What is a hip fracture, and why is it serious?
A hip fracture is a break in the top of the thigh bone, close to the hip joint. It usually follows a fall in an older adult, and it almost always needs surgery. The surgery may pin the bone, replace the top of the thigh bone, or replace the whole joint.
Falls are a serious worldwide problem. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates about 842,000 deaths from falls in 2023, around 71% of them among adults aged 60 and over [1]. That is why recovery after a hip fracture is about more than the bone: it is about strength, balance and preventing the next fall.
What does rehab aim for?
The goal is to get your parent safely back to the life they had: getting out of bed, using the toilet, walking to the table, perhaps even the morning walk. Walking aids may be part of it.
Aims are practical, and we agree them with you and your parent. They might be “stand at the bed”, “walk to the bathroom with a frame” and “climb the two steps at the front door”. Each goal is tested and moved forward as strength returns.
What happens in the first weeks at home?
Older adults leave hospital before they feel ready. At home we see the bedroom, the bathroom, the steps and the lighting. We also meet the helper or family member who will be there every day.
- We read the discharge summary and the surgeon’s rules.
- We practise getting in and out of bed safely.
- We build up standing, with support.
- We add short walks with a frame or stick.
- We teach the helper how to guide without pulling.
Our guide to the first week home after a hip fracture and the after-hospital discharge checklist lay out what to prepare. The guide on continuing hospital physio at home explains how we pick up from the ward.
How do we lower the chance of another fall?
The fall that broke the hip had a cause: weak legs, poor balance, a wet floor, bad lighting, a loose rug or a medicine side effect. We look for it. Cochrane reviewers found that exercise reduced the rate of falls in older people living in the community by 23% [2].
Our plan includes balance and leg-strength work, and home changes that match what we see. The falls risk self-check helps the family start, and the page on balance and falls goes further. A hip fracture can also be a sign of weak bones, so we suggest asking the doctor about osteoporosis.
How can the family help?
The family sets the tone. Gentle encouragement beats pressure, and routines beat heroic days.
- Keep a simple daily routine of short walks and sit-to-stand practice, as agreed.
- Make the bathroom safe, with a firm seat, good light and non-slip surfaces.
- Offer protein-rich meals and fluids, and check with the doctor about medicines.
- Praise effort, and tell us about changes in mood, memory or appetite.
- Look after yourself too, because tired carers cannot guide safely.
If your parent also has memory problems, read our page on dementia and mobility.
When should you call the doctor or go to hospital?
Call the surgeon if the wound leaks or opens, the area is hot and red, or there is fever. Go to the emergency department after a new fall with hip pain, or if the leg looks shorter or turned out. Also go for chest pain, breathlessness, or a swollen, painful calf.
Sudden confusion or drowsiness needs a doctor the same day.
Tell us afterwards so we can adjust the plan.
Home visit or Canning Garden centre?
Home visits across Ipoh are available now, and suit the recovery weeks when travel is tiring. Our Canning Garden centre near Fatimah Hospital is opening soon, and may suit your parent later if they can travel comfortably.
Prices differ for home and centre, and we give a quote on WhatsApp after a short description. Read about older adult rehabilitation and, if your parent is mostly in bed, bedridden patient physiotherapy.