Despite our best efforts, sometimes falls happen and we find ourselves on the floor not quite knowing what to do next. If this happens, here are a few pointers:

1. Unless you are in pain or believe you have been injured, attempt to get up SLOWLY. Sometimes this is best accomplished by rolling on to your stomach and using your arms to lift up to a position where you can get your knees beneath you. If you can’t lift yourself up from that position, try to crawl to a stationary chair (no wheels) and use the seat as leverage to raise yourself high enough to turn and sit down. If you are dizzy, give yourself time, or call for assistance.
   
   If you are in pain or think you may be injured, call for help. At Willow Brook, you can use your call button or dial the front desk. You may also wish to audibly yell if you don’t have a phone nearby or cannot get to one. If you don’t live in a Willow Brook community, dial 911 or call a loved one or family member.
   
   
2. If you have hit your head, regardless of how well you feel, please report it to your doctor. At Willow Brook, you can inform a floor nurse or wellness nurse.
   
   
3. If you are taking blood thinners, it is important for you to be evaluated as soon as possible in the Emergency Room (ER). 
   
   
4. If you fall but otherwise feel fine (minus being mad that you fell in the first place!), you may think there is nothing to report. However, Willow Brook residents are encouraged to report the fall to the wellness nurse. Regardless of where you live, it is  important to let someone you love know about your fall in case there are repercussions, or to determine if there is larger issue at hand, which can then be addressed with your doctor.
   
   

The Babbling Brook wishes everyone a fall-free fall! Be safe, educate yourself, and take advantage of resources in the community that address falls and fall prevention. An excellent website, which includes a falls risk assessment, can be found here, through the Ohio Department of Aging.