What should you do if an elderly person falls and can't get up?
For the first 5 minutes, do not rush to pull him up. If necessary, call 1669.
Assess before moving; help them get up when it's safe.
Department of Disease Control
Aged 60 and above, 2024.
World Falls Guidelines
Wrap yourself in a blanket while you wait.
If you find your mother sitting on the floor and unable to get up, relatives will usually quickly pull her up by the arm.But if there's a hip fracture or a head injury, pulling too quickly could cause further injury.
General information, not a diagnosis. If unsure, call 1669.
The content in this article
1. If an elderly person falls and is unable to get up, what should relatives do in the first 5 minutes?
Short answer:Stay calm. Don't rush to pull them up. Check if they are conscious, breathing normally, feeling pain anywhere, and if their head has hit anything. Then decide whether you can help them get up or if you need to call 1669.
- Look around.Is the floor wet? Turn on the lights. Don't let yourself slip.
- Call their name, observe their breathing.Can you answer? Is it more confusing than usual?
- Ask where it hurts.Is there bleeding from the head, neck, back, or hips, or are there any deformities in the limbs?
- Ask about the medication and the cause.Are you taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication? Did you feel dizzy or faint before falling?
- decideThere is a signal (as per topic 2) = Call 1669. No signal and ready = Slowly get up (as per topic 3).
The Injury Prevention Division of the Department of Disease Control states that the elderly are 60 years of age and older.About 1 in 3 people fall every year.In 2024, 79,835 people were hospitalized, and 1,504 died. A news report from September 10, 2026, indicated that nearly half of government healthcare costs were for hip fracture treatment.
The first minute is for assessment and reassurance.
2. Signals indicating that you should not lift an elderly person yourself and must call 1669 immediately.
Short answer:If you experience unconsciousness, abnormal breathing, a head injury followed by drowsiness, neck or back pain, new weakness, hip pain that prevents weight bearing, or inability to stand up, call 1669. Do not attempt to lift the person yourself.
Call 1669 immediately. Do not lift it yourself.
• Unresponsive or breathing abnormally (no breathing or gasping for breath: Turn on speakerphone to speak to 1669, begin chest compressions, and use an AED if available).
• Head injury resulting in lethargy, seizures, visual disturbances, or discharge of clear fluid or blood from the ears or nose.
• Numbness or weakness, slurred speech, facial asymmetry.
• Severe neck or back pain
• Hip or groin pain, inability to bear weight, leg misaligned or appearing shorter than the other leg.
• Bleeding that won't stop, or being unable to stand up despite trying.
Source: NHS · While waiting, wrap yourself in a blanket and note the time you fell.
Head injury, even though it appears normal.If you are taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication and experience vomiting or dizziness, go to the hospital that same day. Inform them of the name of the medication and the time of your visit (NHS). Do not stop or adjust your medication yourself.
3. How to help an elderly person get up from the floor step by step, once it's deemed safe.
Short answer:Do not stand up suddenly out of panic. People with osteoporosis may break bones (Department of Elderly Affairs). Stand up slowly using the 5 steps below. A family member will guide you through the process. If the pain worsens midway, stop and call 1669.
- 1. Take a break.To calm her down, a relative placed a sturdy chair nearby.
- 2. Turn it onto its side.Bend your knees and flip your entire body, including your legs, over. Do not twist your torso away from your legs.
- 3. Start crawling.Use your hands and elbows to push yourself up.
- 4. Crawl towards the chair.Or heavy furniture; do not touch objects that are wobbly or shaky.
- 5. Propping yourself up on one foot.Grasp the chair with both hands, place your strongest foot flat on the floor, slowly push yourself up, and turn to sit upright.
- relativeStand to the side, supporting the chair; do not pull on its armpits. If you are large or very weak, do not lift it alone.
- Stand up and sit down to rest before walking.Beware of dizziness while reading.Dizziness when standing up in the elderly.
Practice your standing up position beforehand.
4. What are the risks for elderly people who lie on the floor for a long time after a fall?
Short answer:Lying on the floor for at least one hour after a fall is considered a high-risk sign in the World Falls Guidelines and is associated with serious outcomes such as injury, hospitalization, and transfer to long-term care. Therefore, it is crucial to call for help promptly, prevent hypothermia, and have a team assess for complications from prolonged bed rest.
The Global Fall Prevention Guidelines (2022) cites a cohort of 1,610 falls and ambulance calls among older adults aged 65 and older, and found...13% lay on the floor for more than 60 minutes.These figures do not represent the total rate of falls in the community. Among the 110 individuals over the age of 90, 66 fell during the one-year follow-up period. Of those who fell, 53/66 (80%) had been unable to get up at least once, and 20/66 (30%) had lay on the floor for at least one hour (BMJ, 2008).
- Cover yourself with a blanketPreventing the body from getting cold.If you suspect an injury to your head, neck, back, or hip, keep them still and do not move them.Follow the instructions on 1669. If you have no symptoms, you can move your limbs gently (NHS).
- I have a phone or a call ring with me.And practice pressing down.
