Falls Prevention Awareness – How Dementia Can Increase the Risk of Falling

A fall can happen in seconds. For an older adult, though, the effects can last much longer.

That’s one reason Falls Prevention Awareness Week, observed September 21 through September 25, 2026, is so important. The annual campaign, led by the National Council on Aging, encourages older adults, caregivers, families, and health professionals to recognize fall risks and take steps to reduce them. 

For families caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, fall prevention deserves even closer attention.

Dementia can change far more than memory. It can affect judgment, awareness, movement, decision making, and a person’s ability to recognize danger. A hallway that seems perfectly safe to you may feel confusing to someone experiencing cognitive changes.

And sometimes, an increase in falls or near falls is one of those quiet signals that says something has changed.

Why Can Dementia Make Falls More Likely?

We often think about fall prevention in physical terms.

Is there a loose rug? Is the bathroom slippery? Does Mom need a grab bar? Is Dad having trouble with his balance?

Those questions matter. But dementia adds another layer.

Imagine waking during the night and needing to use the bathroom. Most of us automatically remember where the bathroom is, recognize the doorway, turn on a light, and step around the chair in the hallway.

Someone living with dementia may not process that familiar trip the same way.

They may become confused about where they are. They may misjudge distance or fail to recognize an object as an obstacle. Poor lighting may make the situation worse. What was once an ordinary walk across the house can become surprisingly difficult.

That doesn’t mean a fall is inevitable. In fact, the central message of Falls Prevention Awareness Week is that families can take meaningful steps to reduce fall risk. [ncoa.org]

The key is figuring out why the risk is increasing.

Wandering Changes the Equation

Wandering can be especially concerning.

A person with dementia may get up because they believe they need to go to work, check on someone, find a bathroom, or return to a place from years ago. They may walk through the home repeatedly or attempt to leave.

Now add fatigue, poor balance, unfamiliar surroundings, stairs, darkness, or uneven flooring.

The risk can grow quickly.

A loved one who walks safely at 10 in the morning may have far more difficulty at 2 in the morning when they’re tired and confused.

Families sometimes respond by saying, “We just need to keep a closer eye on Dad.”

Maybe.

But if keeping Dad safe now requires someone to watch him throughout the night, that’s no longer a small adjustment. It may be evidence that his care needs have changed.

Confusion Can Turn Familiar Places Into Hazards

One frustrating thing about dementia is that familiar surroundings don’t always remain familiar.

Someone may have lived in the same house for 30 years and still become confused about where the bedroom is. A staircase that was once second nature may suddenly be difficult to judge.

Even everyday objects can cause problems.

A dark rug may look like a hole in the floor. A shiny surface may appear wet. A step down between rooms may not register until it’s too late.

Think of the brain as the navigation system in your car. The road may not have changed at all. But if the navigation system begins giving incomplete or confusing information, getting from one place to another becomes much harder.

That’s why simply removing one loose rug doesn’t always solve the larger problem.

Then There Are the Medications

Medication deserves special attention when an older adult begins falling or seems unsteady.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that certain medications can cause effects such as drowsiness, loss of balance, vision changes, and slower reaction times that can increase fall risk. The CDC’s STEADI Rx program specifically encourages medication review as part of fall prevention. [cdc.gov], [cdc.gov]

Dementia can make medication management even harder.

Your loved one may forget whether a pill was taken. They may accidentally take another dose. They might skip medication altogether or become confused when a prescription changes.

This is one area where families shouldn’t try to play detective alone.

If you notice new dizziness, sleepiness, confusion, balance problems, or falls, talk with the person’s physician or pharmacist and request a full medication review. Never stop or change prescription medication without guidance from the appropriate health professional.

Sometimes a medication issue can be corrected.

Sometimes the bigger concern is that the person can no longer safely manage medications without help.

That distinction matters.

Warning Signs That More Support May Be Needed

One mishap doesn’t automatically mean someone needs assisted living or memory care.

Patterns are more important.

Pay attention when several small things begin happening together. You may notice:

• Repeated falls or unexplained bruises
• Frequent stumbling or near falls
• Getting lost inside a familiar home
• Wandering, especially at night
• Forgetting to use a walker or cane
• Trouble recognizing stairs or other hazards
• Confusion about medications
• Taking medications more than once or missing doses
• Increasing difficulty getting to the bathroom safely
• Leaving the stove or appliances on
• Becoming frightened or disoriented when alone
• Difficulty calling for help after a fall
• A noticeable decline in personal care
• Family members needing to provide near constant supervision

There’s another warning sign families sometimes overlook: caregiver exhaustion.

