Call 911 now if:
They can't be woken or are confused, can't move an arm or leg, there's obvious deformity or a possible broken bone, a head injury with any loss of consciousness or vomiting, heavy bleeding, chest pain, or you can't safely help them up.
Call their doctor today if:
No emergency signs above, but there's pain, swelling, bruising, difficulty bearing weight, or this is a repeat fall — even if they insist they're "fine."
Plan ahead if:
No injury and this was a one-time stumble, but you're now wondering whether the home is still safe. See the checklist and next steps below.
This page is general information, not medical advice, and can't assess your parent's actual injury. If you have any doubt about whether this is an emergency, call 911 — it's always the safer choice.
After the immediate moment
A fall is often a signal to look at the home more closely, not just this one incident. The Home Safety Checklist covers what to check room by room, and the Home Safety hub has deeper guides on specific fixes. If this fall is changing what "safe" looks like going forward, the Aging at Home hub and Stay or Go Calculator can help you think through what's next.