Falling at Home...

Senior citizens and falling seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly. According to the CDC in the US alone, there are 29 Million falls each year for people 65 and older. These falls result in 28,000 deaths! Private Home Care, Inc. wants to take a stand on falls by putting out a few helpful tips to seniors on staying safe!

1.    Medication- While most medications are necessary its also important to consider alterations if approved by a doctor. If the medication is needed to be sure to make sure the senior is taking the medication correctly. It’s easy to read a label wrong or to skip a dose. If the medication isn’t necessary to be sure to cut it out with help from a doctor. One example is sleeping medications; most sleeping pills can compromise balance and cause dizziness. For a senior who is already off-balance sleeping, medication may need to be altered. Be sure to inform your doctor about all medications you are taking as well as how they are making you feel. Sometimes a daily diary is helpful to keep track of medication and how it makes you feel. There may be an effective natural alternative that can help seniors stay home and not increase their chance of fall risk. Check with your doctor today on this!

 2.    Is my house set up right- The senior house needs to be evaluated for fall risks. Most people don’t think about the golden years when buying them forever home. Stairs can be a major risk to seniors. Be sure outside steps are clear of snow, water, and debris. Look at stairs inside, do they need rough strips to make the stairs less slippery? Do they need to be decluttered? Any debris left of stairs becomes a trip hazard right away.  Area rugs are great to make a house feel warm and cozy but you need to make sure all rugs are secure. This can be done by using a nonslip rug or adhering double-sided tape. Remove potential tripping hazards from the floor. Some tripping hazards that most people don’t think about are power cords, magazines, and newspapers in a pile of the floor. Most seniors like “their” piles by the chair that they sit in to make it easy to get it. Be sure to check with you senior before removing their “pile” as well. Bathrooms are commonplace for falls to. A slick surface of the shower or a wet floor can cause seniors to slip and fall. Installing grab bars in places around the bathroom can reduce this risk fall risk. Another thing that can help is using non-skid floor mats instead of throw rugs, especially in areas that get wet often.

3.    Exercise- Seniors balance and strength exercise are valuable in reducing fall risks. Tai Chi is a popular exercise for seniors as it focuses on using breathing and slow-moving muscle activity to improve balance. Research suggests tai chi impact on fall risk with research study reveling that falls were reduced by 58% for seniors who participated in the martial art for one hour twice a week.

4.    Accessories- There are a lot of different kinds of canes available to offer different levels of support. Seniors who need a little support a single tipped cane may be helpful. For others looking for more assistance, consider a cane with 4 tips or a walker. There is a variety of walkers to check out also. Your doctor could give you advice in this area. Seniors should wear rubber-soled, nonslip footwear like sneakers, even when they are inside to help reduce the risk of falls.

5.    Fear- A fear of falling can cause seniors to reduce their activity level and limit the time with loved ones. From a social perspective, isolation is a growing issue among the aging population, so we need to help seniors not be fearful of falling. Seniors can keep doing their day to day activities. They remain safe in the place they call home.

These are only a few of the things that can help a senior. Be sure to check with your doctor and make a plan that is right for you!