If your mum keeps falling, the NHS advises seeing a GP, so book her an appointment this week, even if she tells you she is fine. Call 999 if she has fallen and may have injured her head, back, neck or hip, or if she cannot get up.
To talk anything through with someone local, our St Albans team is on 01727 324 127.
Perhaps it was another phone call that began "I'm all right, but...", or a bruise you noticed on your last visit. That kind of worry can stay with you long after the call ends, especially when your mum insists she is fine. And if you live some distance away, or are fitting this around work and your own family, you might feel you should be doing more than you can.
Falls at home are familiar ground for our team, and there is a calm, clear way through this.
Wanting to understand what is happening, and what to do next, is exactly the right instinct. Distance and work are simply part of the picture a good plan works around. The NHS sets out common causes and practical steps, and there is help in Hertfordshire. Our guide to preventing falls at home covers the longer term; this page is about what to do now.
What it can mean when your mum keeps falling
The NHS guidance on falls lists several everyday causes. These include muscles weakening with age, low blood pressure and side effects of some medicines.
Conditions that affect mobility or balance, such as arthritis, stroke or Parkinson's disease, can play a part too. So can problems with eyesight or hearing, and dementia.
The GP can check her balance and may refer her to a falls service, which can check for muscle weakness, weak bones and eyesight problems.
What to do today and this week
If she falls while you are with her, the NHS advice is to keep her comfortable and warm. Help her up only if she can get up with your help, and do not try to lift her yourself. If she may be hurt or unwell but it is not an emergency, call 111.
Then, over the next few days:
- Book a GP appointment. Ask whether she should be referred to a falls service, and whether she can refer herself in your area.
- Ask about her medicines. The NHS suggests asking a GP or pharmacist whether any of them affect balance. Do not change or stop anything yourself.
- Make sure she can call for help. The NHS suggests carrying a personal alarm or mobile phone.
- Make the home safer. The NHS suggests keeping floors free of clutter and trip hazards, a non-slip mat in the bath or shower, and grab rails where they help.
- Put a Message in a Bottle in the fridge. Our page on the Lions Message in a Bottle scheme explains the free kit. It tells ambulance crews about her medicines and contacts.
How to raise it with your mum
Nobody wants a parent to feel watched, so it can help to keep the conversation about her independence. If she brushes it aside, that can be frustrating, and it is fine to come back to it another day. You might try words like these, at a calm moment rather than straight after a fall:
- "I'm not trying to take over. I'd just like the GP to check why this keeps happening, so you can keep doing things your way."
- "Would you wear an alarm for me? It would stop me worrying every time you don't answer the phone."
- "What feels hardest at the moment, the stairs, the bath or getting up from the chair?"
Who to call in Hertfordshire
Her GP surgery is the starting point for checks, a medicines review and any referral to a falls service.
HertsHelp, on 0300 123 4044, is Hertfordshire County Council's free advice service. It can connect you with local services and support.
The county council's falls help page also lists a free assessment and the Stop Falls app. There is an online home fire safety check too, which can lead to a safe and well visit. It also points to local exercise classes through the Hertfordshire Directory.
For alarms, the council says Herts Careline personal alarms can be worn on the neck or wrist to detect falls. A 24/7 monitoring centre sits behind them. The council lists the cost as £5 a week plus VAT if applicable.
How Starling Homecare can help when your mum keeps falling
Bringing in some help is not about taking over. It is a sensible way of keeping your mum independent at home, and it lets your visits be about time together rather than checking the stairs.
Our falls prevention support at home is built into our visiting care, which starts from 30 minute visits. Depending on what your mum needs, that can include personal care, meal preparation and help around the house. Where night-time falls are the worry, overnight care is an option, and live-in care is available across Hertfordshire.
On each visit, our carers keep walkways clear and check lighting, footwear and walking aids. They encourage your mum with the strength and balance exercises her physiotherapist has set. They also notice changes, keep you informed and, with her consent, pass concerns to her GP or community team.
A carer does not replace the GP or a falls service. Finding out why someone is falling sits with them, and no one can promise to prevent every fall.
If your mum is unsure, we would usually start with someone from our team simply coming round for a chat. It does not have to be formal. It is a chance to get to know her and find out what matters to her, and that often breaks the ice. From there, we stay alongside you both: visits can increase if her needs change, and overnight or live-in care can follow later if it is ever needed. In urgent situations, care can usually start within a day or two.
Areas we cover
Starling Homecare's carers visit people at home in St Albans, Harpenden, Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, Tring, Radlett and Shenley, Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield, Potters Bar, Hitchin and Hertford, and we arrange live-in care across Hertfordshire.
For more on what to look out for and where to start, read our guide for families worried about an elderly parent.
If your mum lives in St Albans and you live further away, our home care team in St Albans is based in the city, close to her even when you cannot be.
Frequently asked questions
Should I try to lift Mum off the floor?
No. The NHS advises helping someone up only if they can get up with help, and not lifting them yourself. Keep her warm and comfortable while you wait. Call 999 if she cannot get up or may have hurt her head, back, neck or hip.
Can the GP refer my mum to a falls service?
Yes, the NHS says a GP may refer someone who has had falls to a specialist falls service. It also says you may be able to refer yourself in some areas. Ask her surgery which applies.
Is a personal alarm worth it if Mum keeps falling?
The NHS suggests carrying a personal alarm or mobile phone. An alarm will not stop a fall, but it means help can be called if she cannot reach a phone. Some alarms, such as those from Herts Careline, can detect falls.
Starling Homecare is a family run, CQC registered home care provider based in St Albans. Whenever you feel ready to talk, our St Albans team is on 01727 324 127. You will be speaking to someone who arranges care every day, happy to listen first and then talk through visiting, overnight or live-in care, and how quickly it could start.
Figures and guidance checked on 26 October 2026 against NHS: Falls and Hertfordshire County Council: technology to help you at home.
Arranging Care Is Simple
Starting care can feel like a big step. We keep it calm and straightforward, and we are here to guide you from your very first call.
1. Talk to us
Get in touch by phone or request a callback. We will listen, answer your questions and help you understand the options, so you can decide what feels right in your own time.
2. A home visit and initial consultation
We arrange a visit to understand your routines, your home and what matters most to you. Together we agree an initial consultation and shape the support that feels right.
3. Your care begins
A small, familiar team starts your care, arriving at the agreed times and staying involved as your needs change. We remain your trusted adviser throughout.
Whenever you are ready, we are here to help.