If you placed a chair near her & stablized it, can she move to a sitting position, then to a crawl position, then a knight's position (one bended knee) then pull up to the chair?
If not, your options are #1. more people: emergency services (unless strong willing neighbours or relatives). Or #2 lifting device: ELK is one type (a cushion that you slide underneath & inflate until seated position). Look good but $$$ & I really think it would be too awkward for just one assistant.
Falls prevention is always better! Good stable shoes, correct walking aide, remove trip hazards etc.
In my state, we have a 311 non-emergency call operator. I asked for a lift assist and the fire paramedics came immediately, no charge. They took her vitals and determined that an ambulance was needed, had ambulance charges. It took 4 people to lift her off the floor, so the extra help was a plus to everyone concerned. I felt so relieved to have all the expert help given. Mom is doing great now, too.
What a great service! In California, no such 311 option--it's either 911 or DIY, which is ridiculous! All states everywhere need to massively modernize and create services geared toward the new reality--that folks are living longer, yet need options short of the only existing options-- "old folks" homes or automatically being rushed to hospital for admittance (and I can't bear to think about the absurd, obscene expense incurred for either of them). What state are you in, Forgotten?
We are living in an Assisted Living place, Been here since June 2019. very nice place, wife has mild dementia wants to go home, last month she got up from recliner chair and somehow slid down to floor, there she stretched out and went to sleep, I called staff to give a hand and lift her up, Staff came touched to see if anything was broken she complained of pain like she always does, Staff took out phone and started calling ER's, I told staff not to call ER they did not even look at me, I begged them not to call, Ambulance and a fire truck was there in a short time with about 6 personel. Put a blanket on floor , rolled her over two men picked up ends and lifted her on easy chair. When awake she would get up herself, I learned a lesson Do not call for help It would cost I have insurance also co-pay of $225.00 that I have to pay for something we did not need.
I understand your upset about having a bill for services you feel (probably correctly) you didn't really need; however I ask you to consider a couple of other thoughts.
While you saw your wife's fall and know it was not very violent, the AL staff did not see the fall and have to consider your judgement about what many be a fall with enough violence to injury your wife may not be the best. Finding her sleeping or unconscious to their viewpoint was probably frightening. They were afraid she might have a more serious injury.
Sometimes we are just wrong. Past history of no injury falls can cause us to think the current fall is not a serious injury event too. In Sep 2018 my mother drug her left foot, lost her balance, fell hard to her knees and then went completely down in our living room. Mom did not "hit" any furniture on her way down; her only contact was with the floor itself. She sat up and braced herself with her hands and didn't seem to be in any pain but I could see bruising on both knees. I was able to lift Mom onto a low stool, but Mom complained about knee pain when she tried to assist. I wrapped her up in a blanket and called 911 for lift assist and evaluation; EMTs got Mom into a chair, checked vital stats for injuries and assured me Mom could not have any simple fractures or messed up her replacement knee joints because her vital signs indicated she just wasn't in enough pain. I accepted their evaluation and did not transport my mother to the ER. Instead, I got family help to settle her into her lift recliner, iced both knees, gave her anti-inflammatories and watched closely. In a week, the left knee swelling and bruising was obliviously healing well, Mom was placing weight on the knee without any pain but the right knee wasn't much better. A few weeks later, the left knee was completely healed and the bruising had left the right knee but Mom still could not place weight on it so off we went to the doctor. X-rays showed a fracture of the femur just above the knee replacement. In hindsight, I wish Mom had been transported. In this case, it didn't impact her treatment choices or recovery but what if the delay would have made a difference? My mother had a decades long history of falls in the house and yard with no serious injuries beyond bruising and I expected that pattern to continue unless she hit something like the bathtub on the way down. I had not accepted Mom was older and just plain more likely to be injured from _any_ fall, even a simple one.
Here fire truck and ambulance would respond, cost is over $ 1000.00 I have insurance, but copay is $ 225.00. no insurance? you are responsible for bill
First of all, why is she falling so much? Does she have balance problems? Or orthstatic hypotension? You should have her examined by her physician and also request an evaluation for physical therapy. If she falls, you should not attempt to lift her alone. You risk injuring both of you. I would purchase a med alert system so that if she falls you can push the button and get help. Some of the systems can be programmed to notify family members first. It also might be wise to have the physician order a home safety evaluation to eliminate fall risks. This evaluation usually performed by occupational therapists.
