You’ve had a fall

10 Jan

A fall is might not be just “an accident.” It could be a signal that something has changed — strength, balance, vision, medication, confidence, a new infection or illness, or the environment itself. Understanding why a fall happened could be an effective ways to prevent the next one.

What matters most is not just whether there was an injury, but what was happening around the fall: the time of day, what the person was doing just beforehand, whether anyone was present, and whether dizziness, vision changes or pain on movement were checked. Pain should always be assessed during movement — not just at rest — and the GP should be informed, even if injuries seem minor.

You can ask for practical reviews that help everyone see the bigger picture: a falls risk reassessment, recent incident and falls history reports, medication reviews, physiotherapy or mobility assessments, and simple environmental adjustments such as lighting, footwear or walking aids.

Questions you can ask

Where and how did the fall happen? What time of day was it?
What was happening just before the fall?
Was anyone with the person at the time?
Was vision or dizziness queried?
Were injuries checked and have has pain been assessed by a RN or GP?
Has the GP been notified?
Has anything changed recently?

Simple things you can request

A falls risk assessment review
Falls history and incident summary reports
A Residential Medication Management Review or most recent report
Physio or mobility assessment, reports, and support
Environmental changes (lighting, footwear, walking aids)
Pathology tests

Balancing falls risk and quality of life

Preventing falls is important — but preventing all risk is not always the same as providing good care.

In aged care, safety decisions need to be balanced with quality of life, dignity and personal choice. Restricting activities too tightly can reduce independence, confidence and wellbeing — and in some cases, may even increase risk over time through loss of strength or engagement.

This is sometimes referred to as the dignity of risk — the idea that people have the right to make informed choices about their lives, even when those choices involve some risk.

For one person, quality of life might include:

wearing shoes with a small heel because they feel confident and like how they look,
enjoying a glass of wine with dinner,
walking independently to the dining room,
continuing a valued activity that involves movement or balance,
maintaining routines or preferences that matter deeply to them.

Removing these entirely can affect identity, mood, autonomy and joy.

High-quality, person-centred care doesn’t simply say “no” after a fall. Instead, it asks:

What matters most to this person?
What are the real risks — and how can they be reduced without removing what’s important?
Has the person (and family, where appropriate) been involved in these decisions?
Are restrictions temporary while recovery or assessment occurs, or long-term?

Often the answer lies in adapting support, not removing choice — through supervision, pain management, medication review, mobility support, or environmental adjustments.

If you can’t be there

If you’re not able to be present in person, you can still ask for clear information to help you understand what happened and what’s being done next. This might include requesting a written incident summary, recent falls history, pain assessment notes, and confirmation that the RN and GP have reviewed the fall. Asking for updates from physio or mobility assessments can also help you see whether changes to support or routines are being considered.

Why it’s okay to ask

Falls prevention works best when patterns are noticed early and information is shared clearly.

Asking questions helps everyone — residents, families, staff and health professionals — understand risk sooner, balance safety with wellbeing, and adjust care thoughtfully before another fall occurs.

Supporting safety and dignity means recognising that quality of life still matters — even after a fall.