Falls in Older Adults: Why They Matter and How to Reduce the Risk

When an older parent tells you they fell, “Are you hurt?” is an important question.

It just shouldn't be the only one.

A fall can result in fractures, head injuries and other physical harm. But even when there is no obvious serious injury, what happens afterwards can matter. Pain may make someone less willing to walk. Reduced activity can affect strength and confidence. And if nobody works out why the fall happened, the same risk may still be there.

So after a fall in an older adult, there are really two things to understand:

Did the fall cause an injury?

And:

Why did the fall happen in the first place?

Why Do Falls Become More Common With Age?

There often isn't one explanation.

Ageing can be accompanied by changes in muscle strength, balance, vision and mobility. Medical conditions can affect how steadily someone walks, while some medications may contribute to dizziness or other problems that increase fall risk.

Then there is the environment.

A loose rug that has been in the sitting room for ten years may suddenly matter more when someone's balance isn't what it used to be. The same applies to poor lighting, slippery bathroom floors, cluttered walkways, unsuitable footwear and stairs without adequate support.

This is why fall prevention isn't simply about telling an older person to “be careful.”

You need to understand what is making them more likely to fall.

After a Fall, Ask What Actually Happened

The circumstances around the fall can provide useful information.

Did they trip over an object?

Did they become dizzy before falling?

Did one leg suddenly feel weak?

Did they lose their balance?

Could they see clearly?

Has knee, hip or back pain changed the way they walk?

Have they fallen before?

A trip over an obvious obstacle may tell a different story from repeated unexplained falls.

If falls keep happening, medical assessment can help identify whether there are health, medication, mobility, vision or environmental factors that need attention.

Don't Only Ask Whether Anything Is Broken

An older adult may say they're fine because they didn't sustain an obvious fracture.

Watch what happens over the following hours and days too.

Are they walking normally?

Are they putting weight comfortably on both legs?

Has significant pain developed?

Are they unusually reluctant to move?

Did they hit their head?

Are there new symptoms that weren't present before the fall?

A change in mobility after a fall deserves attention even when there is no obvious external injury.

When Does a Fall Need Medical Attention?

Seek medical attention after a fall if the person has a significant injury, severe pain, difficulty bearing weight, loss of consciousness or concerning symptoms after hitting their head.

New confusion, weakness, significant changes in movement or other worrying symptoms should not simply be attributed to age.

Repeated falls also deserve medical attention, even when each individual fall appears relatively minor.

The aim isn't only to treat an injury. It's also to understand whether something is making the person more likely to fall again.

How Can You Make the Home Safer?

Some fall risks are surprisingly ordinary.

Walk through the home as though you're seeing it from the perspective of someone whose vision, balance or mobility has changed.

Look at:

• loose rugs and objects in walkways
• poor lighting, particularly around stairs and corridors
• slippery bathroom floors
• trailing electrical cables
• frequently used items stored somewhere difficult to reach
• stairs without appropriate support
• footwear that doesn't fit securely

The goal isn't to strip the home of everything familiar. It's to remove hazards that create unnecessary opportunities for a fall.

For an older parent who lives alone, this becomes even more important because nobody may be there when a fall happens.

Pay Attention to Changes in Strength and Mobility

Fall prevention also extends beyond the home.

Maintaining appropriate physical activity can help preserve strength, balance and mobility as people get older.

What is appropriate will vary considerably. Someone who is otherwise healthy will have different needs from someone living with significant arthritis, heart disease, a neurological condition or another medical problem.

If an older adult has become noticeably weaker, less steady or increasingly afraid of walking after a fall, that is worth discussing with a healthcare professional rather than simply encouraging them to “exercise more.”

One Fall Can Change Someone's Confidence

There is another consequence families sometimes miss.

After falling once, an older person may become afraid of falling again.

That fear can change behaviour. They may walk less, stop going outside alone, avoid stairs or depend more heavily on other people for activities they previously managed themselves.

So when checking on someone after a fall, ask about more than pain.

Ask whether they still feel confident moving around.

A noticeable reduction in activity after a fall can be worth addressing, particularly if it begins affecting independence.

If Your Parent Has Fallen More Than Once, Keep a Record

Patterns are easier to spot when the information isn't scattered across different family members.

For each fall, note:

• when and where it happened
• what the person was doing immediately beforehand
• whether they felt dizzy, weak or unwell
• whether they tripped
• any injury or pain afterwards
• whether they hit their head
• any recent medication changes
• whether their walking or mobility changed afterwards

Take that information to the healthcare professional assessing them.

It can provide much more context than simply saying, “Mum has fallen a few times.”

Caring for an Older Parent From Abroad?

Falls are particularly difficult to assess when you don't live in the same country as your parent.

“I'm fine” may be all you hear on the phone, while a sibling or neighbour has noticed that Mum now holds onto furniture when she walks.

Make sure someone nearby can check how your parent is moving after a fall and seek medical attention when necessary.

It also helps to have their hospital details, medication list, medical conditions and emergency contacts accessible to the people most likely to help.

Related article: Caring for Ageing Parents in Nigeria When You Live Abroad

Medical Care After a Fall in Ibadan

Banby Specialist Hospital provides medical and specialist care for older adults from its hospital in Akobo, Ibadan.

If a fall results in a bone or joint injury, Banby's orthopaedic service provides assessment and treatment, with X-ray services available within the hospital where clinically required.

For repeated or unexplained falls, the appropriate clinician can assess the circumstances and determine whether further investigation or specialist care is needed.

Book an Appointment

Call Banby Specialist Hospital