What To Do If You Find An Elderly Person On The Floor?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  1. Stay calm and help your loved one to remain calm by encouraging them to take slow, deep breaths.
  2. Examine them for injuries like bruises, bleeding, possible sprains and broken bones.
  3. Ask them if they are experiencing any pain, where it is located and how severe it is.

What is the first thing you should do if you find someone has fallen?

Look closely how they have fallen and carefully put them into the recovery position to keep their airway clear. They are not breathing:

start CPR immediately and act

according to your organisation’s emergency policy. Request a defibrillator immediately if there is one available.

What to do if a patient is found on the floor?

Stay with the patient and call for help.

Check the patient’s breathing, pulse, and blood pressure

. If the patient is unconscious, not breathing, or does not have a pulse, call a hospital emergency code and start CPR. Check for injury, such as cuts, scrapes, bruises, and broken bones.

What should a CNA do if a patient falls?


Do not leave a fallen patient alone

. Instead, call out for help. Never move a patient who has fallen without approval from a nurse or doctor. Fill out required witness statement paperwork.

How do you respond to a fall?

  1. reassuring the patient.
  2. calling for assistance.
  3. checking for injury.
  4. providing treatment as indicated.
  5. assessing vital signs and neurological observations.
  6. notifying medical officer and nurse in charge.
  7. notifying next of kin.

How long do seniors live after a fall?

Cheng’s team found that

approximately 4.5 percent of elderly patients (70 years and above) died

following a ground-level fall, compared to 1.5 percent of non-elderly patients.

What to watch for after an elderly person falls?

  • An assessment for underlying new illness. …
  • A blood pressure and pulse reading when sitting, and when standing. …
  • Blood tests. …
  • Medications review. …
  • Gait and balance. …
  • Vitamin D level. …
  • Evaluation for underlying heart conditions or neurological conditions.

When would someone falling become a cause for concern?


Any fall that results in an injury is cause

for concern, no matter how minor, and should receive treatment immediately. Injuries can appear small at first, but gradual or sudden changes in health or behavior are significant signs that an injury is worth a closer look.

What drugs increase the risk of falling?

  • Anti-anxiety drugs, such as diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan)
  • Diphenhydramine (Benadryl), an older antihistamine. …
  • Prescription medications to treat overactive bladder, such as oxybu-tynin (Ditropan) and tolterodine (Detrol).
  • Tricyclic antidepressants.

What do you do if you fall into a care home?

Ask to see the existing Falls Risk Assessment(s) and insist that

the care home revisit

this immediately (if they have not done so) and implement better protective measures. Raise any concerns you have with the care home manager. Don’t wait for an inevitable accident to happen, as it could be too late.

Is lowering a patient to the floor considered a fall?

Lowering a Patient to the Floor. A patient

may fall while ambulating or being transferred

from one surface to another. If a patient begins to fall from a standing position, do not attempt to stop the fall or catch the patient.

What should I watch after a fall?

  • Severe or lingering pain.
  • Headaches.
  • Obvious swelling.
  • Ringing in the ears.
  • Bruising.
  • Loss of balance.
  • Dizziness.
  • Back pain.

How do you make someone comfortable after a fall?

The first step is to

encourage them to sit upright

. Ensure they do this slowly and then remain seated for a minute or two to ensure they don’t get dizzy. Next, encourage them to lean forwards and get onto all fours. Once they’re on all fours, place a sturdy chair or stool directly in front on them.

How do you assess falls in the elderly?

Systematic reviews have identified several tools to assess the risk of falls, including the

Tinetti Gait and Balance Assessment Tool

, the Berg Balance Scale, the Timed Up and Go test, and the one-legged and tandem stance assessments.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.