277. How To Not Panic When Your Loved One With Dementia Falls

It’s 2 a.m. The phone rings. “Your mom fell.” Panic. Guilt. A thousand what-ifs.

Episode 277 speaks straight into that moment—and shows a calmer, wiser way forward.

1) Know the two types of falls

Medical emergency: obvious injury, severe pain, deformity, unconsciousness. Don’t pass go—call 911.

Non-injury/assist-needed fall: dignity is hurt, not the body. The person can’t get up but is responsive. You have time to assess.

2) Remember: falls are part of the journey

Even when you do everything “right,” people with dementia will fall. Often it’s not a balance problem—it’s judgment, distance/depth perception, impulsivity (especially at night). Plan to prevent injury and mitigate effects: ask hospice for a bedside commode, consider a transport wheelchair for community outings, even place a spare mattress by the bed if floor-to-bed transfers are chronic. Isaiah 46:3–4; Psalm 46:1–3.

3) Emotional first aid before physical first aid

Your anxiety raises their anxiety. Pause. Breathe. Pray. Then act. Lizette teaches the PEACE framework (Person, Environment, Activity participation, Caregiver contribution, Educate) to help you enter the scene regulated and wise. 2 Corinthians 4:16–18.

4) Use the fall to check your stewardship

Afterwards, review three lanes:

Skills: Do I know safe floor-to-bed techniques? Do we need a therapy “tune-up”?

Resources: Right equipment (walker, commode, wheelchair), enough human help, useful tech (cameras)?

Self: Am I resting? Do I have an emergency plan to keep my emotions in control? Galatians 6:2; Heidelberg Q1.

A fall is data, not condemnation. Your loved one’s dignity and your worth as a caregiver are intact.

🎟 Invitation: The next Ask the Dementia Coach live Q&A is Saturday, August 23 at 12 p.m. ET. Bring your hardest scenario; leave with a biblically grounded plan: thinkdifferentdementia.com/ask

💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?

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🧭 Still Feeling Stuck?

If you’re wondering what’s underneath your stress, the Caregiver Stress Assessment can help clarify what’s really weighing you down — so you can take your next step with peace.

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