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What is the “long lie” after a fall, and why do minutes matter?

The danger of a fall is not only the impact. It is also the time spent on the floor afterward.

The long lie is when a person is unable to get up after a fall and stays on the floor for a long time, commonly defined as an hour or more. It can lead to complications such as dehydration, pressure injuries and chilling, and it is frightening. The faster someone knows and responds, the better, which is why a reliable way to call for help and tell the family matters.1

Updated October 2026.

The short version

  • A long lie is lying on the floor for a long time after a fall, often an hour or more.
  • It can cause complications beyond the original injury, and fear.
  • Older adults who live alone are most at risk of no one knowing.
  • A HELP button and fall notification shorten the time before the family knows.

Why the time on the floor matters

Staying on the floor for a long period can lead to dehydration, pressure injuries on the skin, difficulty keeping warm, and muscle breakdown, as well as fear and loss of confidence. These risks can add to the harm of the fall itself. If a person cannot get up, help should be called.

Who is most at risk

People who live alone, have limited mobility or cannot easily reach a phone are most likely to spend a long time on the floor unnoticed. The CDC reports that about one in four adults aged 65 and older falls each year.

What shortens the time

  • A way to call for help that is within reach, such as a phone or a watch worn on the wrist.
  • People who will hear. With KinectedCare, one press of HELP on the phone or watch alerts the whole CareTeam at once.1
  • Fall notification. When a fall-detection-capable watch detects a fall, the watch’s operating system handles the emergency response and KinectedCare notifies the CareTeam, so the family knows too.1

If you find someone on the floor

Do not rush to lift them. Check whether they are hurt, call emergency services if there is any sign of serious injury or they cannot get up, and keep them warm and comfortable until help arrives. See what to do if an older person falls.

An honest limit

Fall detection is a watch feature that is not available everywhere and may not detect every fall. KinectedCare is not a medical device or a substitute for emergency services.

Questions people ask

What counts as a long lie?
It is commonly described as being unable to get up after a fall and staying on the floor for an hour or more, though any prolonged time without help is a concern.
Why is a long lie dangerous?
It can cause complications such as dehydration, pressure injuries, and getting cold, and it is frightening, on top of any injury from the fall.
How can I reduce the chance of a long lie?
Make sure your parent has a way to call for help that they can reach from the floor, and that people will hear. A HELP button on a phone or watch, and a watch that detects falls, can help.
Does KinectedCare detect falls?
No. Fall detection is the watch’s own feature. When a fall-detection-capable smartwatch detects a fall, the watch’s operating system handles the emergency response, and KinectedCare notifies the CareTeam.
Does KinectedCare replace emergency services?
No. KinectedCare is not a medical device or an emergency service. If someone may be hurt, call local emergency services first.

Keep reading

Sources

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: older adult fall prevention. cdc.gov/falls

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