What to Do When The Elderly Keep Falling [Causes and Tips]

You get the phone call, or you find them on the floor, and now you are asking what to do when the elderly keep falling. Falls are common, but they are not something to accept, and many can be prevented.

This article covers why someone keeps falling, from medical conditions and medicines to weakness, footwear and dehydration. Then it walks through what you can do at home, how to choose safer shoes, and when professional care is worth considering.

Why Do Senior Adults Keep Falling?

When you have a parent or grandparent in your home, helping them reduce the risk of falling is crucial to their health and well-being. Numerous factors can lead to falls. The most important thing is to be aware of some of these factors.

Here are some of the most common factors that may lead to senior adult falls:

Vision: Less light reaching the retina, or an outdated eyeglass prescription, can make it hard to see tripping hazards, contrasting edges, and obstacles in the house.
Balance Issues: Poor balance and coordination raise the risk of falling. Inactivity also reduces flexibility, which makes a fall more likely.
Chronic Illnesses: Conditions like diabetes, arthritis and stroke can affect how the body works. Lost function can make a person more prone to falling.
Home Environment: Many homes have not been set up with safety in mind. Tripping hazards and obstacles are some of the most common reasons for falls.
Certain Medications: Some medications can trigger falls by causing dizziness and dehydration.

If your parent or grandparent keeps falling, walk through their day. Look at the lighting, the floors, the shoes, the medications and how steady they feel. The source of the trouble is often several small things together.

The catch is that the list can feel long. Start with the quick fixes, like a light bulb and a rug, and bring the dizziness to the doctor.

Dim hallway at the bottom of a staircase with a small rug curled up at its edge — A dim hallway with a curled rug is an easy place to trip, so you should still bring up dizziness and medicines with the doctor.

Medical Conditions and Medicines That Can Lead to Falls

Sometimes the cause of repeated falls is something going on inside the body. A few conditions and medicines are worth knowing by name, so you can bring them up with the doctor.

Arthritis affects how the joints move, which makes getting around harder. Osteoporosis weakens the bones, so a fall is more likely to cause a fracture.

Dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and stroke can all affect movement, coordination and balance. Someone living with one of these has a higher risk of falling.

Heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes can change blood flow and the oxygen reaching the brain. The result can be dizziness or feeling unsteady.

Some medicines cause dizziness, drowsiness or unsteadiness. Sedatives, tranquilizers, antidepressants and blood pressure medications are the ones to watch.

Orthostatic hypotension is a drop in blood pressure when someone stands up. It can make a person dizzy for a moment, and that is often when a fall happens. Standing up slowly and drinking enough fluids can ease the symptoms.

Doing balance exercises can also help, if the doctor agrees they are safe.

For every one of these, the doctor is the right person to ask. Go through the full medication list at a check-up, and mention any dizziness or recent falls.

The catch is that none of this can be fixed with a grab bar or a new rug. Medical causes need a medical answer, and the home changes work best alongside it.

Older woman in oversized slippers holding a stair railing at the bottom of the staircase beside a curled rug — Holding the railing in loose slippers is a sign the footing isn’t secure, so you can check the shoes and the rug, not just one.

Other Common Causes of Falls: Weakness, Footwear and Dehydration

Muscle weakness, also called sarcopenia, can make it hard to stay steady while walking or standing. Reduced flexibility limits your range of motion, so recovering from a stumble gets harder.

Changes in the way a person walks matter too. A walking pattern such as shuffling makes uneven surfaces and changes of direction harder to handle.

Balance-focused exercises like tai chi and yoga can help, as long as they are safe for the person.

Footwear is a big one. Loose slippers, backless styles, tight shoes, elevated heels and worn-out soles can all throw off balance.

Going barefoot or wearing socks without shoes, wearing slippers, or wearing the wrong kind of athletic shoe can all make a fall more likely.

Shoes with a low, stable heel and slip-resistant soles are a better choice. For indoors, slippers with heel coverage or straps keep the foot from sliding out, and non-slip socks are another option.

Dehydration can cause dizziness or lightheadedness. Heat, illness and not drinking enough fluids are common reasons for it.

Malnutrition can lead to muscle weakness, so paying attention to nutritional needs is part of preventing falls.

It is also worth looking into technology that helps prevent and detect falls.

Falls usually come from several causes at once, so fixing only the shoes or only the rug may not be enough.

Worn backless slippers and socks on a bedroom carpet beside a bed — Backless, worn-out slippers slide off easily, so you can check the soles by the bed and swap them for ones with heel coverage.

What Should You Do To Prevent Falls When An Elderly Person Keeps on Falling?

When you have an idea about the factors behind the falls, it’s much easier to focus on the prevention steps that suit your situation. Personalizing your approach works better than a generalized one.