In Texas, I call 911 and tell the operator " this is a non-emergency call and I just need a "lift assist", and the firemen come out and lift my husband and check him out for any cuts or bruises and do vitals. If your loved one needs to go to the hospital, then you can take them to the ER in your personal vehicle or they will get EMS to transport to closest hospital.
I posted about my own personal response to falls. One of the major reasons I finally took that route was due to the fact that EVERY time I called 911, they ALWAYS insisted on taking mom to hospital in the ambulance. I was NOT allowed to drive her to ER or Urgent Care for a basic evaluation. Either they implied, or I wrongfully inferred, that this was a legal protocol. I eventually learned that mom COULD refuse to be taken, but the process required each of us to sign a multipage legal release.
The best thing to do is call 911. They are there in a matter of minutes and the firefighters are great. The other good thing is if they are hurt, they are ready to bring them to the hospital.
My mom was taught to crawl to a couch or chair and pull herself onto it. One person I know used an ironing board to get her dad up by having him roll onto it and slowly pull up the end his head is on. That said, the lift assist is the safest way to go.
Yes!!! As I've said, in California, there wasn't such a thing as calling for a 'lift assist'. I improvised like you did with your mom, and as she did with her own dad. My mom was ALL in with these 'in case' plans!
Get a judo belt. Wrap around her waist and tie with square knot. Use belt to help life her. Make sure you use a wide stance and use your butt and leg muscles to life. Always move in 1 direction (no lift and turn in same motion).
Lots of great advice above so I won't repeat it. One thing I noticed was WHERE Mom fell and it was nearly always at night when she was heading to the bathroom.
There were plenty of night lights so Mom could see. Her house was very small so there was a long dresser and doors and walls to support her if she was unsteady. But there was a three-foot-gap in her bedroom where she always fell. Since I couldn't figure out how to put up a bar in that space without blocking her closet or the other dresser, I placed unused--and heavy--dining chairs with the backs facing her walkway for support. She had things to support her the entire distance to the bathroom She never fell again.
She was obese and there was no way for me to lift her. I put a dining room chair in front of her and together we'd get her on her hands and knees. She grasp the chair and we'd slowly get her legs under her so she could slip onto the chair and catch her breath then stand up.
Falls happen even with the best precautions, but they will reduce the number. I used a floor alarm -- when the person steps on the mat it will ring an alarm. I disliked bed alarms as it would sound off false alarms, but the floor alarm worked like a charm. It prevented a lot of falls with my mom. Their reflexes are impaired and any kind of narcotic or psychotropic increases the risk substantially, so I never allowed any doctor to prescribe anything of that sort.
If she is on Medicare OR Medicaid get your doctor to order a Hoyer lift and learn how to use it. Eventually my mom got totally bedridden so I used it very often to transfer her from her bed to the living room chair. You can also get hospital beds and other things with a doctor's order.
You can also order FALL MAT. Getting out of bed is the most common place a person falls. This will cushion the fall.
Keep the room uncluttered, and remove obstacles. Keep a small light on. Side rails for shower. all kinds of things you can do. Medicare/Medicaid does not cover side rails though, and you have to install them yourself. No big deal -- if I can do it anybody can.
EMS (911) will help get your loved one off the floor without charge. They get those calls all the time.
I wish that EMS would simply have helped me with getting my mom up (and check for broken bones and massive stroke that I might've missed). Once I called those 3 numbers, it was no turning back: "go straight to ER via ambulance, be admitted for 48 hours, and be charged for ambulance and at least 10 expensive diagnostic procedures, as required by law.
There are dozens of great solutions on YouTube... these will tell you how to help her get up with both of you participating. (Don't be in too much of rush to get her up... the body needs a bit of time to figure out what happened. Be calm and reassuring and stay by her side until she feels ready to try.) 911 help is always in the wings, don't be afraid to "bother them"... but you'll both feel more powerful if you can figure it out for yourselves.
Larida, this is perfect and wonderful. Esp. about not rushing--the body needs time to 'figure out what happened', and also, my awareness that mom had already become insecure of her own physical abilities, and was considerably unnerved by the fall. [As would I be--I was a young, healthy competitive distance runner for many years, and the few times I tripped and went down, even though uninjured, it took my body/nerves 2-3 days to fully release the trauma of going down.] Thank you so much, Larida, for your wisdom!!
