Dad Is Having Falls! What Do I Do?
It’s hard knowing how to handle the various challenges which occur when caring for a loved one who has balance issues and have a history of falls. It is like living on the edge of your seat, waiting for the next call telling you that your loved one has fallen again and injured themself.
One of the callers into the podcast voiced that concern. Dad had already fallen in the bathroom when toileting and had to be taken to the emergency room to be checked out after hitting his head on the floor and becoming unconscious for a few minutes. Thankfully X-rays and CT scan showed no serious injuries. The problem now is that Dad is being sent back home into an environment that will likely result in him having another fall.
Dad’s falls have primarily occurred in the bathroom, so the immediate need is to make Dad’s trips into the bathroom safer:
1. We first do that by assessing his footwear, make sure that he is wearing rubber-soled enclosed shoes, slip ons are easy, no laces. He may be wearing socks and sliding when he steps onto the slick floor in the bathroom with causes him to lose his balance. Non-skid socks are also an option.
2. If he uses a walking device, like a walker or cane, make sure he has it with him. Remove any throw rugs with may be causing him to trip.
3. Check to see if the toilet is too low, it can cause him to lose his balance when struggling to get up off the toilet. A quick fix for this is to place a toilet riser with armrests on the toilet or place a bedside commode frame over the toilet to increase the height. (Amazon Affiliate links to these devices are listed below).
4. Have a grab bar installed on a wall for him to hold onto while he is standing and fastening/ unfastening his clothes. Make sure it is at the proper height and secured properly. Do not use suction grab bars.
5. Proper lighting is also a consideration, make sure dad can see where he is going in the bathroom.
6. Provide supervision whenever he enters the bathroom, this is the least favorite option.
These are only a few recommendations to improve safety with toileting and they all may not apply to your particular situation. A visit to the doctor to determine if falls a possible medical reason for the falls exists, also check to see if dad can benefit from Home Health or Outpatient OT and PT . It is imperative that you are proactive in ensuring that fall risks in the home had been minimized. If they persist, it’s only a matter of time before a major injury occurs.
Consuela Marshall, Occupational Therapist, Caregiver
Listen to the Caregiver’s Finding A Foothold Episode 33 Dad is Having Falls and Mom is Making Demands. The podcast is available on the FindingAFoothold.com website and on all major podcast streaming sites.
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Disclaimer: The podcast and blog are intended to provide basic information so that you can become a more informed caregiver. The information presented is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not meant to serve as medical advice or replace consultation with any health care providers you regularly engage with. Transmission or receipt of any of this information is not intended to, and does not, create a therapist-patient relationship. This information is not provided in the course of a therapist-patient relationship and is not intended to constitute medical advice or to substitute for obtaining medical advice from a physician or therapist licensed in the state where your family may reside. We encourage everyone to consult with your physician or therapist to see if they are appropriate and safe for you.