Home Care in Gretna NE
If falling is a serious concern for your elderly loved one, then they are at a high risk for hip fractures. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 300,000 adults over the age of 65 are hospitalized each year because of hip fractures. Over 95 percent of hip fractures each year are the result of falling, presumably falling sideways.
Fall-related hip fractures can occur to even the healthiest senior. If they live alone, consider hiring a home care provider who can help keep your loved one’s home clean and free from clutter in order to prevent these dangerous falls from occurring. Also, by knowing the causes, symptoms, and treatment options available, you will be better prepared for if your aging loved one suffers from a hip fracture in the future.
Causes
Older adults usually fall as a result of a loss of balance, problems with their eyesight, or both. There are a wide range of other risk factors that may increase the elder’s chances of breaking a hip. These risk factors include:
- Being a woman, since women lose bone density at a more rapid rate than men
- Osteoporosis
- Family history
- Poor nutrition
- Excessive use of alcohol and tobacco products
- Taking multiple medications at once or taking psychoactive medications
- Hazards in the home that can increase their chances of falling, like loose rugs and dim lighting
- Medical conditions that increase the senior’s risk of falling
Symptoms
By ignoring the symptoms of a hip fracture, your loved one’s life could be put at risk. Some of the most common symptoms to watch for are:
- An inability to move right after a fall
- Extreme pain in the hip or groin area
- Unable to put weight on the leg that is located on the same side of the injured hip
- Bruising, swelling, or stiffness in and around the hip area
- The leg on the side of the injured hip appears to be shorter than the other leg
- The leg on the side of the injured hip is turned outwards
Treatment
If the elder’s hip is fractured, surgery can be performed within 24 hours of the break. Some surgical techniques the doctor may use include:
- Partial hip replacement. The surgeon may remove the head and neck of the femur, where a metal replacement will be placed.
- Total hip replacement. Prosthesis may be used to replace the upper femur and socket in the pelvic bone. This is an excellent option for those elders with arthritis or other injuries that may have damaged the joint.
- Internal repair using screws. The bone may be held together with the use of metal screws until the fracture heals. The screws may also be attached to a metal plate that is located down the femur.
Source:
https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adulthipfx.html
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hip-fracture/basics/treatment/con-20021033
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Gretna, NE, please contact the caring staff at Seniors Helping Seniors® Greater Omaha at (402) 215-0308 today.