My Parent Is Falling More Often
Falls are rarely just about balance. A pattern of falls almost always signals an underlying medical, medication, or environmental change that deserves professional attention.
Overview
Any fall in an older adult is considered a sentinel event — clinical shorthand for a warning sign that something has shifted. One in four Arizonans over 65 falls each year, and a single fall doubles the risk of another within twelve months. The good news: most fall risk factors are identifiable and modifiable when addressed early.
Clinical explanation, in family-friendly language
Recurrent falls are most often multifactorial — meaning several small issues are stacking up. Common contributors include orthostatic hypotension (blood pressure drops when standing), polypharmacy (typically five or more medications), sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss), vitamin D deficiency, undiagnosed peripheral neuropathy, and early cognitive changes affecting judgment. A proper geriatric fall assessment looks at all of these together, not just the fall itself.
Common warning signs
- Two or more falls (or near-falls) in the past six months
- Grabbing furniture or walls to move through the home
- New fear of standing up, walking, or going outside
- Bruising your parent can't explain or is reluctant to discuss
- Difficulty rising from a chair without using their arms
- Shuffling gait, wide stance, or new unsteadiness on turns
Frequently asked questions
Should we go to the ER after every fall?
Any fall involving a head strike, loss of consciousness, blood thinners, or pain that persists warrants immediate evaluation. Otherwise, schedule a same-week visit with their primary care provider and request a formal fall risk assessment.
Is a walker or cane admitting defeat?
The opposite. Properly fitted mobility aids reduce fall risk by up to 50%. What matters is that the device is prescribed and fitted — an ill-fitting cane from a garage sale can increase risk.
Could their medications be causing this?
Very often, yes. Sleep aids, antihistamines, certain blood pressure medications, and some antidepressants are frequent culprits. Ask their pharmacist or provider for a Beers Criteria medication review.
When to seek professional guidance
- After any second fall within six months
- When falls are accompanied by new confusion or memory changes
- When you're modifying your own schedule to check on them more often
- When they've stopped doing activities they used to enjoy out of fear
Care options to consider
- In-home safety evaluation and durable medical equipment
- Home health physical therapy for gait and balance training
- Non-medical home care for supervision during high-risk times of day
- Assisted living when 24-hour proximity to help becomes necessary
Arizona-specific resources
- Arizona Department of Health Services — Falls Prevention Coalition
- Area Agency on Aging (Region One serves Maricopa County) — free home safety assessments
- ALTCS — may cover in-home caregiver hours after clinical eligibility
Suggested next steps
- 1Document the last three falls: when, where, what they were doing, how they felt beforehand
- 2Request a medication review with their pharmacist
- 3Schedule a Timed Up-and-Go test at their next PCP visit
- 4Speak with an AdvaCare navigator about a professional home safety walkthrough
You don't have to figure this out alone.
An AdvaCare navigator will listen, translate the clinical picture into plain language, and help you decide what to do next — at no cost.
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