If an older adult falls, stay with them, keep them calm and still for a moment, and check whether they are hurt before anyone moves them. Call 911 if they hit their head, may have broken a bone, lost consciousness, are confused, are bleeding heavily or cannot get up. Even if they seem fine, the fall should be reported to their doctor.
What should you do first when an older adult falls?
The first few minutes are about checking, not lifting. These steps follow guidance from the National Institute on Aging and MedlinePlus, the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s health information service.
- Stay with the person and stay calm. The National Institute on Aging advises taking several deep breaths and staying still on the floor for a few moments to get over the shock of falling. If you are the one who arrived, say that you are there and that nobody is in a hurry.
- Ask how they feel and look for obvious injury. Ask where it hurts, whether they hit their head, and whether they can move their arms and legs. Look for bleeding, a limb that looks out of place, swelling or bruising.
- Decide whether to call 911. The table below lists the signs MedlinePlus says need emergency help. When in doubt, call.
- If 911 is not needed, do not rush a lift. Getting up too quickly or in the wrong way could make an injury worse, according to the National Institute on Aging.
- Keep them comfortable while help comes. If the person is alone, the Institute says to get into a comfortable position and wait for help. A light blanket over the body is reasonable, but do not move someone who may have a head, neck or back injury.
When should you call 911 after a fall?
Call 911 or the local emergency number if you see any of the signs below. They come from MedlinePlus’s first aid pages on head injuries and broken bones.
| What you see | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| The person is unconscious, even briefly, or is not responding | MedlinePlus lists loss of consciousness, even for a short time, as a reason to get medical help right away. |
| Confusion, unusual sleepiness, speech that does not make sense, or a seizure | These are listed signs of a serious head injury. |
| Severe headache or stiff neck, unequal pupils, vomiting more than once | Also on the head injury warning list. |
| They cannot move an arm or leg, or have numbness or weakness | Could mean a head, neck, spine or other serious injury. |
| A suspected broken bone in the head, neck or back, or in the hip, pelvis or upper leg | MedlinePlus says to call emergency help for these. |
| Severe bleeding, or skin below an injured joint that is pale, cold, clammy or blue | Signs of serious blood loss or poor circulation. |
| They cannot get up on their own and are hurt | The Institute on Aging says to ask someone for help or call 911. |
Should you help a senior up after a fall?
Only if they are not hurt and they can do most of it themselves. MedlinePlus says not to move the person unless absolutely necessary when a head or serious injury is possible, and to let the medical team take over if help is coming quickly.
If there is no sign of serious injury and the person feels able to get up, the National Institute on Aging describes this method for the person on the floor:
- Roll onto the side, then rest again while the body and blood pressure adjust.
- Slowly come up on hands and knees and crawl to a sturdy chair.
- Put both hands on the seat of the chair and slide one foot forward so it is flat on the floor. Keep the other knee on the floor.
- Slowly rise and turn to sit in the chair.
You can stand beside the person, give them something to hold and talk them through each step. Do not pull on an arm. If they are dizzy, in pain or cannot do a step, stop and call 911 instead.
What if they hit their head or take blood thinners?
MedlinePlus warns that symptoms of a head injury can show up right away or slowly over several hours or days, and that the head may look fine while there is bleeding or swelling inside the skull. A chronic subdural hematoma is more common in older adults and can follow a minor head injury, and it may go unnoticed for many days. MedlinePlus lists blood-thinning medicines such as warfarin or aspirin among the things that raise the risk of a subdural hematoma.
So tell the doctor about any fall that involved the head, and about any blood thinner the person takes, even if the person feels fine. Watch for drowsiness, confusion, headache, changes in memory or walking, weakness, nausea or vomiting, vision problems and changes in behavior, and get medical help right away if they appear.
What should you do in the hours and days after a fall?
The National Institute on Aging says to tell the doctor about every fall since the last check-up, even if there was no pain, because a fall can point to a new medical problem or an issue with medications or eyesight that can be fixed. The doctor may suggest physical therapy, a walking aid or other steps.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Right away | Check for injury, call 911 if any warning sign applies, keep the person calm and covered with a light blanket. |
| Same day | Call the doctor, even with no pain. Mention head contact, blood thinners, dizziness and what the person was doing when they fell. |
| Next several days | Watch for new confusion, headache, sleepiness, vomiting, weakness or trouble walking. These can appear late. |
| Within the next weeks | Ask about a medication review, vision and hearing checks, physical therapy and an assistive device. |
| If the person has home care | Tell the agency the same day so the nurse or coordinator can review the care plan. |
How can you lower the chance of another fall at home?
More than one in four people age 65 or older fall each year, according to the National Institute on Aging, and many falls can be prevented. Its advice includes exercise for balance and strength, having eyes and hearing checked, learning the side effects of medicines (tell a doctor or pharmacist if one causes sleepiness or dizziness), using a cane or walker that is the right size, and making the home safer. A well-charged phone kept within reach, daily contact with family or a friend, or an emergency response button or smartwatch gives the person a way to call for help.
Help in the home can cover the daily tasks that lead to falls, such as getting in and out of the shower or standing up from bed. Our guides to in-home care, personal care services and therapy at home describe what is available. Conditions that affect balance, such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke recovery and dementia, call for a plan built around them.
We are a licensed home care agency in Brooklyn and Queens, New York State Department of Health licence #2572L001. If a fall has made your family wonder about extra help at home, call (718) 232-2777 or use our contact page. We will talk through what is needed and what is not.
This page is general information and not medical advice, and in an emergency you should call 911. Everything above was checked on 9 October 2026 against the National Institute on Aging’s falls and fractures page and MedlinePlus’s head injury, broken bone and subdural hematoma pages. CDC pages blocked our automated access and are not cited.
Frequently asked questions
Should I immediately help a senior up after they fall?
No. First check for injury, and call 911 if there are signs of a head, neck, back, hip or other serious injury. If the person is not hurt, help them get up slowly using the roll, hands-and-knees and sturdy-chair method from the National Institute on Aging.
When should I call 911 after an elderly person falls?
Call if they lost consciousness, are confused or very sleepy, have a severe headache, vomit more than once, cannot move a limb, may have broken a bone in the head, neck, back, hip or pelvis, are bleeding heavily, or cannot get up and are hurt.
What if the senior says they are fine and refuses help?
Stay calm and keep them seated or lying in a comfortable position while you check for pain, injury and confusion. If you see any warning sign, call 911. Either way, tell their doctor, because the National Institute on Aging says to report every fall even when there was no pain.
Why does a fall need to be reported if nothing hurts?
A fall can signal a new medical problem or an issue with medicines or eyesight that can be corrected, and the doctor may suggest physical therapy or a walking aid. Head injuries in older adults can also cause problems hours or days later.
Is a blow to the head more dangerous for someone on blood thinners?
MedlinePlus lists blood-thinning medicines such as warfarin or aspirin as a risk factor for subdural hematoma, a bleed around the brain that older adults can develop after even a minor head injury. Tell the doctor about the fall and the medicine, and watch for new drowsiness, confusion or headache.
What should I tell the doctor after a fall?
Where and when it happened, what the person was doing, whether they hit their head, any dizziness or pain, any new confusion, and every medicine they take, including blood thinners.
