Protect Your Loved One Through Fall Prevention in Palmer, MA
For those of us with elderly loved ones, keeping them safe is always top of mind; one of the easiest ways to accomplish this is by taking preventative measures to help them avoid slips, trips, and falls in and around their homes. According to the CDC, the leading cause of injury for adults over the age of 65 is falls with approximately 1 in 4 seniors reporting falling every year.
Falling also puts seniors' independence and being able to continue living at home at risk. With our program for fall prevention in Palmer, MA, can help protect your loved one. To learn more about this program and our other senior home care services, call us at (508) 344-9916 to request a free consultation!
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Factors that Contribute to Seniors Slipping, Tripping, and Falling
While there are many reasons why a person might slip, trip, or fall, there are some that are very common—and many of them are also very preventable. From vision problems to medication side effects to loose rugs and other home hazards, falls are a common occurrence requiring nearly 3.5 million visits to the emergency room; and, sadly, the National Safety Council has reported that in 2023, 41,400 older adults died from preventable falls.
Here are some of the common factors that can contribute to falls:
- Cluttered walkways, loose mats or rugs, wet floors, and spills
- Inadequate lighting or poor lighting
- Cords, boxes, and other tripping hazards
- Lack of or loose handrails or grab bars
- Icy sidewalks, wet leaves, potholes, and uneven sidewalks
- Improper footwear
- Rushing, fatigue, not paying attention
- Not using a cane or walker as needed
- Side effects of medication
While not everything is preventable, many of these factors can be prevented through a program like Safe and Steady focusing on fall prevention for the elderly.
How Our Safe & Steady® Fall Prevention Program Helps Seniors
The Visiting Angels Safe & Steady® Fall Prevention Program is designed to help reduce falls among the elderly. We’ll help identify risk factors and provide a home safety guide and checklist with easy modifications that you can make to reduce your loved one's risk of falling at home. Also, our caregivers are trained to help teach fall avoidance strategies that are tailored to our clients' needs and environments.
Elderly Fall Prevention Tips
As we mentioned, while accidents will happen, there are ways to help reduce the likelihood of your loved one falling in or around their home. Here are some techniques from Visiting Angels of Palmerto help with elderly fall prevention.
Environmental Modifications
- Remove clutter from walkways, remove or tack down loose mats or rugs, mop floors at times when your loved one is not walking around, and clean up spills immediately
- Ensure that there is adequate lighting in all walkways and stairways
- Make sure that cords are not stretched over walkways or that they aren’t in danger of having a foot catch on them; place packages on a table, not on the floor; remove other tripping hazards
- Make sure that all handrails and grab bars are sturdy, and install them on stairs and in bathtubs and showers
- Salt icy sidewalks, remove wet leaves, fill potholes, and fix uneven sidewalks
Personal Practices, Awareness and Education
- Make sure that your loved one has shoes and other footwear with good traction and non-slip soles
- Encourage your loved one not to rush, to get plenty of rest, and to slow down and pay attention to where they are walking
- Encourage your loved one to use a cane or walker as needed
- If your loved one is taking medication, be aware of the side effects and ensure that they have the assistance they need to get to the bathroom safely
Request a Free Consultation for Fall Prevention Today
If your loved one’s health increases their fall risk, our personal care services can help with activities such as dressing, bathing, and mobility. Fall prevention is key in several other Visiting Angels programs, including:
To schedule a free in-home consultation, please give us a call at (508) 344-9916 or contact us by filling out this form on our website.
Serving Palmer and the Surrounding Areas
Visiting Angels PALMER, MA
Maple Tree Industrial Center 21 Wilbraham St.Palmer, MA 01069
Phone: 508-344-9916