8 Smart Things to Do if Your Loved One With Dementia Has Been Falling

A fall can be an isolated accident -- but for many people, falls happen repeatedly. People with dementia are at increased risk of repeated falls. They may have problems with balance and coordination, for example, and they're prone to a shuffling gait. Behaviors such as night waking, restless pacing, and poor hand-eye coordination can also contribute to trips and tumbles.

If your loved one has been falling, here's what to do after you receive the appropriate initial evaluation.

1. Identify patterns.

Was the fall an isolated incident, or has it happened before (in your presence or not)? Look for patterns by reviewing these ten questions to ask an older adult about falling. If your loved one can no longer supply the answers, try to answer them yourself.

2. Look for underlying conditions.

Work with a doctor to figure out if a health condition or medication is raising your loved one's risk. In addition to dementia, health conditions that can add to the risk of falling are postural hypotension (low blood pressure that's caused by a change in position), heart disorders such as arrhythmia or an irregular heartbeat, changes in vision, incontinence (causing the person to try to get to the toilet), numbness in the feet from diabetes, and Parkinson's disease.

Pain and decreased mobility due to arthritis can also predispose a person to falls, especially if the arthritis affects the knees, hips, or back.

Although osteoporosis doesn't lead to falls, thinned bones do raise one's risk of suffering an injury from a fall.

3. Ask if a new or changed medication might be at fault.

New or changed medications can easily cause falls, since many commonly prescribed drugs worsen balance and cause confusion in an older person with dementia. Some common culprits:

• Medications from a class known as anticholinergics, which includes drugs for overactive bladder, itching/allergy, vertigo, nausea, and certain drugs for nerve pain or depression. (Diphenhydramine, or Benadryl, is a commonly used anticholinergic that's often included in over-the-counter sleep aids and PM-version painkillers.)

• Sedatives, tranquilizers, and antipsychotics.

• Blood pressure medications, which often cause blood pressure to fall when a person stands. Some medications for prostate problems can also cause this side effect.

• Opiate painkillers, especially during the first few days of use.

Always monitor your loved one for new symptoms when there's a change in medication, and don't be shy about reporting it back to the prescribing doctor. Often an alternative medication can be found or a dosage can be reduced.