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We’re so glad to have you back. Today we present part two 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. Falls threaten the independence, the mobility and safety of a senior. In part one of this video, we discussed the importance of a doctor’s visit, and the evaluation of medications. Now I’d like to focus on some things that we can do in the home to support our seniors in their quest to stay vertical.
Keep them moving. Physical activity is so important. With your physician’s approval and guidance, your senior loved one could consider activities such as walking, water workouts, or maybe chair yoga. These things help with balance, strength, coordination and stability. If the idea of exercise frightens them, discuss this with your doctor. Chances are, he or she can get them involved with a very monitored exercise program, or connect them with a physical therapy program that would help them regain their strength and their gait.
Help them wear sensible shoes. Footwear is very important. Try to have your loved one avoid shoes or slippers that may make them slip, stumble, or fall. As comfortable as slippers are, they’re really not the best choice. Properly fitted and sturdy shoes are typically the best option. This also can help with arthritic pain in the joints.
Take a look around the house. Things around the home can actually create fall hazards. Remove piles of newspapers or boxes and cords from walkways. Consider moving some furniture or plants if necessary in order to create better pathways.
Throw rugs are tremendous culprits for falls. Make sure if there are any rugs, that they’re in the home and secured. You might even wanna consider using double-face tape or slip-proof backing in order to hold it in place.
Use non-slip mats in the bathroom and consider using a seat in the bath in order to sit while showering. Adding appropriately installed grab bars is very wise and will give your loved one much needed support and give you some peace of mind.
Light up that living space. Keeping your loved one’s space brightly lit up helps to avoid tripping over things that might not be seen if it’s too dark. Consider using night lights in the hallways, bathroom, and in your bedroom. You might wanna replace some traditional switches with the kind that light up or glow in the dark. Be sure to turn on a light before going up or down stairs.
Some of these tips are small things that can be done and some are a little more involved, but anything that we can do to help our seniors avoid a dreaded fall, the better chances we have of actually avoiding one.
As a non-medical home care company, Seniors Helping Seniors has provided support for many seniors in the effort of maintaining their independence. We’ve made sure that our seniors, your loved ones, are applying these tips in order to stay safe. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at the number at the end of this video, or connect with us at our website, www.seniorcareeastoakland.com.