Life Event

After a Fall Checklist

23 items across Safety, Wellness, and Connection

Why This Matters

A fall is frightening, but it is also a turning point. What you do in the days and weeks after a fall determines whether it becomes a one-time event or the beginning of a pattern. Families who use a fall as a catalyst to assess and improve home safety see dramatically fewer repeat falls. This checklist covers the three things that matter most: making the home safer, supporting recovery, and coordinating as a family.

Safety Checklist

Check for injuries: bruising, swelling, pain, confusion, or difficulty moving

Immediate

If there is any head impact, seek medical evaluation within 24 hours (even if they seem fine)

Immediate

Document where the fall happened and what they were doing

Immediate

Run a SeniorThrive Home Safety Check on the room where the fall occurred

Day 1

Remove or secure throw rugs in the fall area and all pathways

Day 1

Install grab bars near the toilet, shower entry, and inside the tub/shower

Week 1

Add nightlights along the path from bedroom to bathroom

Week 1

Ensure handrails are present and sturdy on ALL stairs (both sides if possible)

Week 1

Check that frequently used items (dishes, clothes, toiletries) are within arm's reach

Week 1

Evaluate footwear: replace worn soles, avoid slippers without backs, consider non-slip shoes

Week 1

Wellness Checklist

Schedule a follow-up doctor visit within 1 week, even if the ER cleared them

Week 1

Request a fall risk assessment at the doctor visit (Medicare covers this)

Week 1

Ask the doctor to review ALL medications for dizziness, drowsiness, or blood pressure side effects

Week 1

Get a vision check if it has been more than a year

Month 1

Ask about physical therapy for balance and strength (the single most effective fall prevention)

Week 1

Monitor for signs of fear of falling: avoiding activities, reluctance to move, staying in one room

Ongoing

Encourage gentle movement as soon as safely possible (immobility after a fall increases deconditioning)

Week 1

Connection Checklist

Notify all family members involved in care, not just the primary caregiver

Immediate

Have a family conversation about what happened without blame or panic

Week 1

Set up daily check-ins via SeniorThrive so everyone can see how recovery is going

Day 1

Discuss whether current care arrangements are sufficient or need adjustment

Week 1

If your parent lives alone, discuss a medical alert device or wearable (not as punishment, but as a safety tool)

Week 1

Agree on who will handle follow-up appointments and home modifications

Week 1

What to Do Next

A fall is a signal, not a sentence. Most falls are preventable once you understand what caused them. The combination of home modifications, medical follow-up, and family coordination is what prevents the second fall. Use this checklist as a starting point, then track progress over the next 30 days.

Professional Resources

Occupational therapist (home safety evaluation, covered by Medicare with referral). Physical therapist (balance and strength training). Primary care physician (medication review and fall risk screening). Geriatric care manager (if family needs help coordinating care).

Related Checklists

Bathroom Safety Stairway Safety Caregiver Self Care

Learn More

Fall Risk Assessment Grab Bars Activities Of Daily Living Home Modification

Track This Checklist (and More) in SeniorThrive

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