My Husband Falls While in Assisted Living. What Should I Do?

A fellow caregiver asked...

My husband is in an alzheimer's assised living facility. He has fallen 3 times. First time, we feel was due to mini stroke. second and third times no real explanation except maybe weakness on the right side. What can I do to help protect him from falling? He is in the latter stages and constantly wants to walk around. The attendants try to catch him and steer him to a chair, but he stays only a few minutes, then he is up and moving again. The falls have happened at night when he gets up from bed and falls in his room with no one around to help him until the attendants check on him. Can anyone give me some advice?

Expert Answer

Brenda Avadian, brings knowledge, hope, and joy to family caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer's and dementia. She cared for her father with Alzheimer's and helps families one-on-one and in groups. She is the author of eight books, including the pioneering memoir "Where's my shoes?" My Father's Walk through Alzheimer's and the Finding the JOY in Alzheimer's series. She presents vivid, compelling, and funny keynotes to both professional and family caregiving audiences.

Your cause for concern with your husband falling while in assisted living is important. If his fall causes a fracture or worse, a broken bone, whatever quality of life he enjoys now will be gone.

First, have the doctor evaluate him again to see what is going on. He may be suffering from ongoing TIAs (mini strokes) and the doctor may be able to adjust your husband's medications.

Beyond this, you have several options given your husband's need to get up and go at night, despite the potential for mini-strokes.

One, get a bed monitor.

As soon as he gets up from bed it will send a signal to attentive care staff to check up on him and prevent a fall.

Two, hire companion care.

If he usually gets up out of bed at a certain time each night, you could hire a person to sit with him for several hours each night. You may even find several staff members at the assisted living community who want to earn a little extra money during their off days who would be willing to help.

Three, use a bed with rails.

This might deter him from getting out of bed. But it seems he's pretty active and he may injure himself trying to find a way out.

Assisted living is really set up to assist residents with activities of daily living (ADLs). Once your husband requires greater care, you may need to arrange for greater care. However, this won't guarantee the care staff will be able to prevent your husband from falling.