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Download Free Home Care Assessment Checklist here: https://theseniorcircle.com/checklist
Thank you for tuning in today. Today, we bring to you part one of a two-part series on fall prevention. Welcome to “The Senior Circle”, where we hope to inspire and help others by providing valuable, relevant information related to caring for an elderly loved one. Hi, my name is Dawn Neely and I’ll be your host. Thank you for joining us.
Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among seniors 65 years of age and older. They threaten the independence, mobility, and safety of a senior. If you have a senior in your life that you’re worried about falling, here are a few tips and things to consider.
Make an appointment with their doctor. Make sure they have a list of their prescribed medications, supplements and any over-the-counter meds they’re taking. Ask some questions. How are their medications interacting? There’s a possibility that they’re creating the potential of a fall. Some medications cause sleepiness or affect our thinking and decision making. The doctor may decide to wean them off something or perhaps look for an alternative.
Has there been a fall or loss of balance before? If so, make sure that you share as many details as you can about the situation so that your doctor could help as much as possible in determining what might be contributing to the issue. Some health conditions could also be causing a higher risk of falls. Some eye and ear disorders are many times responsible for falls and loss of balance. There are other medical conditions that cause dizziness, numbness, shortness of breath and more and these are the types of things that the doctor might be able to help you with.
The doctor may recommend that your loved one consider using a cane or a walker to help keep them steady. This can be a big step for a senior, but it can contribute so much to their independence.
There are other things that are helpful, as well. Putting handrails on both sides of the stairs to use for support. Using non-slip treads on stairs, giving them traction. Installing a raised toilet seat or even better, one that has handles on the sides to push up from or to hold as they sit down. Having grab bars in the bathroom for the shower or tub is also very important.
If you’re interested, you could have your loved one’s doctor suggest an occupational therapist visit. Occupational therapists are specialized in helping finding solutions in the home and they could help make some very helpful suggestions.
There could be cost involved, but the cost of a fall and the risk of your loved one’s health could be much more costly. Their safety is worth the investment.
Download Free Home Care Assessment Checklist here: https://theseniorcircle.com/checklist