The short answer
- Know the 999 signs before you need themA hit to the head, severe pain, being unable to get up at all, or new confusion all mean call 999 straight away.
- Never lift someone off the floor yourselfThe NHS advises helping them get up carefully if they can, not lifting them, and calling 999 if they cannot move under their own power.
- Most of the risk sits in ordinary thingsPoor lighting, loose rugs, the wrong footwear and a medication review that is overdue account for more falls than anything dramatic.
- One fall roughly doubles the chance of a second oneThat makes prevention worth doing properly, and a GP referral to a falls prevention service is free.
This guide is not a substitute for medical advice. If you are ever unsure after a fall, ring 111 or, for anything serious, 999.
Why this matters
Why falls are worth taking seriously, not just worrying about
Falls are common in later life, and they are also the leading cause of emergency hospital admission for injury in people over 65. Neither of those facts is a reason to panic, but together they are a reason to have a plan before you need one.
1 in 3
people aged 65 and over fall at least once a year
Rising to about 1 in 2 over the age of 80.
220,000
emergency hospital admissions a year in England for falls in people 65+
More than half of all accidental injury admissions in this age group.
£2.3bn
the estimated annual cost of falls to the NHS
NICE quality standard on falls, updated 2025.
Gov.uk, Falls: applying All Our Health; NICE quality standard QS86.
Most falls cause nothing worse than a fright and a bruise. A smaller number cause a fracture, most often of the hip or wrist, and it is that smaller number that drives the hospital admission figures above. Either way, a fall is usually the moment a family first realises their parent needs more support than they are currently getting, which is why it is worth reading this alongside caring for a parent more broadly rather than treating it as a one-off event to get past.
What causes a fall
The personal and home risk factors behind most falls
The cause is rarely one dramatic thing. It is usually two or three ordinary factors overlapping: a person who is a little less steady than they used to be, in a home with one or two hazards nobody has got around to fixing.
Medication and health
Eyesight, hearing and hydration
Footwear and clothing
Lighting and floors
Clutter and reach
Grab rails and aids
Some of this is a conversation rather than a fix: talking to your parent about which of these apply to them can be difficult, but it is the only way to know where to start. If arthritis, Parkinson's or MS is part of the picture, Parkinson's care and MS care go further into how those conditions affect mobility specifically.
In the first few minutes
What to do when your parent has just fallen
The first job is working out how urgent this is. The three tiers below cover most situations; read from the top and stop at the first one that applies.
Step 1
Call 999
If any of these are true:
- They hit their head, or you cannot be sure they did not
- They are in severe pain, or cannot move an arm, leg or hip normally
- They cannot get up at all, even with your help
- They seem confused in a way that is new, or are struggling to breathe
- There is heavy bleeding, or you suspect a broken bone
Step 2
Call 111, or use 111 online
If none of the above, but:
- They are in pain or seem unwell, even though they can move
- They cannot tell you why they fell
- They felt dizzy, faint or unsteady just before it happened
- You are simply not sure what to do next
Step 3
Help them up yourself
Only if all of these are true:
- They are not hurt and feel steady enough to try
- They can follow what you are saying and answer normally
- There is a stable chair or bed nearby and you know the steps below
If they are hurt or cannot get up, keep them warm with a blanket or coat, especially over their legs and feet, and stay with them or make sure they can attract attention until help arrives. The NHS has fuller guidance on falls, including how to use 111 online if you would rather not call.
Injuries and confidence
What a fall does, beyond the injury itself
Most falls cause minor injuries such as cuts and bruises that heal on their own. A smaller share cause a fracture, and almost every fall, whatever the physical damage, leaves some effect on confidence.
| What happens | What tends to help | |
|---|---|---|
| Minor injury (most falls) | Cuts, bruises or a knock that is sore for a few days | Clean any cuts, watch for bruising that spreads or worsens, and mention it to the GP at the next appointment. |
| Fracture (around 1 in 20 falls) | A break, most often to the hip or wrist, usually needing hospital treatment | Recovery is often slow, particularly for a hip fracture, and physiotherapy and a period of extra care at home are both normal parts of it. |
| Loss of confidence (very common) | A parent who becomes afraid of falling again, and starts moving less as a result | Acknowledging the fear rather than dismissing it, and staying gently active rather than resting completely, both help. A GP can also refer to a falls prevention service. |
Minor injury (most falls)
- What happens
- Cuts, bruises or a knock that is sore for a few days
- What tends to help
- Clean any cuts, watch for bruising that spreads or worsens, and mention it to the GP at the next appointment.
Fracture (around 1 in 20 falls)
- What happens
- A break, most often to the hip or wrist, usually needing hospital treatment
- What tends to help
- Recovery is often slow, particularly for a hip fracture, and physiotherapy and a period of extra care at home are both normal parts of it.
