call 999 and keep them warm and comfortable where they are. If possible, try to stop any obvious bleeding by applying pressure to a suitable dressing if possible.
- Try to keep them as still as possible, which may involve putting soft furnishings (pillows or rolled-up quilts/bolsters) next to them until help arrives.
- Note that if assistance takes longer than 30mins to arrive, you may need to turn them over to their other side (if possible) to prevent any pressure injuries.
- If they insist they aren’t badly hurt and want to get up, proceed very slowly. Stop at any point if they become stuck, experience pain or become too tired to get back up.
Using two chairs to help them up
If in a home environment, find two sturdy chairs. Place one next to the senior’s head and the other down by their feet. Keep in mind that they must be capable of doing the physical work required to get up. If you do not think they can – then do not proceed! Your role here is to help guide them through these steps and keep them steady, not lift their weight. If they cannot do this, then call to request a lift assist.
You will need to help them roll over onto their side and assist them in getting onto their hands and knees. If they suffer from sore or limited movement in the knees, place a towel or soft materials beneath them to make this step more bearable. If they are in pain when attempting this, then stop! Once they are on their hands & knees, then move the chair closest to their head directly in front of where they are. This will enable them to place their hands squarely on the seat and try to assume a kneeling position.
Ask that they lean forward on the seat as they bring their strongest leg forward, leading with the knee to place their foot flat on the floor. They should look like they are in a “kneeling lunge” position at the end of this step. Move the second chair directly behind them, then ask them to use both their arms and legs to push themselves up and sit back into this chair.
You can assist in keeping them steady, but remember to keep your back upright and make sure they are doing the physical work of standing themselves. Do not try to lift them or position them yourself! Keep them in a seated position (and stay very close by) until you’re confident that they can stand and continue moving around without hurting themselves or falling again. Immediately notify their doctor or senior caregiver that they’ve had a fall and keep a close watch out for any emerging pain and any signs of an injury that may present itself.
Falls should never remain secret
Even though one in three adults aged 65 and over experiences a fall and 50% of those over 80 will have at least one fall per year. Fewer than half of these actually tell their doctor about it. Elders can consider falls as embarrassing indicators of their decline and reliance on others for assistance. It’s only natural for them to want to downplay any incidents.
However, doing so may affect their independence in the long run as it will prevent them from receiving proper support and learning about fall prevention measures. Research has shown that falling once actually doubles their chances of falling again. Falls can indicate an underlying problem or condition that requires medical attention. Falls should not be ignored or discounted.
Frequent falls greatly increase the risk of a serious fall-related injury, such as concussions, broken hips, and head injury and can often lead to seniors limiting their daily activities out of fear of falling again. Some protective helmets and hats are designed to provide some protection from impacts due to falls or other issues, which are readily available across the internet or on our website Greater awareness of this problem can allow family members to improve safety measures and allows medical professionals to find solutions. Healthcare professionals take falls in older people very seriously because of the consequences they can have for the health and well-being of the person at risk of falls. As a result, a great deal of help and support is available for older people, and it’s worth asking a GP about the various options.
Home hazard assessments
A home hazard assessment can be requested via your GP. It may identify potential hazards around the home and recommend small changes. Like improved lighting, removing unsecured rugs, reducing floor clutter and loose cables, adding grab rails near door frames and in the bathing area, and non-slip mats in the bathroom. Mobility aids (walkers), home adaptations, changing medications, and physical and/or occupational therapy can also improve things greatly.
Purchasing a medical alert system can make all the difference and give the person back their confidence that they are not far from receiving help if the worst happens. Whether you or a loved one experiences a fall, it’s essential to notify a medical professional/doctor about it as soon as possible. They can make sure no injuries are sustained and suggest ways to prevent falls in the future.
