The older your senior loved one becomes, the more likely he or she is to fall during normal everyday activities. Falling can lead to issues such as broken bones, deep wounds, and life-threatening head injuries. Reduce your loved one’s risk of falling, both at home and while out in public, with these easy tips.
Buy a New Wardrobe
Your loved one’s wardrobe could be his or her number one reason for falling. Baggy pants, long dresses and skirts, slippery shoes, shoes with heels, and socks without gripper soles can cause seniors to trip and fall, whether at home or out shopping or visiting the doctor. If your loved one has any of these items in his or her wardrobe, consider replacing them with safer clothing and accessories.
Hiring a professional caregiver is one of the many ways you can reduce your loved one’s risk of falls. The caregiver can offer assistance with cleaning, bathing, and other daily tasks that increase your loved one’s likelihood of tripping and falling. If your senior loved one needs help managing an illness or assistance with daily tasks, make sure you choose a top-rated provider of home care. Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life in the golden years. From the mentally stimulating activities in our Cognitive Therapeutics Method to our friendly Care Managers who are available to answer your questions 24 hours a day, we offer a wide array of high-quality at-home care services.
Install Handrails in Important Areas
Seniors with high blood pressure may experience a bit of dizziness when they stand up from chairs, toilets, or bathtubs. Consider adding handrails to the bathroom as well as the area where your loved one sits most often, such as near a beloved recliner. A handrail in a long hallway can also help with balance issues.
Get Rid of Obstacles in the Home
If there are obstacles around the home, your loved one is more likely to fall. Take a walk around his or her home and pick up or organize clutter. Repair items like broken floorboards, remove rugs that could become a hazard, and place nonslip bathmats in front of tubs and showers.
Consider taking a break from your caregiving duties to observe your loved one’s home environment and remove clutter. Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted Surrey elderly home care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Home Care Assistance is here to help.
Change Medications
Dizziness, drowsiness, and lack of balance are some of the common side effects of medications, and they can lead to falls. If your loved one experiences these symptoms, consider talking to his or her doctor about alternative medications. Changing the dosage can also reduce your loved one’s risk of falls and injuries.
Encourage Physical Activity
The more active your loved one is, the less likely he or she is to fall. Encourage your loved one to move as much as possible. Daily exercise like walking, biking, or swimming is a must. Movement-based exercises like yoga and tai chi can also increase balance and flexibility. Weightlifting, even with small hand weights, can build strength throughout the body.
Add More Lighting to the Home
Chances are your loved one’s eyesight is not as good as it was once, so adding a little more light to his or her home could prevent falls. Install additional overhead lighting or add lamps to dark corners. Replace heavy drapes with sheer curtains. Keep flashlights tucked away in nightstands and other convenient places, and add night-lights to hallways and darker rooms.
An increased risk of falls is one of the many challenges seniors may have to face. Certain age-related conditions can make it more challenging for seniors to age in place safely and comfortably, but Surrey 24-hour care experts are available around the clock to help seniors manage their health. Whether your loved one is living with dementia or is recovering from a stroke, you can trust the professional live-in caregivers from Home Care Assistance to enhance his or her quality of life. Call Home Care Assistance at (778) 279-3634 and learn about our premier home care plans.