Learning more about elder care is vital to keep your ageing loved one safe, not only during the upcoming holidays but all year round.
Four Reasons Why Preventing Senior Falls is Important
When it comes to elder care, understanding why your older loved ones fall is half the battle. Here are four reasons why preventing senior falls is essential:
- Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for older Americans. 1 in 4 older adults falls each year.
- Falls result in injuries, such as hip fractures, broken bones, and head injuries.
- Falls, with or without injury, carry a heavy burden on quality of life. After a fall, many older adults develop a fear of falling and, as a result, limit their activities and social engagements.
- Fear of falling can result in further physical decline, depression, social isolation, and feelings of helplessness.
A proactive approach to making your older loved ones safe in their environment is the best way to prevent falls. This means looking at their space through their eyes and taking the needed action to prevent senior falls.
Elder Care 101: Four Areas to Focus on When Preventing Senior Falls
As our ageing population continues to grow, the number of senior falls is also on the rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in four Americans aged 65 and over will fall each year. And while some falls may not result in serious injury, others can lead to broken bones, bruises, and even death. With that in mind, here are four areas to focus on when preventing senior falls:
- Lighting: Increase the lighting throughout the house, especially at the top and bottom of the stairs. This will ensure that lighting is readily available when getting up in the middle of the night.
- Stairs: Make sure there are two secure rails on all stairs. This will help your older loved one feel confident when climbing stairs.
- Bathrooms: Install grab bars securely in the tub/shower. Also, consider installing handrails on both sides of the toilet, if there is space for them. In other words, make sure they’re installed where your loved one would actually use them. For even greater safety, consider using a shower chair and hand-held shower.
- Floors: Keep floors clutter-free by removing small throw rugs or using double-sided tape to keep the rugs from slipping. In addition, ensure that any carpets or rugs are firmly attached to the floor and can’t be pulled up.
By taking simple steps in each of the above areas, we can help our seniors stay safe and prevent falls.
10 Tips on How to Prevent Senior Falls
Here are 10 tips on how to prevent senior falls and keep your elderly loved ones safe:
- Install safety rails and grab bars in strategic locations around your home, such as along staircases, in hallways, and near bathrooms.
- Add lamps, brighter bulbs, and nightlights to improve lighting in the house so that your elder loved ones can clearly see where they are going.
- Use night lights in your bedroom and bathroom.
- Schedule regular appointments with an optometrist to properly care for your loved one’s vision.
- Rugs can be a safety hazard, especially for seniors. As we age, our balance starts to falter. So, by removing hazards like loose rugs, you can reduce the risk of falls. Try tacking them down or removing them altogether to stay safe.
- Rearrange your furniture in a way that creates clear paths to walk through your home.
- To easily prevent your loved ones from falling, buy them sensible shoes with good traction.
- Encourage them to sit in a low-to-the-ground chair when getting dressed or putting their shoes on in their bedroom.
- Make sure a healthcare professional is managing your current medications. Some medicines can affect balance.
- Exercise regularly to improve your strength and balance.
To learn more about preventing falls among your older loved ones, try following the six steps outlined in this article. This article was compiled with the help of Home With Help. To learn more about elder care, view the original article here.
