Elderly Fall Risk Calculator — Assess Your Parent's Risk

Falls are the leading cause of injury among adults over 65, but they are not inevitable. Most falls result from a combination of risk factors that can be identified and addressed before an accident happens. Understanding your parent's fall risk gives you the knowledge to take practical, preventive steps.

A fall risk assessment is not about predicting doom. It is about identifying the areas where small changes — removing a loose rug, adjusting a medication, adding a grab bar — can make a meaningful difference. Many of the highest-impact interventions are simple and inexpensive.

This calculator helps you evaluate your parent's risk across several key categories so you can focus your attention where it matters most.

Fall risk is rarely caused by a single factor. It usually results from several smaller risks adding up. The most significant factors include:

• Mobility and balance. Does your parent use a cane or walker? Do they have trouble getting up from a chair? Reduced balance and strength are the strongest predictors of falls.
• Medications. Certain medications — especially sedatives, blood pressure drugs, and antidepressants — can cause dizziness or drowsiness. Taking four or more medications of any type also increases risk.
• Vision changes. Poor vision makes it harder to see obstacles, judge distances, and navigate stairs. An outdated eyeglass prescription is a surprisingly common contributor.
• Home environment. Loose rugs, poor lighting, cluttered walkways, and lack of grab bars in the bathroom are all preventable hazards.
• Fall history. A parent who has fallen once is significantly more likely to fall again. Previous falls should always be taken seriously.

After completing the assessment, you will see your parent's overall risk level along with the specific factors contributing to it. Here is how to use that information:

Low risk. Your parent's current situation has few risk factors. Focus on maintaining their strength and balance through regular activity, and review their home environment for any easily fixable hazards.

Moderate risk. Several factors need attention. Start with the easiest changes — improving lighting, securing loose rugs, scheduling a vision check, and reviewing medications with their doctor. Consider adding a daily check-in through I'm Alive so you know immediately if something goes wrong.

High risk. Multiple significant factors are present. Work with your parent's healthcare provider to create a comprehensive fall prevention plan. A daily check-in becomes especially important here, since early detection of a fall or a bad day can prevent a minor incident from becoming a serious one.

You do not need to wait for a doctor's appointment to start reducing your parent's fall risk. Here are steps you can take right now:

• Walk through their home. Look at the space through the eyes of someone with reduced balance. Remove tripping hazards, improve lighting in hallways and stairways, and add non-slip mats in the bathroom.
• Check their footwear. Worn-out shoes and slippery socks are common culprits. Well-fitting shoes with non-slip soles make a real difference.
• Review their medications. Ask their pharmacist or doctor to check for medications that cause dizziness or drowsiness. A simple adjustment can lower risk significantly.
• Encourage movement. Gentle exercise — walking, chair exercises, or tai chi — builds the strength and balance that prevent falls. Even 15 minutes a day helps.
• Set up a daily check-in. If your parent does fall, knowing about it quickly matters. I'm Alive gives you a daily signal that your parent is okay and alerts you immediately if they are not.

A fall risk assessment gives you a snapshot of where your parent stands today. A daily check-in gives you ongoing awareness of how they are doing every day going forward. Together, they create a proactive approach to your parent's safety.

Complete the assessment on this page to understand your parent's current risk. Then download I'm Alive to put daily safety into practice. One assessment shows you what to fix. One daily tap shows you your parent is well. Both are free, and both take just a few minutes.