What should you do in the first minutes after a fall?
Stay with your loved one, keep them as still as you can if you think they might be injured, and call 911 if they cannot get up, hit their head, lost consciousness, or you are unsure. Do not try to lift a person who is in pain, dizzy, or unable to help you. If you called for help, wait with them until emergency responders arrive.
If they are alert, not in obvious distress, and can stand with simple verbal guidance, help them rise slowly, sit in a stable chair, and rest. Write down the time, the room, what you saw, and any words they used. A person living with dementia may not remember the fall a few minutes later, so your notes matter when you speak with clinicians.
This page is not medical advice and does not diagnose injury. After the immediate crisis, contact their usual clinician or the emergency department that treated them for follow-up.
When should you seek emergency care?
Seek emergency care right away if your loved one hit their head, cannot get up, may have a broken bone, is bleeding you cannot control, had a seizure, has chest pain or trouble breathing, or is far more confused, drowsy, or agitated than their usual baseline. When you are not sure, treat it as an emergency and go to the nearest emergency department.
Falls can look minor at first. Someone living with dementia may walk a few steps and still have an injury they cannot describe. If they refuse care, stay with them, keep them from walking unassisted, and still call 911 if warning signs appear.
How does dementia change what happens after a fall?
Dementia changes what happens after a fall because it can impair memory, thinking, and daily function, so your loved one may not report pain, may not remember falling, and may need more help than usual while they recover.
Dementia is not a normal part of aging. The CDC's overview of dementia describes it as an impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with doing everyday activities.
San Diego is home to 196,289 residents aged 65 and over, 23,020 residents aged 85 and over, and 46,031 senior households where someone 65 or older lives alone, according to U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates. If your loved one lives alone, a fall may not be noticed quickly, and there may be no one to stay overnight after you leave the emergency department.
How can you arrange in-home dementia care quickly in San Diego?
You can arrange extra help at home by requesting in-home dementia care in San Diego as soon as the immediate medical crisis is stable. Families often need someone in the house the same week so the person who fell is not left alone, especially overnight.
We offer caregivers screened for dementia care experience. We share 3 to 5 video profiles within 48 hours, and families watch each caregiver's video interview before deciding whom to meet. The video interview is the proof of how that caregiver communicates and approaches the work.
Match the schedule to what the fall changed. Personal care can cover help with bathing, dressing, and safer mobility. Companion care can provide daytime presence so someone notices another stumble. If nights are the risk, 24-hour live-in care or memory care at home may fit better than short visits.
When you speak with any agency or independent caregiver, ask about background checks, licensing, and training. Those questions are reasonable for every hire. They are not a description of our screening process.
What support is needed after a hospital stay?
After an emergency visit or hospital stay, plan for extra help at home before discharge so someone is present for mobility, meals, and overnight safety. Ask the discharge team who will be in the house, how your loved one will get to follow-up visits, and whether skilled nursing or therapy will come to the home.
Medicare publishes rules for home health services coverage. When those rules are met, the benefit is still not the same as round-the-clock supervision. Pair any skilled visits with hospital discharge care so a caregiver is present between therapy appointments.
The National Institute on Aging explains that long-term care includes help with everyday activities such as bathing and dressing. Many families still need that kind of help after a fall even when skilled visits are brief.