It’s easy to forget just how much life depends on balance until the day someone you love loses theirs.
And for older adults, dizziness can turn an ordinary moment into one of complete alarm. Sometimes it’s only something mild, like dehydration or a side effect from medication. But other times, it’s a serious warning sign, one that needs immediate attention.
Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care can give you the answers you need for your loved one. In under an hour, the right provider can help turn that alarm into a plan you can trust.
Why Dizziness Happens in Older Adults
Dizziness in elderly adults is not just “part of getting older.” It’s the body’s way of signaling that something is off. In seniors, a wide range of factors can trigger those signals, including:
- Dehydration and low blood pressure — according to the CDC’s Still Going Strong campaign, older adults are at higher risk for dehydration because of reduced thirst and other age-related changes. And this is hot and humid Louisiana — fluid loss matters.
- Medication side effects — blood pressure medicines, heart drugs, diuretics and other medications can all influence someone’s balance.
- Vertigo and inner ear problems — according to a 2024 UCLA Health article, fluid buildup in the inner ear, common in older patients, can create spinning sensations.
- Circulatory issues — heart rhythm changes or narrowed blood vessels can reduce blood flow to someone’s brain.
- Metabolic causes — low blood sugar or electrolyte imbalances are known to cause unsteadiness.
Even when the cause turns out to be mild, dizziness increases the risk of one of the leading causes of injury in older adults — falls. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries (STEADI) initiative, more than one in four adults aged 65 and older falls each year.
Common Causes: Mild to Serious
While it could be from something basic like “skipping breakfast,” dizziness can also signal urgent problems that need prompt care. Some of the more serious issues could be:
- Strokes — when blood flow to the brain is suddenly blocked, weakness or vision problems leading to lost balance can result.
- Vertigo, such as BPPV — a spinning sensation that can make it hard to stand or walk, often caused by a small inner-ear imbalance.
- Severe infections, such as a urinary tract infection that has spread to the bloodstream
- Internal bleeding from an injury or ulcer
Urgent Care vs. ER: How to Decide
Bear in mind that it’s not an “all-or-nothing” decision. Urgent care providers are trained to quickly recognize a serious problem. We can arrange transfers to an ER ourselves if needed.
Go to Urgent Care if:
- The dizziness comes on gradually or in repeated episodes
- The symptoms improve with rest, hydration or eating.
- There are no severe neurological symptoms, like slurred speech, involved.
Go to the ER if:
- The dizziness is sudden and severe.
- It comes with weakness, numbness, difficulty speaking, or major vision changes.
- There’s chest pain, shortness of breath or fainting.
- The person hit their head or was injured in a fall.
If you think it’s a life-threatening situation, call 911.
How Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care Can Help
If you bring a dizzy loved one to Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care, here’s what you can expect:
- Immediate Triage: We’ll check vital signs and perform a focused neurological exam.
- On-site Testing: We can run lab work, EKGs and other tests right away to pinpoint the cause.
- IV Hydration: It provides quick relief if dehydration is to blame.
- Treatment for Minor Causes: Care for ear infections, flu or low blood sugar on the spot.
Find us at 2031 Audubon Ave. We’re open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and you don’t need an appointment to come in.
Taking a Steady Step Forward
Dizziness in an older adult can be unsettling, but knowing the signs — and when urgent care is the right choice — can make the situation less frightening.
Every step matters when your loved one’s balance is at stake. Take the next one with Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care — come see us today.
