Elderly Fall Prevention: Spotting The Warning Signs In Fresno, CA

A large part of ensuring the safety of our seniors is fall prevention care. At Visiting Angels of Fresno, we teach our seniors about this topic through our Safe and Steady Fall Prevention Program. Below, we’re going to discuss the risk factors and warning signs that you can take note of to be proactive about fall prevention care.

            Monitoring Fall Risk

            Fall risk often increases when we get older, due to a variety of physical and cognitive factors including a lower sense of balance and an increase in medications. Falls can be life-altering and can cause a senior to lose their independence forever. At Visiting Angels of Fresno, we recommend that you monitor your seniors in order to calculate their fall risk proactively. You should keep an eye out for any hazards within the home that may correlate to a fall or signs that your loved one may be at a higher risk for falling.

            Warning Signs and Risk Factors for Falling

            Below are some of the signs to watch out for that may lead to your loved one losing their balance:

• Change of hearing
• Chronic physical conditions (arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, Parkinson’s, etc.)
• Declining eyesight
• Injuries, stiffness, or pain in hips, knees, ankles, and feet
• Muscle weakness or frailty
• Overuse of alcohol and/or abuse of narcotics
• Prescription medications with side effects like dizziness, drowsiness, poor vision, poor balance, or muscle weakness
• Reliance on supports when getting up, getting down, or walking
• Uneven gait or poor balance when walking

            Some hazards that may be in your home are:

• Bathroom or kitchen tile without non-slip tread
• Necessary items kept in high places
• Hallways or walkways without needed nighttime lighting
• Loose wires, carpets, or rugs that could be tripped over
• Showers or bathtubs without non-slip tread
• Steps and stairways without handrails and/or proper lighting
• Steps and stairways with loose/unsecured handrails and/or steps

Fall Prevention: What’s Next?

            If you realize that your loved one may need fall prevention care, then there are a variety of things that you can do to help prevent future falls.

• Promote healthy eating and regular exercise. These healthy habits diminish their fall risk and provide many other benefits as well.
• Get rid of the hazards within the home. Changes as simple as adding handrails in the bathroom or adding nighttime lighting in hallways can make a big difference.
• Bringing someone in to monitor a loved one’s mobility (family member, caregiver, etc.)

            Interested in learning more about fall prevention care? Contact the offices of Visiting Angels of Fresno today.