When my father began falling (luckily not hurting himself), I had to call 911. I felt terrible to have to do this but there was no one available to help me. That was when i decided I could no longer care for him at home, sadly. But this time, fortunately, his dementia had reached the point that he wasn't aware he was no longer living in his home. But this repeated falling was a sign to me that it was time for him to move to where there were people who could safely help him up from the floor. Good luck.
Get a doctor to write you an order for a lift. Medicaid made pay for it. Try to order the lift to stand from Best Care. You can set her directly on the toilet, wheelchair, or bed. You can also dressed her with it because she will be standing. Good luck and may God bless
You call 911 and tell them she's not hurt (if she isn't) but can't get her up. They will come and lift her up for you. Had to do that many times with my mom and also with myself. They know how to pick her up without hurting her and it will save you from getting hurt too.
Have had to do this before. What has worked for us, is I still have to lift she has to either plant her feet on floor or against a piece of furniture and push while I hold around her upper half we lift together to get her to my knee to sit . Then it is easier for her feet to be flat on floor and ger to push to stand position. It's the first lift that is the hardest to get them to help. Good luck hope it helps.
Here in Las Vegas we have a non-emergency number to call for such assistance. No charge but very helpful. they told me it is part of what I pay for in their service. Paramedics come with the engine and checked her out. Saved my back. she and I also worked out the use of furniture to get her up. The easiest was to get her near the couch and help her to roll up onto it then she could sit up. A visiting nurse provided lot of help in all of this. Then there is still the old chair lift thing. If you have a strong back and a sturdy chair.
Falls are very serious in the elderly. I worked with actuarial data for my career. Once an elderly person starts to fall due to physical reasons, the mortality rate in that population is 50% within 2 years. Complications from broken bones and head injuries are some of the biggest causes of death and disability.
Given that, preventing falls is key. Assisted living facilities are assessed and graded on how many falls their patients have. In our state, if an AL resident falls more than X number of times in 6 months, the state regulations are they cannot stay in AL, they are nursing home status.
I'd get an assessment by an MD for any elder who has repeated falls. The MD can suggest a care plan to avoid the falls, which may include a referral to physical therapy. home modifications, etc.
I wondered if it is neglect on the caregiver's part if they DON'T place their loved one in a facility to help prevent falls? Wouldn't this be part of a criteria that home care is no longer working? I'm astounded at the replies where repeated help was needed for falls.
I found a video on youtube posted by Occupational Therapist Rhonda B which shows ideas on how to use common items in your home to get up from a fall. It is called "How to get up from the floor (after a fall) - MacGyver style!" You can find it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ETgQD8QhZs I like the fact that it gives you a visual, I believe that makes it easier to follow.
Learn from a Physical Therapist a SAFE way to help someone move, either into/out of a car, or up off the floor, or out of a tub.
Doing it 'wrong' will result in the CG having back strain, and possibly worse. I ruined my back during my CG years and required 2 surgeries. I got the 'lift training' far too late in my career to do much good.
Sometimes, you simply have to call 911. Weigh the options and make the decision. Even a small person, having fallen, suddenly doubles their weight. My DH is 255 lbs and when he's fallen--I have NO option but to call 911. Luckily, only twice and both due to him trying to get out of bed after a massive concussion, but it made me realize that there is no possible way I could shift him alone. It took 4 firefighters to get him back in bed.
We were not charged for the first 'run' but were for the 2nd. Made DH realize he needed to be more cooperative with getting up w/o help.
From our physical therapist: Get a wide belt, the kind they use in hospital when walking a patient, and have close by. Have her crawl to the nearest chair or couch or bed (best) and get on her hands and knees. Put belt LOOSELY around her chest under her upper arms and not her chest or lungs. Have her put her hands on the seat and you pull her up as she pushes. It’s easier with two people but if that’s not an option you can do it. Talk gently and clearly explaining what your doing. Once she is off the floor and up on her tummy she can roll over into sitting position. If you call EMTs to help they will charge you and not insurance because it wasn’t a life threatening situation. Also if you have a neighbor that can help you may want ask them if they’d be available if a situation arises. Belt can be obtained at medical supply or from Amazon for $10-12.
The EMTs will not charge her and it is almost always the fire dept that provides lift assists, NOT the EMTs. In jurisdictions that allow citizens to be unfairly charged for services they already pay for via taxes, there is usually an exemption for Medicaid and Medicare patients-they can’t be billed.
