What should I do in the first hour after a fall?
Stay calm and keep her still for a minute. Ask what hurts, whether she hit her head, and whether she can move her arms and legs. Check that she is awake and speaking sensibly.
Call for emergency help if she hit her head, has severe pain, cannot move a limb or is confused. If she seems unhurt, help her up in stages: roll to the side, up on an elbow, onto hands and knees, then a sturdy chair. Our page on getting up from the floor shows the steps.
Which signs mean a hospital visit?
Go to an emergency department for a blow to the head, severe pain in the hip, back, wrist or shoulder, inability to put weight on a leg, or sudden confusion. Go too if she takes blood thinners, since bleeding can be slow.
A hairline fracture can look like a bad bruise. If you are unsure, a check at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun or a private hospital in Ipoh costs less than a missed fracture.
How common are falls, and what causes them?
About one in six older Malaysians fell at least once in a year, according to analyses of a national health survey [1]. So you are not alone, and a fall is not a sign that the family failed.
Balance, strength, eyesight, medicines that cause dizziness, loose slippers and a wet tiled floor after an afternoon shower can each play a part. The aim is to find which ones apply to her.
What happens in the days after?
Expect bruising and soreness for a few days. Rest as needed, but keep moving around the house, as lying in bed makes legs weaker. Watch for new pain, swelling, or a leg that looks shortened or turned.
Ask her doctor to review her medicines and eyes. Note where and when she fell, what she was doing and what she wore. That small record helps the physiotherapist more than “she just slipped”.
How does physiotherapy help after a fall?
A physiotherapist checks how she stands, turns, walks and gets up, and tests leg strength and balance. We look at the places in the house where it happened, from the bathroom to the porch step.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends tailored exercise that challenges balance and builds strength, with regular progression, to help prevent falls in older people living at home [2]. A home programme does that in her own space. Read about balance and falls in older Ipoh homes and our balance and falls rehabilitation page.
How do I rebuild her confidence?
Stay close without taking over. Walk with her, praise steady steps, and set one small goal, such as the walk to the letterbox. Avoid telling her to stay in a chair; inactivity raises the risk of the next fall.
Our guide on fear of falling goes further, and the falls risk self-check helps you spot risks. Learn how home physiotherapy in Ipoh works, and ask about our Canning Garden centre, which is opening soon.