5 Ways to Prevent Falls at Home
As we grow older, it's critical to prevent falls. This is because the risk of falling increases due to age-related physical changes, health issues, and the drugs used to treat them. An estimated 36 million falls occur every year, resulting in injuries in almost 32,000 people over the age of 65 every year. One in four seniors may experience a fall in any given year in the US, making falls a major public health issue. Read on for more about fall prevention in seniors.
Why Older Adults Are More Prone to Falls
As we age, we’re more likely to fall due to a combination of variables, such as:
● Health issues. For many older adults, as their age increases, their health functions decline. This natural progression includes diminished vision, slower reflexes, memory loss, and a loss of feeling or numbness in the lower extremities. Some older adults might also face issues in sensing, balancing, and standing steadily.
● Medication. In many cases, as adults grow older, so does their dependency on medication. While these medications are helpful, they have their set of side effects, which can affect their daily routines.
● Lack of exercise. The lack of exercise and movement can result in health issues. These issues can weaken their muscles, leading to falls.
● Inappropriate footwear. Footwear can also be a reason why older adults are likely to fall. Many older adults do not wear the right kind of footwear. With age, seniors experience many issues which require them to make changes to their lifestyles. This could include switching to footwear that can help older adults better manage tired and swollen feet or other foot issues. Older adults who do not wear this special footwear will not have the support they need and can experience a fall.
How to Prevent Falls at Home
It's a common misconception that falls among older adults are unavoidable—the truth is that falls can be avoided with the right measures. It’s also possible to lessen the severity of injuries sustained from falls by addressing some of the more modifiable risk factors and by preventing falls altogether.
Here are a few steps you can follow to minimize the risk of your senior loved ones injuring themselves after a fall:
Keep Track of Eye Checkups
Older adults need to get regular eye checkups. If they wear glasses, their prescription might change, and may need to change their glasses to match the eye doctor's new directions. Tint-changing glasses can be risky when entering homes and buildings with dark interiors after exposure to the bright sun. A fast solution is to change glasses as soon as you enter or to wait until the lenses get adjusted to the new surroundings.
Provide Non-Slip Mats
Many places at home may be wet or slippery due to multiple reasons. These places need non-slip mats. A slippery floor can be highly unsafe for an older person. Placing non-slip mats in these locations will help minimize the risk and make the environment less dangerous for your senior loved ones.
Clean Up Clutter
Cleaning up clutter is one of the simplest ways to prevent falls at home. Keeping your home clean and clearing out clutter is also a good way to maintain good hygiene indoors. Items can be put in their designated places to ensure they don’t act as obstacles around the home. To ensure that older people have clear pathways at home, remove all clutter, especially from stairwells and hallways.
Remove Excess Furniture
Avoid injuries at home by removing excess furniture and creating a clear path. As many older adults need support to walk or struggle to walk, this will be very helpful. While removing excess furniture, consider pieces like a coffee table, footstool, or decorative pieces that may limit movement at home. The idea here is to give older adults a clear and obstacle-free space to move about at home without injuring themselves.
Install Lights
Installing bright lights at home will go a long way toward fall prevention at home. Be sure to illuminate the paths in your home, especially those leading from the bedroom to the bathroom or any stairs. Install motion detector lights beside the stairwell and the restroom or use battery-operated nightlights.
How In-Home Care Providers Can Help Older Adults
While all the tips above may help prevent falls at home, there’s nothing like a professional in-home companion to assist older adults as they navigate around the house. An in-home caregiver can aid seniors who have recently fallen or who are at risk of falling by providing assistance around the house.
An in-home elder care companion may prevent older adults from incurring injuries associated with a major fall. They can help seniors in the following ways:
● Caregivers can monitor not just whether or not your senior loved one takes their medicine as recommended but also whether or not they are following the other guidelines outlined in the care plan.
● They can provide assistance getting to and from important medical and social events, including doctor's visits, physical therapy sessions, and social gatherings.
● In addition to helping older adults get around their homes, a home health aide can ensure they follow their doctor's instructions to help them recover from surgery, illness, or injury.
Having a trained in-home Certified Home Health Aide is a great solution for an aging loved one and can be one of the most helpful things you can do to help your older loved one live independently.
If you’re looking for in-home care services for yourself or a senior loved one in Mercer or Burlington Counties or surrounding areas, get in touch with our team at Visiting Angels at 609-883-8188.
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