What should we do after an older parent falls?
Get a medical evaluation even if there is no obvious injury, ask the doctor to review medications and blood pressure, and find out why the fall happened (tripping, dizziness, weakness, poor vision or confusion), because each cause has a different fix.
Falls on blood thinners need prompt attention because of the risk of bleeding inside the head. Ask about physical therapy; Medicare covers outpatient therapy and, for homebound patients, home health therapy under a doctor's plan.
How can we make a Memphis home safer after a fall?
Remove loose rugs and cords, add grab bars by the toilet and in the shower, put night lights between the bed and bathroom, raise chairs and beds that are too low, and keep everyday items between waist and shoulder height.
A medical alert button helps a person who falls alone get help quickly. OPTIONS for Community Living lists assistive technology among services that vary by region; ask the Aging Commission of the Mid-South at (901) 222-4111 what is available locally.
Does a fall mean a parent needs assisted living?
Not by itself; it means the risk needs managing. Tennessee ACLFs require residents to be able to bear weight, pivot and walk safely with a cane or walker with no more than minimal help, so a parent who can no longer do that may need more care than an ACLF can provide.
For a parent who is still ambulatory but falling because of isolation, poor nutrition or skipped medications, an ACLF's meals, medication administration and awake staff may reduce the risk. For a parent who now needs hands-on help to transfer, ask whether the ACLF's building meets the stricter evacuation standard or whether a nursing home is the safer option.
When should we worry that falls are becoming more frequent?
When a parent falls more than once in a few months, cannot get up without help, or starts limiting activity out of fear of falling, because each of those raises the risk of a serious injury and of losing mobility.
Ask the physician for a fall-risk assessment, physical therapy for strength and balance, a vision check, and a review of every medication that can cause dizziness or low blood pressure on standing. If falls continue despite those steps, the questions shift to supervision: who would find your parent after a fall at night, and how quickly.
Sources include Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. chapters 0720-26, 0720-21 and 0720-18, Health Facilities Commission and TennCare pages, CareScout and VA rate tables as cited above; see our editorial standards.
