Mom says she’s fine, but you call on a Then she mentions she had to sit down in the middle of the kitchen because everything went a little woozy. Just for a second, she says.

Frequent dizziness in older adults has a long list of possible causes. Many medications have it as a side effect. Medical conditions like low blood pressure, dehydration, blood sugar swings, heart rhythm issues, and poor sleep also contribute. Sorting out which one is the culprit belongs to the doctor. Families get stuck with the other part, which is what to do about Tuesday.

The Moments That Catch People Off Guard

Dizziness doesn’t usually announce itself. It shows up when someone stands too fast, climbs out of the tub, or reaches into the back of a cabinet.

Things families often notice:

• Holding the wall or furniture while walking through the house
• Sitting back down right after standing up
• Skipped meals, since cooking means standing and standing means risk
• Not drinking much water, to avoid trips to the bathroom
• Bruises that nobody can explain
• Staying home more, canceling plans at the last minute

Bruises are a quiet one. A parent who has fallen and doesn’t mention it is more common than you’d think.

Why Oakland Homes Make It Trickier

Lots of older houses around Oakland have stairs inside, stairs outside, and hills in between. Parking can be a hike from the front door. A trip to the mailbox is a bigger deal when your head swims on the way back.

Even a flat, simple apartment has its moments. Hard floors. A shower with a lip. A hallway with no good place to grab.

What a Caregiver Does During the Day

A caregiver is mostly there to be steady when someone else isn’t. They stay close when your dad gets up from his chair. They hang around the bathroom door. They carry the laundry basket so he doesn’t have to.

Other things that help:

• Setting out water and snacks throughout the day
• Making meals so the stove isn’t a risk
• Reminding about medications on schedule
• Slowing down transitions, like sitting on the edge of the bed for a minute before standing
• Driving to appointments, the pharmacy, or the grocery store
• Writing down when dizzy spells happen and what was going on

That last one gets overlooked. Doctors always ask when it happens and how long it lasts, and the issue is that many people just don’t remember. Having a caregiver around make it easier to track, as they can say it was after lunch, three times this week, and worse on Thursday.

Should your loved one experiences sudden dizziness with chest pain, slurred speech, or weakness on one side, it is an emergency, so call 911.

ComForCare of Castro Valley provides in-home caregivers for Oakland families whose parents deal with frequent dizziness. Call us and tell us what you’ve been seeing. We’ll go from there.

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