It is important to know how to care for basic situations involving older adults. Standard first-aid and CPR skills may not be enough to care for a person until medical help arrives or is sought.

In many emergency situations, you don’t need special knowledge beyond standard first-aid and CPR skills to care for people ages 65 and older. Still, it’s important to know that older adults might be more vulnerable to accidents and injuries that may require immediate first aid assistance. Understanding some of the common first-aid medical situations that older adults face can help you prepare for possible emergencies.

Some situations that may require first aid include:

  • falls
  • cuts and scrapes
  • cardiovascular problems
  • heat- and cold-related illness

One in four adults ages 65 and older falls each year, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Falls can lead to:

  • lacerations
  • head injuries
  • fractures

Fall risk factors

Common risk factors for falling include:

  • reduced vision
  • difficulty hearing
  • lower body weakness
  • physical inactivity or immobility
  • conditions that can affect balance, such as:
    • diabetes
    • heart disease
    • thyroid diseases
  • medications that cause dizziness
  • problems with balance
  • mild cognitive impairment or dementia

What to do

If a person doesn’t appear to be seriously injured and believes they can stand up, help them to do so by:

  • encouraging them to breathe and stay calm
  • helping them roll onto their side and then push up onto their hands and knees
  • assisting them in finding a sturdy piece of furniture to use to help them stand
  • having them put one foot flat on the floor before trying to stand and move slowly
  • helping them to sit down comfortably and rest while they recover

Encourage them to contact their doctor that day or the next day to be checked over.

When to call 911

If you suspect someone has fallen and may be more seriously injured, ask them not to move and call 911 or local emergency services. Reassure them and keep them warm until help arrives.

If they stop breathing, perform CPR.

Your skin becomes thinner and more fragile with age, which can raise the risk of cuts and scrapes.

In some cases, these injuries become infected. While older age itself doesn’t cause infections, many older adults have chronic health conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease. These conditions can lower their immune system’s defenses against infections.

Minor cuts and scrapes

Most minor cuts that are treated at home will begin to heal in a few days. However, these types of injuries may take longer to heal in older adults.

If a cut or scrape is minor, you can typically clean it and dress it:

  • Wash your hands thoroughly and dry them.
  • Clean the wound using bottle or tap water, or a sterile wipe.
  • Clean the area around the wound using antibacterial soap and water or antiseptic. Try not to get any antiseptic in the cut.
  • Pat the area dry using gauze or a clean towel.
  • Apply a sterile dressing or bandage.

Keep the bandage clean by changing it regularly.

Severe cuts or heavy bleeding

If the person has a severe cut or heavy bleeding that won’t stop, call 911 or help them get emergency medical care.

While waiting for emergency services or getting to the emergency room, follow these steps:

  1. Check that there is nothing in the cut.
  2. If nothing is in it, apply pressure with a bandage or a small, clean, folded towel for 10 minutes.
  3. If a larger object is stuck in the wound, do not try to remove it. Instead, place pressure around the object to help stop the bleeding.
  4. If the bleeding hasn’t stopped, leave the first bandage or towel on the wound and add another to the top. Apply pressure for another 10 minutes.
  5. Once the bleeding has stopped, wrap a new bandage around the original cloth or bandage.

Signs of infection

Encourage the person to keep the wound clean and watch for signs of infection, such as:

  • redness or discoloration that spreads
  • increased swelling
  • increased pain
  • drainage from the wound
  • fever

If the wound becomes infected, make an appointment with their doctor or encourage them to do so. Applying an antibiotic cream or ointment can help promote healing.

Medicare and caregiver coverage

Medicare may help cover the cost of certain at-home healthcare. This may include nursing care if a doctor deems it to be necessary, which may include changing bandages and dressings on wounds.

Home healthcare services may also include physical therapy after a fall or injury.

You can contact Medicare or speak with your healthcare professional to learn more about whether you may qualify for these services.

As you age, your thermoregulatory control may decrease. Thermoregulatory control is your body’s ability to balance heat loss with heat generation and maintain its core temperature.

