Resources

What to do if an older person falls

A fall is the moment families fear most — and the moment where minutes matter. Knowing what to do, and making sure help is alerted fast, changes outcomes.

Updated October 2026.

In the moment

Stay calm and don't rush to lift them. Check whether they're hurt or in pain before any movement; a wrong lift can make an injury worse. If there's any sign of serious injury — head impact, severe pain, confusion, or they can't get up — call local emergency services immediately. If they're unhurt, help them to a stable position slowly, using a sturdy chair for support.

Why fast response matters

The danger of a fall isn't only the impact — it's the time spent on the floor afterward. An older person who can't get up and can't reach a phone may be stranded for hours, and that "long lie" carries its own serious health risks. The faster someone knows, the better the outcome.

Two ways your family finds out

They reach out. The person being cared for has one clear HELP button¹ — on their phone, or right from their Apple Watch or Wear OS watch. One press sends a priority alert to the entire CareTeam at the same moment, reaching them even through silent and Do Not Disturb. Not a call center — the people who love them and can act. Everyone gets it at the same moment, and the family can use notes to agree who goes, so help isn't assumed to be someone else's job.

Their watch notices. If they wear a fall-detection-capable watch and it detects a fall, the watch's own operating system runs its emergency response. KinectedCare then does the part a watch can't do on its own: it notifies the whole CareTeam¹ — so the family hears about it too, not just an emergency line. Detection is the watch's job; telling the people who love them is ours.

An honest limit

Detection belongs to the watch. What KinectedCare does is close the gap between something happening and the family knowing about it¹ — which is often the gap that matters most. It is not a substitute for emergency services.