For example, you don’t want your elderly parent or grandparent to learn tai chi to prevent falling if her reason for falling is the strength of her blood pressure medications. A personalized approach will work more effectively under such circumstances.

Here are some of the most important steps to reduce the risk of falling in your home:

Is everything visible to the elderly parent in his/her room? Dim lights can make it difficult for the individual to maneuver the space. Proper lighting in the living room is very important to prevent unnecessary falls in the house.
If your parent or grandparent wears glasses, they should be using the glasses recommended by their eye doctor. Make sure they have the latest prescription for eyeglasses. On the other hand, bifocals can be quite dangerous on the stairs. You should be aware of these factors to reduce the risk of your parent or grandparent falling unnecessarily.
Discuss the health conditions of your parent or grandparent with them. Many people recognize the risk of falling, but believe it won’t happen to them or that they won’t get injured. Ask if they have any problem managing their health. Are they having any side effects from their medications? Do they find it difficult to do things they used to do easily? Encourage them to speak openly with their doctor about any of these concerns.
Clearing the walkway is important to prevent your parent or grandparent from falling. Beware of old rugs and clutter on the floor. Remove all the items that may cause a hazard to your elderly adult when walking in the house.
All staircases should have railings to safeguard your parent or grandparent when they use the stairs. Railings are more secure when elderly adults walk up and down the stairs.
Don’t forget to install grab bars in the bathroom of your senior adult. Grab bars should be installed for the shower and near the toilet for additional support and are a common way to prevent falls in the bathroom.
Daily physical exercises can improve balance and coordination. Even small movements done regularly can help strengthen the muscles. Yoga, chair exercises, tai chi, walking around the block, and group fitness classes are good options, if the doctor agrees they are safe.

Older man with a cane holding a grab bar beside a bathtub — A grab bar beside the tub gives steady support, and you can pair it with secure, slip-resistant footwear so wet floors feel safer.

Choosing Safer Shoes for Someone Who Keeps Falling

If your parent or grandparent keeps falling, look at what is on their feet. Shoes are one of the easiest things to change, and they often get overlooked.

A low, stable heel is the safest choice. Elevated heels can be especially dangerous.

The fit matters as much as the heel. Shoes should feel comfortable and secure, neither too tight nor too loose.

Look for shoes with slip-resistant soles, which help on wet or slippery floors. Shoes that are worn out may no longer give enough support or grip, so check the soles now and then.

Slippers deserve a second look. Backless styles and loose slippers are easy to slide out of, and safer slippers with heel coverage or straps keep the foot in place.

Socks without shoes are another common problem. If your loved one likes socks around the house, ask about non-slip socks instead.

Good footwear works best alongside other steps, such as balance exercises and technology that helps prevent and detect falls.

The catch is that new shoes will not help if they stay in the closet. Your parent may prefer the old slippers, so expect a conversation.

Caregiver walking beside an older woman using a walker through a tidy living room — An extra set of eyes at home can keep walkways clear and help your loved one walk safely.

When Should You Consider Professional Care?

You are the most important resource to prevent the falling of your parent or grandparent. Loved ones can install the necessary home improvement features to prevent unnecessary falls in senior adults. You should frequently check with your parent or grandparent to assess your home for any hazards and take the adult for regular medical check-ups.

The next best choice is to consult a senior home care agency in your area. Caregivers can help with fall prevention at home.

They will clear the clutter from the senior’s home and allow the adult to move freely. The caregiver will ensure your parent or grandparent is sitting, standing, and walking safely to prevent unnecessary falls. An extra set of eyes on your parent or grandparent can help him or her to stay safe at all times.

FAQ:

What Does It Mean When An Elderly Person Keeps Falling?

If an elderly person keeps falling, something is wrong, either with the environment or with the person. Check for tripping hazards or obstacles in the home. Take your parent or grandparent for regular medical check-ups. Removing environmental risks and improving balance and coordination can help prevent falls.

What Could Be The Cause Of Frequent Falls?

Common causes of frequent falls include poor eyesight, poor balance and coordination, and poor hearing. The home environment also raises the risk. Poor lighting in the house, unsecured or unsafe throw rugs, and clutter on the floor can make anyone more likely to slip or trip.

Why Can’t An Elderly Person Get Up After A Fall?

Several things can make getting up hard after a fall: stiff joints, weak muscles, pain or injury. It is especially difficult for elderly people to get up off the floor by themselves. If they are hurt or cannot get up easily, do not lift them. Call 911 or a medical alert service. Check with their doctor or therapist about a safe plan for getting up.

Wrapping Up

Falls are common, but they are not something to accept. A fall can cause serious injury, so it is worth preventing. That’s why you should do everything you can to help your parent or grandparent stay on their feet.