These techniques only work with someone who is uninjured, of reasonable weight and still has the leg strength and cognitive ability to assist you in getting them to their feet. My mother had nerve impairment in one leg and would have simple falls every 6-12 months for decades. Often she could get to her feet herself using the chair technique and I only had to carry the chair to her fall site. When she became older and less able to help I almost always got help for the stool technique. If you have any doubts about your wife's ability to assist or your own strength, please ask for help from neighbors or a lift assist from a local fire department or EMTs. In my area, the fire department bills your insurance or asks for a donation; they do not want cost to be a factor when a senior needs a little help.
One technique that works with someone who has difficulty getting up but still has enough strength to push to stand is to use a chair. The person who has fallen gets onto their hand and knees (you may need to place a pillow under the knees if this position is painful). The assistant places a sturdy arm chair in front of the person and assists the fallen person to rising enough to place their hands and then their forearms on the chair's seat, pushing the chair toward the fallen as needed while making sure it does not slide away from the fallen person at any time. Using the chair for leverage, the fallen pushes up to their feet and then stands using the chair arms for leverage and balance. Often the fallen then turns around and takes a seat.
Another method requires you or you and a friend be able to lift the person a few inches onto a solid low stool. Place the stool as close as possible behind the fallen person. Place your forearm under the person's shoulder - do not grab their arm with your hand. While you are lifting from one side and hopefully another person is lifting from the other side while the fallen pushes as much from their legs as possible, you set the person on the low stool. I could often then place my feet in front of the fallen's feet and lean back pulling her to her feet using our grasped forearms. Two people (one on each side) can lift a person from the stool. A stronger person can stand behind the fallen person with their arms clasped under the fallen's shoulders and hands clasped together across the fallen's chest while lifting the fallen onto the stool.
When doing any lifting, please remember to keep your back as straight as possible and use your legs for most of the lifting power.
We had trouble lifting MIL because she had fluid in her knees and the normal method was too painful. Normal method is kneeling next to a chair or stool, arms on the seat, push down, small stool under bum, then repeat going higher each time. Another useful method is to have a flat seat that you can slide under bum, with ropes like a swing either side that can be raised with a pulley. The problem then is where to attach the pulley. When we did our house reno, we built a metal hook through the wall over a door between bedroom and bathroom ensuite, to provide a solid place for the pulley. We attached a mirror on the bedroom side, which looks great. Perhaps you can work out a variation on this that would work in your house.
We worked out that MILs falls were usually when she got out of bed to go to the toilet in the night, and couldn’t see where she was going. We got a touch lamp that she couldn’t miss touching from the bed, and it reduced the falls a lot.
Using furniture is a great idea, if she is cooperative. Using furniture properly, pretty much anyone can get up by themselves.
The problem is if they can't do that. If you need to help them, get a gait belt. It's a wide belt that fits around the torso giving you a good handhold. It's much easier to pickup someone with a gait belt. Without one, picking up mom is a sloppy disastrous mess. Mom doesn't like being picked up by lifting her under her arms. With a gait belt though, she doesn't complain at all. It's also much easier on the lifter. When I used to pick up grandma after a fall without a gait belt, it always felt like I was going to pull my back. With a gait belt, I can lift her where her feet are a foot off the ground and carry her a fair distance.
As others have said, lift with your legs and not your back. Do not lift someone with your back bent over. Squat down with your back aligned properly and lift with your legs.
When my Dad falls, I have him roll over onto his stomach and pull his knees up under himself. I have him work up to a "crawling" position. Then I place a soft chair (or something he can pull up on) in front of him. It takes a while, but this has been very helpful for us. When my Mother gets down, sometimes there's no getting her up and I call the local Fire Dept. for help. They are so helpful and kind. Hope you find help - this will take a toll on your back, if it hasn't already. Bless you!
You make a call to your 911 service and ask for a "Lift Assist" when the paramedics arrive they will help her up and gt her back into her chair or bed. As long as there is no transport to the hospital there normally is no charge for a Lift Assist. (I called for 9 Lift Assists over the course of 3 years never was charged, and the paramedics were amazing!) This is the safest way, they are trained to lift a person safely so there would be no injury to her or to you. When I called I would do the following: Make sure my Husband was safe, not going to fall more, put a pillow under his head.. Call 911 Turn on the porch light Put a note on the door that it was open and the dogs were confined. I would confine the dogs. I would return to my Husband and make sure he was comfortable and not frightened. When the paramedics arrived they would walk in and I would call out that I was in ...whatever room we were in. They would ask if I wanted transport to the hospital, I would say no and they would have me sign papers stating I was declining transport. Then they would be on their way. Takes minutes.
