Baton Rouge Senior AdvisorWhat should we do right after an older parent falls?
Get a medical evaluation even if there is no obvious injury, because falls can signal infection, medication problems, low blood pressure or a new illness, and ask the doctor to review medications and order physical therapy if needed.
If your parent could not get up alone or lay on the floor for a long time, treat that as serious even without a fracture.
How can we make a home safer after a fall?
Remove loose rugs and clutter, add grab bars and a shower chair, improve lighting on the path to the bathroom, and consider a medical alert device that works outside the house too.
Medicare may cover a home safety evaluation as part of home health physical or occupational therapy. The Community Choices Waiver can pay for environmental accessibility adaptations for participants.
Does a fall mean a parent needs to move?
Not necessarily: one fall with a clear cause may only need home changes and therapy, but repeated falls, falls at night, or falls with long waits for help usually mean a parent needs more supervision than living alone provides.
An ARCP's around-the-clock awake staff and pull cords shorten the time on the floor, which is often what makes the difference in recovery.
What if the fall led to a hospital stay?
Plan the discharge early: confirm inpatient status, ask whether short-term rehab or home health is recommended, and compare skilled nursing options on CMS data.
Who can help us assess fall risk for free?
The parish council on aging and the Capital Area Agency on Aging can point you to local fall-prevention programs, and your parent's primary care doctor can screen for fall risk at a Medicare wellness visit.
Ask the doctor about vision, footwear, strength and balance exercises and medications that cause dizziness. Evidence-based balance classes are offered through senior centers and community programs in several parishes; ask your parent's council on aging which ones meet nearby.
Side by side
| After a fall, do | After a fall, do not | |
|---|---|---|
| Medical | Get evaluated and review medications | Assume no injury means no problem |
| Home | Remove hazards and add grab bars | Wait for the next fall |
| Alert | Use a device that works everywhere | Rely on a phone across the room |
| Planning | Reassess living arrangements honestly | Promise nothing will change |
Sources: LAC 48:I.Chapter 68 for adult residential care, Louisiana Department of Health (Health Standards Section and Office of Aging and Adult Services) program pages, the Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs, CareScout and VA rate tables, each cited in the text. Our editorial standards explain how we check them.
