We have all heard of it – an elderly person falls and breaks a hip or gets some other type of serious injury. The National Council on Aging reports that at least one in four elderly people falls every year, but many incidents aren’t reported so this estimate is probably much lower than the true count. Types of care for elderly individuals include fall prevention, and Integrity In-Home Care can provide tips and advice on how to stay safe.
There are many things that can cause a fall. A very common cause is an improper gait. This can lead to balance and coordination issues, which can cause instability and lead to a fall. Poor vision and other conditions such as arthritis or diabetes can cause issues as well because they can cause a loss of function in vital bodily processes. Some medications may also cause these issues or increase them, so fall prevention care for elderly people is critical to health and safety.
A main way to prevent a fall is to first assess your senior loved one’s living situation and risk of a fall. It is important to speak to him or her and ask if there is a fear of falling or anything in the home that could be risky and cause any imbalance or dizziness. Knowing his or her vision situation is important as well. Ensuring he or she has the right prescription and type of lenses (tint-changing, bifocals, etc.) is important because any type of vision issue can cause dizziness and a loss of balance.
If a balance issue is present, physical therapy may be able to help. A cane or walker can be obtained and a physical therapist can teach the proper usage of these devices because using them at an incorrect height or setting can actually be detrimental for the user. Building strength and improving balance can greatly reduce the amount of falls and hopefully prevent them altogether.
Integrity In-Home Care for elderly can help assess the risk of your mom or dad falling and provide guidelines with the goal that no falls will occur. Fall prevention can lead to a longer and happier life, so call today for a consultation.