Loss of confidence (very common)
- What happens
- A parent who becomes afraid of falling again, and starts moving less as a result
- What tends to help
- Acknowledging the fear rather than dismissing it, and staying gently active rather than resting completely, both help. A GP can also refer to a falls prevention service.
Reduced activity after a fall is understandable, but it lowers strength and balance further and can raise the risk of a second fall. This is worth watching for as closely as the physical injury.
If the room the fall happened in still worries your parent, walking through it together and fixing whatever caused it, a loose rug, poor lighting, a missing grab rail, does more for their confidence than reassurance alone. The NHS has advice on overcoming a fear of falling if this becomes a bigger problem than the fall itself. If the fall happened in the bathroom, bathing and toileting goes further into making that room safer day to day.
Preventing another fall
Lowering the risk of it happening again
A first fall roughly doubles the chance of a second one, which is what makes prevention worth doing properly rather than hoping it was a one-off.
Worth checking after any fall, or before one
0 of 6 ticked
Your parent
The home
Getting help
Who to contact for equipment, assessments and extra support
Reducing the risk of a fall is rarely something one person has to do alone. Different parts of it sit with different services, and most of them are free to ask about.
| Who to contact | What they help with | |
|---|---|---|
| GP or falls prevention service | Ask your GP, or self-refer where available | A falls risk assessment covering balance, gait and medication, and referral to strength and balance classes. |
| Council occupational therapist | Ask your local council for an assessment | Grab rails, a raised toilet seat and similar equipment, free of charge once assessed regardless of income. |
| A paid carer | Search carers near your parent | Visits at the times a fall is most likely, such as first thing in the morning or after dark, from £18 to £25 an hour with our fee included. |
GP or falls prevention service
- Who to contact
- Ask your GP, or self-refer where available
- What they help with
- A falls risk assessment covering balance, gait and medication, and referral to strength and balance classes.
Council occupational therapist
- Who to contact
- Ask your local council for an assessment
- What they help with
- Grab rails, a raised toilet seat and similar equipment, free of charge once assessed regardless of income.
A paid carer
- Who to contact
- Search carers near your parent
- What they help with
- Visits at the times a fall is most likely, such as first thing in the morning or after dark, from £18 to £25 an hour with our fee included.
Council equipment assessments are free regardless of savings or income. A GP falls assessment is free through the NHS.
To ask for an equipment or home safety assessment, contact your council through GOV.UK. Mobility and falls care covers in more detail what a carer does day to day to help someone stay steady, and if the fall happened around a hospital stay, what to do when the person you care for is leaving hospital covers that transition specifically. Getting help with mornings and evenings, the two times a fall is most likely, is covered in how many visits a week does my parent need, and you can search vetted carers near your parent whenever you are ready.
Questions
Questions families ask about falls
About one in three people aged 65 and over falls at least once a year, rising to around one in two people over 80. Falls are also the leading cause of emergency hospital admission for injury in this age group, so it is a common experience rather than a sign that something has gone badly wrong.
Call 999 if they hit their head, are in severe pain, cannot move a limb normally, cannot get up at all, or seem newly confused. Call 111, or use 111 online, if they are in pain or seem unwell but none of those signs apply, or if you simply are not sure what to do. The NHS has full guidance on falls.
Only if they are not hurt and feel able to try: help them roll onto their hands and knees, then guide them towards a stable chair or bed and let them push themselves up at their own pace using their arms. Never try to lift them yourself. If they cannot manage this, stop and call 111 or 999.
A combination of personal factors, such as medication side effects, poor eyesight or hearing, dehydration and unsuitable footwear, and home hazards such as poor lighting, loose rugs, clutter and missing grab rails. Conditions like arthritis, Parkinson's disease and MS also increase the risk directly.
Very often, yes. A fear of falling again is common even after a minor fall, and it can lead to someone moving less, which then weakens their strength and balance further. Talking about the fear rather than dismissing it, fixing whatever caused the fall, and staying gently active all help. Caring for a parent covers the wider adjustment as needs change.
Ask your local council for a care needs or equipment assessment. An occupational therapist visits, looks at where your parent struggles, and can arrange grab rails, a raised toilet seat or similar equipment free of charge, whatever their income or savings.
A specialist NHS team that assesses balance, gait and medication together and can offer strength and balance classes. Ask your GP for a referral, or check whether your area accepts self-referral. NICE's guideline on falls sets out what a thorough assessment covers.
Yes. A carer can cover the times of day a fall is most likely, such as getting up in the morning or moving around after dark, and can notice small changes in balance or confidence before they lead to a fall. Search vetted carers near your parent to see who is available.