5 Approaches Bangor-Area Families Should Take After a Loved One Falls
Visiting Angels Mid Maine knows that a senior loved one's first fall may be a devastating event for the family. Depending on the seriousness of the fall, you may find that your loved one's circumstances have changed significantly. This is understandable given that the likelihood of a subsequent fall doubles after the first one.
The first fall may lead to serious bodily harm including concussions and fractured bones for seniors, but it can also seriously impact their psychological and emotional well-being. Seniors often experience anxiety or concern about continuing with their regular activities after experiencing even a single fall. This may result in heightened feelings of isolation and a weakened sense of self-reliance and safety, even when they are at home.
Visiting Angels Mid Maine is ready to help older adults in Bangor, Brewer, Hampden, Orono, Old Town, and nearby towns get the in-home senior care services they need to stay safe as they age in place.
What Should Families in Bangor, ME and Nearby Areas Do When a Senior Loved One Falls?
Do you know what to do when an elderly loved one falls? Here are five essential things families in Bangor and surrounding areas should take into consideration:
Take the First Fall Head On
The most important thing you can do when a senior loved one falls is to take the incident head on. This is true even if your loved one doesn't experience any significant injuries. Take immediate action, call 911, and think about getting in touch with Visiting Angels Mid Maine for expert senior care services if you need further assistance. Stay calm and collected; nobody needs the aftermath to stress them out.
Know Why Falls Occur
You must understand the causes of falls before you can take any action to prevent them in the future. A few of the reasons why elderly people often fall are:
- Lower body weakness
- Vertigo from medications
- Hindered eyesight
- Dehydration
- Low blood pressure
- Declining balance
- Impaired hearing
Try To Understand Your Loved One’s Fear
To begin the process of helping your elderly loved one overcome his or her fear of falling again, you have to get an understanding of the worries that they have. Make sure you check in with them after they've had some rest to see how they're doing, listen to any concerns they may have, and gauge their level of confidence in living alone. Your loved one will feel better about themselves and be able to go back to their normal routine if you acknowledge and empathize with their fears and worries.
Push Your Loved One To Maintain Their Strength
Encourage your loved one to keep up their strength after a fall; it will help them recover faster and stay safe. For many seniors in Bangor and nearby areas, the cause of their falls is muscular weakness; thus, strengthening those muscles may help avoid future falls. Always check with your loved one's doctor before encouraging them to get involved in a new workout program. Once you get the ok, you can hire a professional caregiver from Visiting Angels Mid Maine to encourage your loved one to incorporate exercise into their everyday routine.
Consider Professional In-Home Senior Care Services from Visiting Angels Mid Maine
Visiting Angels Mid Maine might be a great resource for you if you or a loved one is worried about the likelihood of another fall. Because of their age, seniors may be wary of recommendations from those close to them and may place a higher importance on the opinions of professionals. With the help of our caregivers, you may get an evaluation of your loved one's home and schedule frequent visits to check on their well-being.
Our senior care services can help your loved one stay safe by:
- Preparing meals that help them keep up their strength
- Provide mobility assistance so they can safely get around the house
- Clear clutter from stairs and walkways by assisting with light housekeeping
- Remind your loved one to take their medication and keep an eye out for symptoms that can impact their balance and coordination
- Helping out when your loved one bathes so they don't trip on slippery surfaces
- And so much more
Best of all, our senior care services are personalized base on each client's needs. So your loved one can benefit from our fall prevention services during the day, overnight, on weekends, during holidays, and even 24 hours a day. You can count on our caregivers to help your loved one stay safe as they live out their golden years at home.
Contact our Bangor, ME office by calling 207-573-1861 or filling out our form for a free in-home evaluation to learn how your loved one can live safely in the comfort of their own home.