Things to go through if a resident falls
1. Immediate Check
If a resident has fallen or been found on the floor, stop and assess: is there any new head/neck/back pain, loss of consciousness, bleeding freely, or signs of stroke (FAST)?
If yes to any of these – treat as urgent. Call 999 or local emergency service.
Use the iStumble tool to guide your next steps: this helps to decide if the resident can be safely lifted or needs emergency transfer.
2. Use iStumble – Post-Fall Assessment
Ask: was this a trip or a collapse (dizziness before fall)?
Check for new pain, especially head/neck/back, or any numbness/paralysis.
Look for unusual behaviour, slurred speech or confusion (FAST indicators).
Monitor for a long lie (on floor for over one hour) – this increases risk of complications.
If any of these raise concern, treat as higher risk.
3. FAST Guidance – Recognise Stroke Signs
F: Face drooping or asymmetry
A: Arm weakness or drift
S: Speech difficulty or slurred words
T: Time to act – call 999 if any present
Including FAST in your assessment ensures you don’t miss a potential stroke.
4. Care Home Response Options
Category 1 – Fallen, no apparent injury or acute illness, able to get up (with or without assistance) relatively quickly. Monitor, document the event, and review fall-risk.
Category 2 – One or more minor injuries (e.g., bruising, small superficial wound), or unclear if underlying illness or injury. Review as soon as possible, contact Middlewood or UCR
Category 3 – Signs of serious injury/illness: head/neck/back trauma, suspected fracture, loss of consciousness, long lie, chest pain / breathing difficulty. Emergency escalation needed – review if care/escalation plan in place – if not clearly documented then 999 appropriate.
5. Routine Review & Next Steps
After the immediate response, review the resident’s falls risk: gait, balance, mobility, vision, medications, environment.
Document in the care plan: any contributing factors, previous fall history, interventions.
Please discuss routinely in the weekly round if the situation is stable
