Falls can have devastating consequences for seniors. From broken hips to serious head trauma, seniors often experience significant injuries that can alter the course of the rest of their lives. Fortunately, most major falls are preventable when you and your aging loved one take some basic precautions.
1. Encourage Your Loved One to Stay Active
Seniors need strong core and leg muscles to help them maintain their balance. Encourage your loved one to exercise each day. If your loved one lives with mobility issues, find a safe form of exercise. Walking with a friend or taking a water aerobics class can build a stronger core.
2. Schedule Important Health Care Visits
Some senior falls are related to health changes that could’ve been addressed beforehand. For instance, a senior with vision changes might not be able to see an object in his or her path. Someone with untreated diabetes might feel dizzy from low blood sugar and stumble while walking. Make sure your loved one has transportation to medical appointments to catch new health changes before they lead to falls.
An increased risk of falls is one of the many challenges seniors may have to face. Certain age-related conditions can make it more challenging for seniors to age in place safely and comfortably, but Richmond live-in care experts are available around the clock to help seniors manage their health. Whether your loved one is living with dementia or recovering from a stroke, you can trust the professional live-in caregivers from Assisting Hands Home Care to enhance his or her quality of life.
3. Create a Fall-Proof Home
Senior-proofing a home involves checking for areas where you can make improvements that increase safety. If you aren’t sure where to begin, arranging for a professional fall risk inspection is a great way to start. You’ll likely find your loved one benefits from a few additions to the home, such as handrails in the bathroom and more lighting. Clearing clutter from walkways is a simple thing you can do right now to instantly make your loved one’s home safer.
Hiring a professional caregiver is one of the many ways you can reduce your loved one’s risk of falls. If your senior loved one needs help managing an illness or assistance with daily tasks, make sure you choose a top-rated provider of at-home care Richmond. Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life in the golden years.
4. Suggest Planning Around Bad Weather
Home isn’t the only place seniors might fall. Many older adults fall when they venture out of their homes to locations where they have less control over the environment. Trying to walk across a wet floor to enter a grocery store on a rainy day or attempting to move through an icy parking lot are situations when a fall is more likely to happen. If possible, have your loved one plan to do activities outside the home on days when the weather is nice. If your parent must go out for an appointment or other essential activity, a caregiver can provide support in unfamiliar surroundings.
5. Provide Assistance during Health Challenges
The fall risk goes up anytime a senior has a health change that impacts mobility. For example, a new medication might make your loved one feel drowsy or dizzy. This can increase the risk of falling when getting out of bed or moving through the home. When you know your loved one is facing a health change, arranging for someone to stay with him or her while adapting to the change is an effective way to prevent falls.
Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted Richmond elderly home care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help. To create a comprehensive in-home care plan for your parent, give us a call at (804) 600-0002 today.
