Life After the First Fall: How to Plan if Your Aging Parent Has Fallen
A senior’s first fall is often a greatly jarring and sobering experience for both that senior and their family. It may be the very first time that your family has been forced to acknowledge your senior loved one’s age and physical decline. Even if your senior loved one managed to walk away from their fall without serious physical injuries, the emotional and mental effects of falls can be debilitating. Many people wonder what to do when an elderly person they love keeps falling. At Visiting Angels of Chelsea, we want your senior loved one to live the safest and most joyful life that they can. This article contains five steps you should take after your loved one experiences their first fall.
Help From a Compassionate Team of Professionals
“I can't begin to say how much Visiting Angels has made an impact on my family's life. When searching for home care for my mother we didn't know where to begin. From my first conversation with Buteau till my mom passed away 5years later my mother received top-notch care, wonderful company, loving friendship, and professional handling of all kinds of emergencies. I would recommend them very highly to anyone who is looking for care for a loved one.”
How to Prevent Future Falls in Elderly Loved Ones
1. Take the First Fall Seriously
When seniors fall, they are at a greatly increased risk of additional falls. As such, it’s best to take action immediately after your loved one suffers their first fall. Be empathetic to your senior loved one–they have just experienced something that likely challenged their feelings of safety and independence.
2. Be Aware of Common Fall Risk Factors
Many different factors can lead to a fall. Typically, it is a combination of factors that leads to an accident. Things that can increase your loved one’s risk of falling include:
- Muscle weakness, particularly in the lower body
- Medications that may cause dizziness
- Poor eyesight
- Dehydration
- Low blood pressure
- Poor balance
- Clutter, tripping hazards (like throw rugs), uneven surfaces and poor lighting
- Shuffling when walking
- Loss of flexibility
- Alcohol consumption
- Hearing loss
- Poorly fitting footwear
- Lack of calcium and vitamin D in the diet
3. Help Your Loved One Improve Their Balance and Strength
The most common cause of falls in seniors is muscle weakness. Thankfully, there are simple exercises your loved one can perform that can help improve their balance and reduce muscle weakness.
- Standing straight up against the wall with heels, hips, and back against the wall for 60-120 seconds.
- Knee lifts while standing tall and holding onto a countertop or other supportive structure.
- Walking in a straight line. Even walking short distances–such as across the living room–can be beneficial.
- Using a pedal exerciser for a few minutes a day.
4. Acknowledge the Mental and Emotional Strain of Falling
Falls can often leave seniors with lasting emotional and mental symptoms like fear, anxiety, and depression. Many seniors struggle with feelings of helplessness and worry about losing their independence. Some avoid going out entirely in order to prevent additional falls. Be patient with your senior loved one and try to understand their feelings. Let them know that they are heard and that their feelings are valid. Once they build up enough confidence, encourage them to start making small steps towards regaining their mobility.
5. Get Help From a Fall Prevention Professional
Our professional caregivers at Visiting Angels of Chelsea can offer an in-depth analysis of the potential fall risks posed by your loved one’s home. Then, we can offer help with planning for fall prevention and provide solutions to prevent future falls. To supplement this, we can also assist your loved one with day-to-day activities that may be physically difficult for them like showering, cooking, grooming, and walking around the home.
Get Additional Information About Our In-Home Fall Prevention Services
Our Safe and Steady Fall Prevention Program can help your senior loved one in the greater Chelsea area stay safe and avoid accidents in the home. To learn more about this program, schedule a free in-home care consultation by calling us at (617) 409-9039 or filling out our online contact form. From there, we can send a caregiver to your home to speak with you and your family about all of the in-home care options we offer. Get in touch with us today to get started!