5. If an elderly person falls and can get back up, do they still need to see a doctor?
Short answer:You should see a doctor if you hit your head, the pain worsens or you have difficulty walking the next day, or you feel dizzy before the fall. A fall is a signal to find the cause before another fall occurs.
High-risk groups according to the World Falls Guidelines.These include injuries requiring treatment; two or more falls in the past 12 months; frailty; inability to stand up independently and lying down for at least one hour; or suspected transient unconsciousness (expert recommendation, GRADE E). Therefore, a multi-faceted evaluation is recommended.
- Many medicationsHave your doctor or pharmacist review and read this.Elderly people take many medications.
- Does the pain worsen or do you find it harder to walk the following day?Take him to see a doctor. Don't wait for it to heal on its own.
After a fall, you should find out the cause.
6. Preventing repeated falls in the elderly: Where to start?
Short answer:Practice balance and strength training at least 3 days a week. Review your medication, get your eyesight checked, adjust your home, and practice getting up from the floor beforehand.
| subject | how | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Practice balance and strength. | At least 3 days a week, as advised by the physiotherapist. | WHO 2563 |
| Renovating the house | It is particularly effective in high-risk groups, such as those who have previously fallen. | Cochrane 2566 |
| Practice getting up from the floor. | Practice each step repeatedly until you can do it. | International Guidelines 2022 |
Read more5 Ways to Make Your Home Safe and Prevent Falls in the Elderly
"Relatives who know when it's forbidden to lift [the object] can help the elderly more than rushing to pull it up."
How does KIN help families whose elderly members have fallen?
- Home Physical TherapyFor Bangkok and surrounding areas only: Physiotherapists will assess and plan individual training programs.
- Home caregiver12 or 24-hour shifts nationwide, depending on the agreed scope of work.
- Nurse goes to home.andRent medical equipmentExamples include hospital beds and wheelchairs.
Consult KIN HomeCare | Elderly people who have fallen can practice balance exercises at home.
Home physiotherapy available in Bangkok and surrounding areas only. Home caregiver services available nationwide.
KIN HomeCare
Home care services nationwide. Home-based physiotherapy available only in Bangkok and surrounding areas.
Home Physical Therapy095-767-6307
Home care · Nursing · Equipment rental061-881-9399
KIN Rehabilitation's Senior Rehabilitation and Care Center.
KIN Salaya
Buddhamonthon · Opening December 15, 2026 · Advance reservations are now available.
Central hotline:02-096-4996In case of emergency, call 1669.
Frequently Asked Questions answered by the KIN medical and multidisciplinary team.
If an elderly person falls and can't get up, should we help them up immediately?
No, you shouldn't. First, assess whether they are conscious, breathing normally, and where they are experiencing pain. If you suspect a head, neck, back, or hip injury, call 1669.
I fell and my hip hurts, I can't walk. Could it be a broken hip?
It's possible. If you experience hip pain, inability to bear weight, or one leg being at an incorrect angle or shorter than the other, do not help them walk. Call 1669.
What should you do if an elderly person taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication falls and hits their head?
If you are taking any other anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication besides aspirin alone, seek emergency evaluation and report the name of the medication and the time of the fall. If you are using aspirin alone or are unsure of the type of medication, contact your doctor or emergency services for evaluation. Do not stop or adjust your medication on your own. If you are drowsy, have seizures, or have difficulty speaking, call 1669 immediately.
How to safely get up from the floor when an elderly person falls.
Take a break. Turn your entire body onto its side. Crawl to a stable chair, then push yourself up into a sitting position. If the pain worsens, stop and call 1669.
He fell and hit his head, but can talk normally. What symptoms should I monitor, and for how long?
Keep an adult with the patient for at least the first 24 hours. Symptoms may last up to 2 weeks (NHS). If the patient becomes lethargic, changes behavior, has seizures, or experiences new numbness or weakness, call 1669. If the patient vomits or feels dizzy, seek medical attention.
How does KIN HomeCare help elderly people who have fallen?
Home-based physiotherapy services are available exclusively in Bangkok and surrounding areas. Caregivers and nurses come to your home, and medical equipment is available for rent. Please call 095-767-6307 for inquiries.
- Prevent falls, reduce medical costs — Department of Disease Control (June 18, 2025)
- Falls Data — Injury Prevention Division, Department of Disease Control (2024)
- News from the Department of Disease Control, September 10, 2026 (Hfocus)
- How to get up safely after a fall — Department of Elderly Affairs (September 28, 2026)
- Falls — NHS
- Hip fracture — NHS
- Head injury — NHS
- CPR — St John Ambulance
- Fleming J, Brayne C. BMJ, 2008 (long lie, over 90 years old)
- World guidelines for prevention falls — Age and Aging 2022
- Simpson PM. Prehospital Emergency Care, 2014.
- WHO 2020 guidelines on physical activity — Br J Sports Med 2020
- Environmental interventions for preventing falls — Cochrane 2023
Medical accuracy verified by Dr. Chanya Wuttikraikul, License No. 51106, Geriatrics | Supervised by Dr. Thongchai Chokthanomsap, Chairman of the Executive Board | Last updated: October 2026 |Basic information for relatives, not a diagnosis. For emergencies, call 1669. Research figures are not the result of KIN service users.