Quality Home Care Tips On Reducing The Risk Of Falls At Home

By ensuring your senior loved one's surroundings are safe and free of risks associated with fall-related injuries, you can continue to provide quality home care for your parent or relative in Wheat Ridge, CO

If your senior loved one has started experiencing mobility difficulties or finds it more and more challenging to independently and safely move around the home, it is time to consider quality home care options.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 30,000 people died as a result of falls in 2015. The majority of those people were seniors older than 65.

The statistics are frightening. One in three adults falls every year - and a lot of them break their bones, sustain a head injury or worse. After a fall, seniors may be unable to lead an independent lifestyle any more. Many of them develop a fear of falling and withdraw in themselves, which can lead to depression and anxiety.

That is why quality home care always puts an emphasis on fall prevention. Falls can be prevented and your loved one can remain at home as they age - but they need to live in a safe, senior-proofed environment.

Here is what you can do to reduce the risk of falls in your parent's home:

1. Secure all carpets to the floor and cover hardwood with anchored carpet. Making sure that carpets cannot be easily moved is important as seniors often shuffle their feet while walking.
2. Remove rugs that cannot be secured and consider replacing them with non-slip rug pads.
3. Rearrange furniture so that your loved one has lots of space to move around without bumping into things. It is a good idea to remove end tables from rooms as well as pieces of furniture that have no real use and are just there for decoration.
4. Make certain that all the items your loved one uses on a regular basis are easily reachable and accessible. This includes food, plates, cutlery, pots and pans, and other kitchen items, as well as clothes and shoes in closets. Advise your parent not to use power outlets that are located behind furniture. Quality home care experts recommend that you spend some time with your loved one and see which items they often use and make them as accessible as possible.
5. Improve home lighting. Every room in the house needs to be well lit, especially those that feature stairs. Buy nightlights and strategically place them throughout the home, including in the bathroom, kitchen, and hallways.
6. Install railings on stairs so your loved one can hold onto something while climbing or descending the stairs. Cover the stairs with non-slip adhesive strips. Securing the stairs is particularly important because accidents occurring on staircases and stairways are the second leading cause of injury in the US.
7. Install grab bars in the bathtub, shower, and toilets. Place non-slip mats in bathrooms.
8. If possible, get a help button. In case of a fall or emergency, if they have a help button, your loved one can easily call for help.
9. Consider quality home care provided by professionals. Expert senior care services include fall-proofing the home, so you can have peace of mind that people with knowledge and experience are doing everything they can to minimize your parent's risk of indoor falls.

Visiting Angels of Denver is a leading provider of non-medical in home care services for seniors. To learn more about the in-home assisted living services provided by our staff of compassionate caregivers, please call our Wheat Ridge office at (303) 232-9999 or contact us for more information.

Visiting Angels proudly serves Arvada, Aurora, Denver, Glendale, Golden, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, and the surrounding areas of Colorado.