August 17, 2026
Why Does My Aging Parent Keep Falling? Don’t Overlook Their Medications
Aging Wisely Basics
Why Does My Aging Parent Keep Falling? Don’t Overlook Their Medications
When an aging parent or loved one starts falling, families often look for the most obvious explanations.
Is their balance getting worse? Are they losing strength? Do they need a walker? Is there a loose rug, poor lighting, or something else in the home creating a safety problem?
Those are all important questions. But there is another potential contributor that is often overlooked:
Medications, particularly when someone takes several prescriptions or has recently had a medication change, can contribute to dizziness, weakness, drowsiness, confusion, low blood pressure, and balance problems.
So, when a senior falls, the answer may not simply be better balance or a safer home. Medication management and fall prevention need to be looked at together.
Five questions to ask after a fall
When an aging loved one falls or begins having near-falls, ask:
- Have any medications or dosages recently changed?
- Is there new dizziness, weakness, sleepiness, or confusion?
- Is the person eating and drinking adequately?
- Has their ability to walk, stand, or transfer changed?
- Are there environmental hazards or activities at home that are no longer safe to do alone?
Technology Spotlight
Smart Technology Is Going to the Pets
It might be a little early to start talking about my holiday gift guide, but I already know one device that is going to make the list.
One question I hear every year is: What do you get an older adult who already seems to have everything?
If they have a pet, the Fi Smart Collar is a pretty cool option. I think of it almost like a Fitbit for your furry family member. It tracks your pet’s activity, sleep, and location, and uses AI to monitor changes in behaviors like eating, drinking, scratching, and licking.
But the feature that really caught my attention is GPS tracking. For an older adult who loves their pet, there can be a real fear of what happens if the pet gets out or wanders away. Fi allows you to track the pet’s location from your phone and can alert you when they leave a designated area.
Technology for aging wisely doesn’t always have to be something specifically designed for seniors. Sometimes it’s technology that makes everyday life a little easier, provides some extra peace of mind and helps protect the things, and in this case the pets, that matter most.
It’s early, but Fi Pet Collar is officially on my 2026 holiday gift guide.
All About Aging
Who Does Mom Listen To? Build Your Team Before You Need It
One of the most overlooked parts of helping an aging parent is understanding who they listen to besides you.
Think about your mom’s circle. Who are her influencers?
It might be her best friend, a neighbor, someone from church, a longtime doctor, her financial advisor, or even the person she plays cards with every Thursday.
As adult children, we sometimes assume we will be the ones Mom turns to when she needs help. But that isn’t always the case. In fact, friends and other trusted relationships can become an important part of an older adult’s support network. Recent research estimates that about 2.4 million friends provide some form of care to older adults in the U.S.
That’s why I encourage families to build relationships with Mom’s influencers before there’s a crisis.
Get to know them. Make sure they have your phone number. Let them know you’re available if they ever notice something concerning. Most importantly, don’t treat them as outsiders. Treat them as potential allies.
Someday Mom may resist having someone come into the home, stop driving, use a walker, or accept another form of help. Hearing, “Your daughter thinks you need help” may not get very far.
But hearing her best friend say, “I started having someone help me a few mornings a week, and I love it,” can be completely different.
Sometimes the person who helps Mom accept help isn’t her child. It’s the person she trusts as a peer.
So as you’re planning for an aging parent, don’t just ask, “Who can help Mom?”
Ask, “Who does Mom listen to?”
Those relationships may become some of your greatest allies as her needs change.