VISITING ANGELS NORTH FORT MYERS, FL 239-226-1620
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Don't Let a Fall Be Part of Your Fall This Year

Don't Let a Fall Be Part of Your Fall This Year

Ensure the leaves are the only thing falling at this time of year. The season is a great reminder to focus on fall prevention for your senior loved one. Each year, millions of people aged 65 and over fall, and one out of five of those falls causes a serious injury. You can take steps to help ensure your senior loved one isn’t one of those statistics.

Clear the Path

Even the smallest items can pose a falling hazard for our senior loved ones. Sometimes it can be a fuzzy slipper or a food baggie on the floor. No matter what it is, small things have led to significant falls for senior citizens each year.

To help minimize their risk of falls, go through their home room by room with them. Declutter their homes, especially in well-traveled areas. As you’re decluttering and checking for hazards, ensure you check every rug in your home. Rugs are one of the biggest causes of falls among seniors each year. As edges curl up or fringe gets frayed, it can cause a falling hazard. Their shoes or walkers can get caught up under the rug and trip. Also, if rugs don’t have the backing, or it has worn off, they can slip beneath their feet and cause a falling hazard.

While securing rugs is essential, often the best move is to remove area rugs and small mats entirely from the home to eliminate any associated risk. Ensure there are no cords or wires in the walking path that can cause a tripping hazard.

Convenience Is Key

As you are decluttering pathways in your senior loved one’s home, also try to rearrange their home for convenience. Put items where your seniors can see them and easily reach them. Having things within reach is important for unsteady aging adults. Don’t put things up too high. Have their most-used items on the lowest shelves or the counter.

In the bedroom, put lights right beside the bed, or move the bed, so it is close to a light switch.

Keep a phone near the bed - whether it is a landline or a cell phone. If it is a cell phone, ensure you have an outlet and a charger right by the bed so your senior can have full power when they need it.

Buy your senior loved one a grabbing stick, and keep one near their bed and their favorite chair. If something is just out of their reach, the stick can help them reach it without having to get up and wobble over to it. If they are standing, the stick can help them avoid having to bend down to get something they’ve dropped.

Add Safety Measures

Your senior loved one might feel like they can get around just fine without any help. But as they age, often it is necessary to add things that can help them be more steady.

Having a grab bar by the toilet so they can steady themselves and pull themselves up is helpful. Sometimes installing a higher toilet for your senior loved one is the most beneficial.

In the shower, non-slip surfaces are key, but so is having grab bars both on the side and outside of the tub or shower. Ensure handrails are on both sides of each stairway, both inside and outside the house. Test them out yourself, and ensure they are secure so your senior loved one can grab on tightly. 

Enlist An Expert

You can’t always be there for your senior. If you are looking for a little more help than fall-proofing the home, you might want to consider enlisting the help of someone who can keep an extra eye on your loved one as they navigate their day.

Many home care agencies, including Visiting Angels Cape Coral, have trained professionals on staff that specialize in fall prevention. They can look for potential hazards around your home, as well as be there when your senior needs a steady arm or helping hand. They often help within the home, but many agencies also have compassionate caregivers who can join your senior for a walk outside or give them a hand at the grocery store. They also can fetch things for your senior, so they don’t have to walk as far, and so they are within reach at home. If something is high up, don’t let your senior loved one climb onto a chair or a ladder to get it. Have a helper who can reduce their risk of falls.

Here To Help

If you are looking for someone to help your senior loved one this fall, and every season, our caregivers at Visiting Angels. We serve seniors in Cape Coral, North Fort Myers and the surrounding areas. We provide a variety of home care services, fall prevention services and a safe and steady program.

We will come to your home for a free visit to find out what needs you have and develop a care plan tailored to your needs. Call us at (239) 226-1620 for more information or find us online. If you are interested in caring for senior clients in the community, visit us online to find out more about a career in home care.

Serving Cape Coral, North Fort Myers and the Surrounding Area

Visiting Angels NORTH FORT MYERS, FL
13180 N Cleveland Ave #112
North Fort Myers, FL 33903
Phone: 239-226-1620
(Drop Off Site) A Florida employee based Home Health Agency, FL Lic # 299994657

Serving Cape Coral, North Fort Myers and the Surrounding Area

Visiting Angels NORTH FORT MYERS, FL
13180 N Cleveland Ave #112
North Fort Myers, FL 33903
Phone: 239-226-1620
(Drop Off Site) A Florida employee based Home Health Agency, FL Lic # 299994657