If a spouse or adult child is barely sleeping because they’re constantly listening for movement in another room, that matters too.

You can love someone dearly and still reach the point where providing safe care at home becomes too much for one person.

Those two truths can exist together.

“But Mom Wants to Stay Home”

Of course she does.

Home represents independence, memories, comfort, and familiarity. Wanting to remain there is entirely understandable.

And sometimes staying home remains a good choice with the right support.

Families exploring elderly care options might consider home care, adult day programs, medication assistance, home safety modifications, an assisted living community, memory care, or other forms of senior care.

The question isn’t simply, “Can Mom still live at home?”

A better question may be:

Can Mom live at home safely while still having the quality of life we want for her?

That changes the conversation.

Small Fall Prevention Steps Still Matter

Even when dementia is present, simple safety measures can make a difference.

Walk through the home as though you’re seeing it for the first time.

Look for clutter, cords, poor lighting, loose rugs, awkward furniture placement, and difficult paths to the bathroom. Pay special attention to stairs and frequently used walking routes.

Also consider scheduling vision and hearing checks and discussing balance, strength, and medications with health professionals. The CDC provides STEADI resources specifically designed to help older adults, families, caregivers, pharmacists, and health providers identify and address fall risks. [cdc.gov], [cdc.gov]

When families ask how to help seniors remain independent, the answer isn’t always “do everything for them.”

Often, it’s about making the environment safer while preserving as much independence as possible.

That balance matters.

When Is It Time to Consider Memory Care?

There’s rarely one magical moment when a family knows.

More often, the decision arrives through a collection of little moments.

Maybe Dad has wandered outside twice this month.

Mom fell again because she forgot her walker.

Medication has become a daily struggle.

Someone has to stay with your loved one most of the time.

Or perhaps your family has reached the point where everyone is worried whenever the phone rings.

That’s when it may be time to learn more about memory care.

Memory care provides a more structured setting for people experiencing dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment. Depending on the community and the resident’s needs, this may include greater supervision, assistance with daily activities, medication support, structured routines, and an environment designed with cognitive and physical safety in mind.

Exploring memory care doesn’t mean you’ve decided to move your loved one tomorrow.

It means you’re gathering information before a crisis makes the decision for you.

And honestly, that’s a much better position to be in.

Assisted Living, Memory Care, or Something Else?

This is where families often get confused, and understandably so.

A traditional assisted living facility may be appropriate for an older adult who needs help with daily activities but can still navigate the environment safely and communicate many of their needs.

Someone with progressing dementia, wandering behavior, significant confusion, or a need for greater supervision may require a different level of support.

Then there’s terminology.

You may hear senior living, retirement community, assisted living, memory care, independent living, skilled nursing, and home care used in conversations. They aren’t interchangeable.

The right choice depends on the individual.

Instead of beginning with the name of a community, start with the person.

What can they still do safely?

Where are they struggling?

How much supervision do they need?

What happens overnight?

Can they manage medications?

Have there been falls, wandering episodes, or other safety concerns?

And perhaps most importantly, what level of care would allow them to continue enjoying life rather than merely getting through the day?

You Don’t Have to Wait for a Serious Fall

Families sometimes postpone difficult care conversations because things aren’t “bad enough yet.”

That’s understandable. Nobody wants to take independence away from someone they love.

But researching care isn’t the same as taking independence away.

It’s preparation.

Think of it like carrying an umbrella when the sky starts getting dark. You’re not hoping for rain. You’re simply paying attention to what may be coming.

This Falls Prevention Awareness Week, take a few minutes to look beyond loose rugs and bathroom grab bars.

Watch how your loved one moves through the day.

Notice confusion.

Notice wandering.

Notice medication problems.

Notice the near falls, not just the falls.

And notice whether keeping your loved one safe is becoming harder for the entire family.

Those small observations can tell you quite a bit.

A conversation today may help prevent a crisis tomorrow.

If you live in Roanoke, Salem, Christiansburg, Blacksburg, Virginia, or the surrounding areas and are trying to determine whether assisted living, memory care, or another senior living option may be appropriate for you or a loved one, contact Senior Care Relations at 540.320.6122 or email us at Info@SeniorCareRelations.com. We are here to help you understand your options and navigate the next steps.