If you placed a chair near her & stablized it, can she move to a sitting position, then to a crawl position, then a knight's position (one bended knee) then pull up to the chair?
If not, your options are #1. more people: emergency services (unless strong willing neighbours or relatives). Or #2 lifting device: ELK is one type (a cushion that you slide underneath & inflate until seated position). Look good but $$$ & I really think it would be too awkward for just one assistant.
Falls prevention is always better! Good stable shoes, correct walking aide, remove trip hazards etc.
Is it the same reason for the falls every time?
I have insurance also co-pay of $225.00 that I have to pay for something we did not need.
While you saw your wife's fall and know it was not very violent, the AL staff did not see the fall and have to consider your judgement about what many be a fall with enough violence to injury your wife may not be the best. Finding her sleeping or unconscious to their viewpoint was probably frightening. They were afraid she might have a more serious injury.
Sometimes we are just wrong. Past history of no injury falls can cause us to think the current fall is not a serious injury event too. In Sep 2018 my mother drug her left foot, lost her balance, fell hard to her knees and then went completely down in our living room. Mom did not "hit" any furniture on her way down; her only contact was with the floor itself. She sat up and braced herself with her hands and didn't seem to be in any pain but I could see bruising on both knees. I was able to lift Mom onto a low stool, but Mom complained about knee pain when she tried to assist. I wrapped her up in a blanket and called 911 for lift assist and evaluation; EMTs got Mom into a chair, checked vital stats for injuries and assured me Mom could not have any simple fractures or messed up her replacement knee joints because her vital signs indicated she just wasn't in enough pain. I accepted their evaluation and did not transport my mother to the ER. Instead, I got family help to settle her into her lift recliner, iced both knees, gave her anti-inflammatories and watched closely. In a week, the left knee swelling and bruising was obliviously healing well, Mom was placing weight on the knee without any pain but the right knee wasn't much better. A few weeks later, the left knee was completely healed and the bruising had left the right knee but Mom still could not place weight on it so off we went to the doctor. X-rays showed a fracture of the femur just above the knee replacement. In hindsight, I wish Mom had been transported. In this case, it didn't impact her treatment choices or recovery but what if the delay would have made a difference? My mother had a decades long history of falls in the house and yard with no serious injuries beyond bruising and I expected that pattern to continue unless she hit something like the bathtub on the way down. I had not accepted Mom was older and just plain more likely to be injured from _any_ fall, even a simple one.
I have insurance, but copay is $ 225.00. no insurance? you are responsible for bill
There were plenty of night lights so Mom could see. Her house was very small so there was a long dresser and doors and walls to support her if she was unsteady. But there was a three-foot-gap in her bedroom where she always fell. Since I couldn't figure out how to put up a bar in that space without blocking her closet or the other dresser, I placed unused--and heavy--dining chairs with the backs facing her walkway for support. She had things to support her the entire distance to the bathroom She never fell again.
She was obese and there was no way for me to lift her. I put a dining room chair in front of her and together we'd get her on her hands and knees. She grasp the chair and we'd slowly get her legs under her so she could slip onto the chair and catch her breath then stand up.
If she is on Medicare OR Medicaid get your doctor to order a Hoyer lift and learn how to use it. Eventually my mom got totally bedridden so I used it very often to transfer her from her bed to the living room chair. You can also get hospital beds and other things with a doctor's order.
You can also order FALL MAT. Getting out of bed is the most common place a person falls. This will cushion the fall.
Keep the room uncluttered, and remove obstacles. Keep a small light on. Side rails for shower. all kinds of things you can do. Medicare/Medicaid does not cover side rails though, and you have to install them yourself. No big deal -- if I can do it anybody can.
EMS (911) will help get your loved one off the floor without charge. They get those calls all the time.
Saved my back.
she and I also worked out the use of furniture to get her up. The easiest was to get her near the couch and help her to roll up onto it then she could sit up.
A visiting nurse provided lot of help in all of this.
Then there is still the old chair lift thing. If you have a strong back and a sturdy chair.
