Learning
Falls in dementia
One in three older adults falls each year; people with dementia fall twice as often. Most falls are preventable — and how you respond matters as much as preventing them.
Updated 2026-02-27
Why dementia raises fall risk
- Slower reaction time and impaired depth perception.
- Medications — anticholinergics, sleep aids, blood-pressure meds that drop BP on standing.
- Visual-spatial problems — dark floors look like holes; rugs look like obstacles.
- Distraction — they may try to stand and walk while talking, eating, or carrying things.
- Pain, UTIs, dehydration all reduce balance.
What to do right after a fall
- Don't rush to help them up. Check for pain (hip, head, wrist), blood, and confusion.
- If unconscious, head-strike, blood thinner use, or visible deformity — call 911.
- Otherwise, help them slowly to a chair. Watch for next 24 hours for new headache, vomiting, sleepiness.
- Document what happened: time, place, what they were doing, shoes worn, lighting.
- Tell the doctor — repeat falls trigger geriatric assessment + PT referral, both Medicare-covered.
Prevent the next fall
- Lighting on all walking paths, motion sensors at night.
- Remove throw rugs. Tape down any rug you keep.
- Grab bars in bathroom and any frequent transfer area.
- Closed shoes with non-skid soles — never socks alone on hard floors.
- Hearing aids + glasses worn during the day. Falls cluster around sensory gaps.
- Vitamin D supplement — evidence supports for fall prevention in older adults.
- Annual PT eval — 'Otago' fall-prevention exercises cut fall risk by ~35%.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a hip protector helpful?
- Mixed evidence. Most don't reduce fractures in real-world wear, but they're harmless if your loved one tolerates them.
- Should we use a wheelchair to prevent falls?
- Often counterproductive — losing mobility accelerates decline. Walkers + supervision usually beat permanent wheelchair use.
Every dementia journey is different.
Memory Lane Care helps you understand what applies to your loved one, what to expect next, and which resources fit your family's situation.
Related across the journey
Memory Lane connects every part of dementia care. Here's how this topic threads into the rest.
Paying for Care
Treatments
Behavior Guidance
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