Why Does my elderly parent keep falling?
Why does my Relative keep falling?
If your elderly parent keeps falling, there is often more than one contributing factor.
Reduced strength and balance, medication side effects, poor eyesight, dizziness, foot problems, hazards around the home and underlying health conditions can all increase someone’s risk.
Although falls become more common with age, they should not be dismissed as an inevitable part of getting older. A thorough assessment can identify potentially treatable causes and guide practical steps to improve safety, mobility and confidence.
Learn more about our falls prevention physiotherapy service here.
Identify your own personal risk of falling
Take our FREE falls risk self-assessment to identify your own personal risk rating.
1. Reduced Strength, Balance & Mobility
One of the most common causes of falls in older people is a gradual loss of muscle strength and balance. Everyday activities such as standing from a chair, climbing stairs or correcting a stumble can become more difficult.
This may happen slowly with age, but it can also follow an illness, operation, hospital stay or period of reduced activity. Joint pain, arthritis, stroke, Parkinson’s disease and other conditions affecting movement can also make walking less steady.
You might notice your relative:
- Holding onto furniture when walking
- Struggling to stand from a chair
- Walking more slowly or taking shorter steps
- Avoiding stairs or outdoor activities
- Becoming tired after short distances
These changes can be easy to overlook, but they may indicate that your relative no longer has the strength or balance needed to recover safely from a trip or loss of footing.
2. Health Conditions, Dizziness and Confusion
Sometimes an older person falls because of an underlying health problem. Low blood pressure can cause dizziness or light-headedness, particularly when getting out of bed or standing from a chair. Heart problems, diabetes, infections and conditions affecting the nervous system can also contribute to unsteadiness.
Changes in memory or thinking may increase the risk further. Someone living with dementia or temporary confusion may misjudge hazards, forget to use their walking aid or try to move without asking for help.
Falls that happen without an obvious trip or slip should not be ignored. Your relative should speak to a healthcare professional if they experience repeated dizziness, blackouts, sudden confusion, new weakness or unexplained falls.
3. Medication and Its Side Effects
Some medicines can cause side effects that make falls more likely, including drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, confusion or a drop in blood pressure. The risk can be greater when someone takes several different medicines or has recently started a new prescription.
Medicines used for sleep, pain, anxiety, depression, blood pressure and heart conditions are among those that may sometimes affect balance or alertness. However, prescribed medication should never be stopped or changed without professional advice.
If your elderly parent has started falling more frequently, consider whether this began after a change to their medication. A GP or pharmacist can review what they are taking, check for side effects and decide whether any adjustments are appropriate.
4. Eyesight, Footwear and Hazards Around the Home
Not every fall is caused by poor balance. Changes in eyesight can make it difficult to see steps, judge distances or notice objects on the floor. Hearing and inner-ear problems may also affect balance.
Loose rugs, trailing cables, poor lighting, clutter and slippery bathroom floors can then turn a small loss of balance into a fall. Poorly fitting shoes, backless slippers and walking in socks can make someone less stable, while an incorrectly adjusted walking stick or frame may provide less support than expected.
Falls often have several causes rather than one simple explanation. For example, someone with weaker legs may remain safe in a familiar environment until poor lighting, unsuitable footwear or dizziness increases the challenge.
Understanding why your relative is falling is the first step.
5. Dizziness causing unsteadiness and falls
If your elderly parent is feeling dizzy as well as falling, it is important not to dismiss this as simply part of getting older. Dizziness can make someone feel unsteady, light-headed or as though the room is spinning, and can significantly increase their risk of falling.
One common cause is a drop in blood pressure when standing up, known as postural or orthostatic hypotension. This can cause light-headedness, blurred vision or weakness when getting out of bed, rising from a chair or standing after sitting for a while. Dehydration and some medications can make this more likely.
Medication can also contribute to dizziness and falls, particularly when someone takes several different medicines. Blood-pressure medication, sedatives and some antidepressants are among the medicines that can affect blood pressure, alertness or balance. A GP or pharmacist can review medications if dizziness or falls have become a problem — prescribed medication should not be stopped without appropriate medical advice.
Another possibility is vertigo, where someone experiences a spinning or moving sensation despite being stationary. A common cause in older adults is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), a condition affecting the vestibular system of the inner ear. BPPV typically causes short episodes of vertigo triggered by movements such as rolling over in bed, looking upwards, bending down or getting in and out of bed. It can often be assessed and treated using specific positional tests and repositioning manoeuvres.
Other vestibular (inner-ear) problems can also affect the brain’s ability to determine where the body is in space, resulting in dizziness, poor balance and increased falls risk.
If dizziness is new, persistent, worsening or associated with repeated falls, it is worth seeking medical assessment to establish the cause. Sudden severe dizziness accompanied by symptoms such as new weakness, facial drooping, difficulty speaking, severe headache, chest pain or loss of consciousness requires urgent medical attention.
The next is addressing the risks that can be changed. In our next guide, “How Can I Stop My Elderly Relative From Falling?”, we explain the practical steps that can improve strength, make the home safer and reduce the likelihood of another fall.
If you, or a relative, are concerned about falls in Worcester Park, Epsom & Ewell, Stoneleigh or Cheam then contact Bee Mobile Physiotherapy to discuss how home-based rehabilitation could help.
F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
Repeated falls are often caused by a combination of factors, including reduced strength, poor balance, medication side effects, dizziness, eyesight problems and hazards around the home. A professional falls assessment can help identify the specific causes affecting your parent.
There is no fixed date.
Falls become more common with age, but they should not be considered an inevitable part of getting older. Many risk factors can be treated or reduced through strength and balance exercises, medication reviews, eyesight checks and changes to the home environment.
Some medicines can contribute to falls by causing dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, blurred vision or low blood pressure. The risk may be higher when several medicines are taken together. A GP or pharmacist can complete a medication review, but prescribed medication should not be stopped without professional advice.
Seek medical advice if your relative is falling repeatedly, cannot explain why they fell, feels dizzy or experiences new weakness or confusion. Urgent help may be needed after a head injury, loss of consciousness, severe pain or an inability to stand or bear weight following a fall.
Yes. Physiotherapy can identify problems with strength, balance, walking and confidence that may be increasing someone’s risk of falling. A physiotherapist can then provide a personalised exercise programme, assess walking aids and recommend practical ways to help the person move more safely at home.