Why Does My Aging Parent Keep Falling, and What Should I Do About It?

Written by Ashlee Snyder, PT, DPT, OCS,

LHMPTI Linglestown Clinic Leader

If your aging parent has started falling, there is usually more than one factor involved. Changes in leg strength, balance, vision, sensation in the feet, medications, bathroom urgency, health conditions, fear of falling, and even the way the home is set up can all increase fall risk. The important thing to know is that falling should not simply be accepted as a normal part of getting older. A good next step is to talk with your parent’s healthcare provider, look for safety concerns at home, and consider a physical therapy evaluation to identify the specific factors that may be putting them at risk.

Falls are common among older adults. According to the National Council on Aging, about one in four Americans age 65 and older falls each year. Because so many different factors can contribute, preventing another fall usually starts with understanding what is happening for that individual person.

What can cause an older adult to fall?

Sometimes there is an obvious reason, such as tripping over a rug or missing a step. Other times, the cause is harder to identify.

Factors that may increase fall risk include:

Decreased strength in the legs

Changes in balance or walking

Reduced feeling in the feet

Changes in vision or hearing

Certain health conditions

Some medications

Frequent or urgent trips to the bathroom

Clutter, poor lighting, or other hazards at home

Fear of falling after a previous fall

These factors can also overlap. For example, someone with weaker legs may normally move around their home safely during the day, but getting up quickly and walking through a dark hallway to the bathroom at night may create a very different challenge. That is why looking at the whole picture matters.

What medications can increase the risk of falling?

Certain medications have been associated with a higher risk of falls in older adults. The CDC identifies several groups of medications that may contribute, including some anticonvulsants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, opioids, and sedative-hypnotic medications. This does not mean your parent should stop taking a medication because it appears on that list.

If you are concerned that medication may be contributing to dizziness, drowsiness, balance problems, or falls, talk with the healthcare professional who manages your parent’s medications. They can review whether the medication is still needed, whether another option may be appropriate, or whether the dose should be adjusted.

Medication changes should always be made under the guidance of the prescribing healthcare provider.

How can I make my parent’s home safer?

A safer home does not require changing everything at once. Start by looking closely at the places your parent uses most often and the routes they take throughout the day.

Consider questions such as: Is the path from the bedroom to the bathroom clear? Can they see well enough at night? Is there anything loose underfoot? Do they have something secure to hold onto where they need it?

Helpful changes may include:

Removing clutter from walking paths

Improving lighting throughout the home

Adding night lights in hallways and bathrooms

Removing loose throw rugs

Installing appropriate grab bars in the bathroom

Pay particular attention to places where your parent has already stumbled or where they seem hesitant. Those moments can provide useful clues about what is making movement harder.

What if my parent is afraid to walk after a fall?

Fear after a fall is understandable, but it can create another problem. Someone who is worried about falling may begin walking less, avoiding stairs, skipping activities, or staying home more often. Over time, reduced activity can affect strength, mobility, confidence, and social connection. A previous fall and fear of falling are both factors associated with future fall risk, so the answer usually is not simply telling someone to “be more careful.”

Instead, it helps to find out why they no longer feel safe. A physical therapist can evaluate how your parent moves through tasks they encounter in everyday life. Depending on their needs, this may include looking at:

Leg strength

Standing balance

Walking

Turning and changing direction

Bending or reaching

Getting up from a chair or transferring between surfaces

How the body reacts when balance is challenged

Overall mobility

The goal is to identify where difficulty is occurring and what may help your parent move more safely and confidently.

For one person, strength may be the main concern. For another, it may be balance while turning, difficulty getting up from a chair, or feeling unsteady when walking in a busy environment. A physical therapy evaluation helps separate those issues so recommendations can be based on what that person actually needs.

Is falling a normal part of aging?

No. Falls become more common with age, but falling itself should not be considered an inevitable or normal part of aging. If everyone assumes falls are simply part of getting older, opportunities to address medication concerns, home hazards, weakness, balance changes, vision problems, or other contributing factors can be missed.

You also do not need to wait until your parent has had several falls before asking questions. If you notice they are holding onto furniture, avoiding activities they used to do, becoming unsteady when turning, struggling to get out of a chair, or expressing fear about falling, those changes are worth discussing.

What should I do if I’m worried about my parent’s fall risk?

Ask whether your parent has fallen, nearly fallen, or started avoiding certain activities because they do not feel steady of safe. Bring those concerns to their physician or other healthcare provider, especially if there have been new symptoms, medication changes, or health changes. Then look at the home environment and consider whether a physical therapy evaluation could provide more information about strength, balance, walking, and mobility.

A fall does not automatically tell you what is wrong. It tells you there is something worth looking at more closely. At LHM Physical Therapy Institute, our physical therapists can assess the movement-related factors that may be contributing to fall risk and help determine appropriate next steps. The goal is simple: help older adults maintain the strength, confidence, and mobility they need to stay involved in daily life as safely as possible.

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