After a first fall: what to do in the first week

After a first fall, the first week is about three things: ruling out a missed injury, finding out why it happened and making the riskiest moments safer. Most of that starts with a GP appointment and a few changes at home, made with your parent rather than around them.

To talk anything through with someone local, our Welwyn Hatfield team is on 01707 714 000.

First, check nothing has been missed

A first fall can look minor and still need attention. The NHS advice on falls says to call 999 if someone cannot get up, or may have hurt their head, back, neck or hip. Call 111 if they may be in pain, injured or unwell but it is not an emergency.

The NHS also advises seeing a GP after a fall. That appointment is the gateway to almost everything else on this list.

For the longer term, our article on reducing falls at home in later life covers more. This guide is about the next seven days.

What to do after a first fall: a seven day checklist

Days one and two

• Book the GP appointment and say clearly that it follows a fall.
• Write down what happened: the time, the room, what your parent was doing and how they felt just before.
• Check they can reach a phone from the floor in the rooms they use most.

That note is useful because people often forget details once the shock passes. Dizziness on standing, a trip on a rug and a missed meal point to very different causes.

Days three to five

• At the GP, ask whether a referral to a falls service would help. The NHS says these services can check strength, balance, eyesight and bone health, and review medicines.
• Ask the surgery whether your parent can refer themselves, as some areas allow this.
• Ask the GP or pharmacist whether any medicines could affect balance. Never stop or change a medicine without their advice.

Days six and seven

• Walk through the home together. Clear loose rugs and trailing wires, and add a non-slip mat in the bath or shower.
• Look at footwear. Well-fitting, non-slip slippers matter more than most families expect.
• Agree how they will call for help: a phone kept on them, or a personal alarm.

Help available in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire County Council has a page on falls support with several routes worth knowing. You can ask for a free assessment of how to make daily life safer. There is also a referral form for people who want to regain their confidence after a fall.

For personal alarms, the council works with Herts Careline. The council's home technology page says these alarms are worn on the wrist or neck and can detect falls. They connect to a 24 hour monitoring centre, and cost £5 a week plus VAT if applicable.

HertsHelp, on 0300 123 4044, can also point you to local services. Separately, Message in a Bottle kits are free, and in some areas surgeries and pharmacies hand them out, so ask locally. The bottle keeps key medical details in the fridge. A label inside the front door alerts the emergency services.

Why the nights deserve extra thought

A fall at night is harder to deal with. The house is dark and nobody else may be awake. Your parent could be on the floor for some time.

So plan the route from bed to bathroom first. A clear path, a reachable light and a phone or alarm by the bed all help. The NHS advises that someone who cannot get up should keep warm and change position about every 30 minutes.

If you find your parent on the floor, do not try to lift them yourself. Keep them warm and comfortable, and call for help if they cannot get up safely on their own.

Keeping confidence up after a first fall

Many people feel nervous after a fall and start to move less. However, the NHS advice points the other way.

It recommends staying active every day, with strength and balance exercises at least twice a week. If a physiotherapist sets exercises, the aim is to make them part of ordinary routine. A familiar face doing them alongside often makes that easier.

Where visiting care fits

Our falls prevention support places a carer at the riskiest moments, such as getting up, bathing and going to bed. We also support any exercises a physiotherapist has set. Where we see a risk, we talk to you and, with your consent, to the GP or the community team.

Where nights are the worry, overnight care in Welwyn Garden City is another option. We support families across the borough, including Welham Green, Old Hatfield and Handside.

Frequently asked questions

Should I call the GP if my mum fell but seems fine?

Yes. The NHS advises seeing a GP after a fall. The GP can look for causes such as muscle weakness, eyesight problems or a medicine affecting balance.

Does one fall mean my dad cannot live alone?

Not usually. One fall is a prompt to look at causes and set up safeguards. Many people carry on living independently with the right changes and a reliable way to call for help.

What is a falls service?

It is a specialist NHS service, usually reached through the GP. It can look at balance, bone health, eyesight and medicines. It may also offer exercise and a home safety check.

Is a falls alarm worth it if my parent has a mobile phone?

A phone only helps if it is within reach after the fall. A worn alarm stays on the person, and some can detect a fall automatically. Talk it through with your parent, because they need to be willing to wear it.

After a first fall, families often want help at the riskiest times of day, then less once confidence returns. Starling Homecare is a family run, CQC registered provider with a local team in Welwyn Hatfield. We can talk that through with you and your parent, and agree a plan that fits their home. More about the area is on our Welwyn Hatfield home care page.

Figures and guidance checked on 25 October 2026 against the NHS website and Hertfordshire County Council.