Falls are very serious in the elderly. I worked with actuarial data for my career. Once an elderly person starts to fall due to physical reasons, the mortality rate in that population is 50% within 2 years. Complications from broken bones and head injuries are some of the biggest causes of death and disability.
Given that, preventing falls is key. Assisted living facilities are assessed and graded on how many falls their patients have. In our state, if an AL resident falls more than X number of times in 6 months, the state regulations are they cannot stay in AL, they are nursing home status.
I'd get an assessment by an MD for any elder who has repeated falls. The MD can suggest a care plan to avoid the falls, which may include a referral to physical therapy. home modifications, etc.
hugs 🤗
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ETgQD8QhZs
I like the fact that it gives you a visual, I believe that makes it easier to follow.
Doing it 'wrong' will result in the CG having back strain, and possibly worse. I ruined my back during my CG years and required 2 surgeries. I got the 'lift training' far too late in my career to do much good.
Sometimes, you simply have to call 911. Weigh the options and make the decision. Even a small person, having fallen, suddenly doubles their weight. My DH is 255 lbs and when he's fallen--I have NO option but to call 911. Luckily, only twice and both due to him trying to get out of bed after a massive concussion, but it made me realize that there is no possible way I could shift him alone. It took 4 firefighters to get him back in bed.
We were not charged for the first 'run' but were for the 2nd. Made DH realize he needed to be more cooperative with getting up w/o help.
If you call EMTs to help they will charge you and not insurance because it wasn’t a life threatening situation.
Also if you have a neighbor that can help you may want ask them if they’d be available if a situation arises. Belt can be obtained at medical supply or from Amazon for $10-12.
One technique that works with someone who has difficulty getting up but still has enough strength to push to stand is to use a chair. The person who has fallen gets onto their hand and knees (you may need to place a pillow under the knees if this position is painful). The assistant places a sturdy arm chair in front of the person and assists the fallen person to rising enough to place their hands and then their forearms on the chair's seat, pushing the chair toward the fallen as needed while making sure it does not slide away from the fallen person at any time. Using the chair for leverage, the fallen pushes up to their feet and then stands using the chair arms for leverage and balance. Often the fallen then turns around and takes a seat.
Another method requires you or you and a friend be able to lift the person a few inches onto a solid low stool. Place the stool as close as possible behind the fallen person. Place your forearm under the person's shoulder - do not grab their arm with your hand. While you are lifting from one side and hopefully another person is lifting from the other side while the fallen pushes as much from their legs as possible, you set the person on the low stool. I could often then place my feet in front of the fallen's feet and lean back pulling her to her feet using our grasped forearms. Two people (one on each side) can lift a person from the stool. A stronger person can stand behind the fallen person with their arms clasped under the fallen's shoulders and hands clasped together across the fallen's chest while lifting the fallen onto the stool.
When doing any lifting, please remember to keep your back as straight as possible and use your legs for most of the lifting power.
We worked out that MILs falls were usually when she got out of bed to go to the toilet in the night, and couldn’t see where she was going. We got a touch lamp that she couldn’t miss touching from the bed, and it reduced the falls a lot.
The problem is if they can't do that. If you need to help them, get a gait belt. It's a wide belt that fits around the torso giving you a good handhold. It's much easier to pickup someone with a gait belt. Without one, picking up mom is a sloppy disastrous mess. Mom doesn't like being picked up by lifting her under her arms. With a gait belt though, she doesn't complain at all. It's also much easier on the lifter. When I used to pick up grandma after a fall without a gait belt, it always felt like I was going to pull my back. With a gait belt, I can lift her where her feet are a foot off the ground and carry her a fair distance.
As others have said, lift with your legs and not your back. Do not lift someone with your back bent over. Squat down with your back aligned properly and lift with your legs.
This is the safest way, they are trained to lift a person safely so there would be no injury to her or to you.
When I called I would do the following:
Make sure my Husband was safe, not going to fall more, put a pillow under his head..
Call 911
Turn on the porch light
Put a note on the door that it was open and the dogs were confined.
I would confine the dogs.
I would return to my Husband and make sure he was comfortable and not frightened.
When the paramedics arrived they would walk in and I would call out that I was in ...whatever room we were in.
They would ask if I wanted transport to the hospital, I would say no and they would have me sign papers stating I was declining transport.
Then they would be on their way. Takes minutes.