My parent just fell. What now?
Take a breath. You're already doing the right thing by getting clear before acting. This page is short on purpose: what to do right now, tonight, and tomorrow.
Right now: does this need 911?
Call 911 if any of these is true:
- They can't get up, or can't put weight on a leg or hip.
- They hit their head, especially if they take a blood thinner.
- There's severe pain, bleeding that won't stop, or an obvious injury.
- They seem confused, drowsy, or "not themselves", even a little.
- Your gut says something is wrong. Calling 911 after a fall is never an overreaction. If you are unsure, make the call.
If none of those apply and they're up and talking normally: you still have a call to make today: their doctor's office (or its after-hours line). Describe the fall and ask what to watch for.
Two free lines, any hour: Eldercare Locator 1-800-677-1116 · Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline 1-800-272-3900
The first 24 hours, step by step
- Write down what happened while it's fresh. Time, place, what they were doing, how they landed, how long they were down. The doctor will ask, and memory blurs fast, theirs and yours.
- Look at where it happened. What did they trip on, or was there nothing to trip on? The bedroom, stairs, and bathroom are where most serious falls at home happen, and bathroom falls are more than twice as likely to cause injury, which is why grab bars are the change worth making first.
- Make tonight safe. Clear the path between bed and bathroom. Add a night light. Put a phone within reach of the bed and their usual chair. If they live alone, agree on a check-in call for tonight and tomorrow morning.
- Tell the family: facts only. One short message to siblings: what happened, how they are, what's booked. Deciding what it all means comes later, together.
- Book the doctor visit even if they feel fine. A fall often has a fixable medical contributor worth ruling out: medication side effects, blood pressure, vision, and footwear are all common causes. Ask for a medication review, and mention the fall so the doctor includes a fall risk assessment. It's part of the free Medicare Annual Wellness Visit.
If they were taken to the hospital
Hospitals move fast near the exit. One of the most useful things a family can do is be present for the plan, not just the visit.
Say early, and more than once: "I want to be part of the discharge planning." Say it to the nurse, and ask to speak with the discharge planner or case manager. Arranging what happens after the stay is their job, and your knowledge of the home situation is information they need.
- Where do you recommend they go next (home, rehab, a skilled nursing stay), and why?
- What will they need at home: equipment, help hours, follow-up appointments?
- Which of those is the hospital arranging, and what falls to the family?
- Is home health being ordered? (Medicare covers skilled home health when a doctor certifies it's needed and the person is homebound.)
- What symptoms mean "call the doctor", and which mean "come back in"?
If the plan doesn't feel safe, say so, plainly and early. "She lives alone with stairs and no one nearby" changes a discharge plan. You can ask for the plan to be revisited, and you can ask to speak with the hospital social worker. If your parent is on Medicare, the hospital must give them a written notice (called an "Important Message from Medicare") that explains their right to a fast appeal if a discharge feels too soon. Read it before signing anything: appealing by its deadline generally means they can stay while an independent reviewer decides, without paying for those days.
Who to call
Keep these three numbers at hand
If memory changes are part of the picture, the Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline (1-800-272-3900) is free and staffed by specialists, any hour.
Afterwards, when things settle
Not today, unless today is the day you want it. But a fall is usually the moment families start asking the bigger question: what does this mean about living alone, about the house, about help. When you've slept and the doctor visit is booked, that question has a calm answer.
Turn what happened into a plan
Thirteen gentle questions (falls, memory, day-to-day help, budget), and a clear, honest read on what kind of support fits. Three minutes, in your browser.
Start the free assessment →Two guides that pair with this page: the signs that matter (and the ones that don't), and if falls are becoming a pattern, our honest overview of medical alert systems, a first step worth considering when someone lives alone.
This page is safety guidance at a general level, not medical advice; only a clinician who can see your parent can judge an injury. Medical facts on this page last verified July 2026.