This can increase an older adult’s risk of developing heat– and cold-related illnesses, like heatstroke or hypothermia. To reduce the risk of heatstroke, it is important for older adults to practice proper sun protection by wearing protective clothing and staying hydrated.

They should also dress in layers when they are in the cold to help prevent hypothermia.

Heatstroke

The symptoms of heatstroke include:

  • increased core body temperature, generally 104°F (40°C) or higher
  • increased breathing rate or rapid breathing
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • dizziness
  • flushing skin
  • lethargy
  • a lack of sweating

If you suspect someone is experiencing heatstroke, contact 911 or local emergency services.

Then, move them out of the heat and try to cool them off by using one of the following methods:

  • Immerse them in cool water up to their neck if it is safe to do so.
  • Have them take a cool shower, if they are able.
  • Apply cold, wet cloths or towels to their skin and place ice packs on top, then fan them.

Continue the chosen method for at least 20 minutes or until emergency services arrive.

If they stop breathing, start CPR.

»Learn more: Heatstroke

Hypothermia

The symptoms of hypothermia include:

  • shivering, followed by a lack of shivering
  • pale and cold to the touch
  • confusion or disorientation
  • glassy stare
  • slow or no breathing
  • slow or no heart rate
  • stiff body with rigid muscles
  • unresponsiveness

If you think someone is experiencing hypothermia, call 911 or local emergency services.

Then, help them warm up slowly by:

  • moving them to a warmer place
  • removing their wet clothes and dry them
  • helping them put on dry clothes, including:
    • hat or other head cover
    • gloves
    • socks
  • wrapping them in blankets
  • placing them near a heat source or apply a heating pad or hot water bottles around their body (do not place heat pads or hot water bottles directly on the skin)
  • watching for changes in their condition, including responsiveness and breathing, until medical help arrives

If they stop breathing, begin CPR.

»Learn more: Hypothermia

Age-related changes in the heart and blood vessels may increase an older adult’s risk of cardiovascular issues, like heart attacks, heart failure, and strokes.

Stroke

According to the American Stroke Association, the symptoms of a stroke can be remembered by thinking FAST:

  • F: face drooping
  • A: arm weakness
  • S: speech difficulty
  • T: time to call 911

Other symptoms include:

  • numbness or weakness of the face, arms, or legs, especially on one side of the body
  • confusion, including difficulty speaking or understanding speech
  • difficulty seeing in one or both eyes
  • difficulty walking
  • dizziness or loss of balance
  • severe headache with no known cause

Every minute counts when it comes to treating stroke. If you believe someone is having a stroke, call 911 immediately and stay with them until help arrives.

Heart attack

According to the American Heart Association, signs of a heart attack include:

  • chest pain or discomfort
  • pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back
  • pain or discomfort in the arms or shoulders
  • shortness of breath
  • feeling overly tired, faint, or dizzy
  • nausea or vomiting

Keep in mind that symptoms in females may be different. While females will still usually experience chest pain or discomfort, they may also be more likely to experience symptoms less associated with heart attacks, such as:

  • anxiety
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • upset stomach
  • shortness of breath
  • pain in the shoulder, back, or arm
  • unusual tiredness or weakness

If you believe someone is experiencing a heart attack, call 911 or local emergency services. Stay with them and reassure them until medical help arrives.

You can also:

  • Encourage them to stop any activity and rest in a comfortable position.
  • Loosen any tight clothing.
  • Keep them from getting too warm or too cold.
  • Assist them in taking prescribed medication, such as nitroglycerin, if they have it.

If they stop breathing, begin CPR.

Accidents can happen at any time. Older adults may face a higher risk of certain injuries and illnesses, such as falls and heart attacks.

Consider taking a basic first aid and CPR training course to prepare for possible emergencies. Contact the American Red Cross or a local first-aid organization to learn about training opportunities in your area.

Older adults may be at a higher risk for falls, heat- and cold-related illness, and cardiovascular issues. It is important to know the signs and how to help them in these situations.

If someone has been seriously injured, experienced heat- or cold-related illness, or has a cardiovascular issue, calling 911 or local emergency services is an important first step.

You may want to consider taking a first aid and CPR course in order to be prepared for situations that may occur.