According to the CDC, around 25% of Americans 65 and over report falling each year. In addition, over a third of them report a resulting injury that needed medical treatment or restricted their activity for at least one day.
Considering the ramifications of falls, it's important to practice good fall prevention in the elderly. Otherwise, your loved one may suffer from pain and discomfort, and they'll be more prone to falling in the future too.
So what are the steps to senior safety in Spring, TX? How can you help your beloved senior make their home safer and reduce their fall risk? Read on to find out.
The optimal thing is to live in a senior-friendly apartment that's designed for minimal fall risk. However, once you start filling up the space with your belongings, the independent living safety can go down.
It's essential that you help your loved one keep their home free of clutter. Create clear, open walking paths by keeping the following out of the way:
You should also consider rearranging the furniture so there's plenty of room to move freely. In addition, avoid placing small rugs or mats that can slip out from underfoot.
By helping your beloved senior keep their home tidy, you'll reduce the chance of an accidental trip. Also, moving around will be much more comfortable.
Of course, a key factor in trips and falls is obstacles. Without good lighting, it's difficult to spot obstacles, especially since vision becomes worse in the dark as we age.
Ensure that your loved one has a well-lit home by adding:
That way, whether they're getting up at night or navigating a tricky step, they'll always be able to see clearly where they're going.
Great options for aging-in-place support are supportive handrails and grab bars. This is because falls often happen in high-risk areas, such as the bathrooms and staircases.
First, add grab bars near the toilet and shower. Plus, make sure that both sides of the staircases have handrails. All of these things provide extra support when balance feels unsteady.
These modifications make it so that your beloved senior doesn't have to rely on their strength alone. It'll give them peace of mind when moving around the house.
On that note, you should make the bathrooms safer with some simple adjustments. In addition to grab bars, you should add:
These changes may not seem like much, but they create a safer environment while allowing your elderly loved one to continue using the bathroom independently and comfortably.
One of our top balance and mobility tips is to wear the right footwear. You'd be surprised at what a big difference it'll make to be proactive about footwear!
Your loved one may enjoy wearing shoes and slippers with smooth soles, or just socks, but these can easily slip on tile or wood floors. Help them choose footwear with non-slip soles, as well as good cushioning and a secure fit.
What's great is that supportive footwear won't just protect them from falls. It'll also help reduce joint pain and improve their posture. As a result, it'll make every step even safer.
It's vital for everyone to stay physically active, especially since we currently have an obesity epidemic. But it's even more important for older adults to do regular exercise, as it'll help them maintain muscle strength, flexibility, and coordination. These all can reduce their chances of falling.
So while Wellness Month is already over, your loved one can still use those tips. Elder wellness doesn't have to involve anything too strenuous either. They can do gentle exercises like:
Staying active can also help your loved one feel more confident and energetic in their daily life.
Your beloved senior's vision and hearing both play huge roles in balance and fall prevention. If their vision is blurry, then it can be difficult to judge distances. And if their hearing is poor, they might not notice hazards, like approaching footsteps or traffic.
Ensure that they're scheduling annual eye exams to update their glasses prescriptions. They should also be booking regular hearing tests to make sure they're fully aware of their surroundings.
When you know that your loved one has clear vision and hearing, you can have peace of mind knowing that they can move with confidence and avoid surprises.
It may come as a surprise, but some medications can cause dizziness, drowsiness, or balance issues. For example, meds for the following may do so:
It's essential that your beloved senior asks their doctor to review all of their medications, including over-the-counter ones. That way, they can make sure that no one is increasing their fall risk. Sometimes, all it takes is a small adjustment or timing change to make a big difference.
You can attend the review with your loved one if you feel that it'd help the process go smoother.
It's definitely possible for older adults to live independently, and it's possible for your loved one. However, for everyone's peace of mind, you should practice good fall prevention in the elderly.
To save yourself some trouble, consider having them move into a senior living community. The environment is set up for safety and security, and there's plenty to do there too. You'll see your beloved senior thrive with other adults around!
Contact us today if you're interested in senior living in Spring, TX. Conservatory at Champion Forest offers a picturesque pool and spa, and the area's only outdoor putting green.