Uncategorized | November 27, 2020
4 minute read
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Most of us have heard of the term “fall prevention,” which is a misnomer; falls cannot be prevented. Falls can and will occur, and the risks associated with these falls increase dramatically with every year we age. And, regrettably, it is a more common concern than you might think.
The good news, however, is that there are established strategies to assess fall risk and implement controls to reduce the chances of a fall occurrence and even to reduce the severity of the fall.
As an experienced nurse and client care coordinator, I am eager to help seniors in the Kitchener and Waterloo areas, and so we are focusing on Senior Fall Mitigation Strategies. We hope to assist and educate seniors and their families on how to reduce such accidents in the hopes of avoiding their devastating consequences.
More than one-third of Canadian seniors experience falls, which can have a devastating physical and psychological impact, resulting in disability, chronic pain, loss of independence, reduced quality of life, and even death. Falls are the leading cause of injury for seniors and falling once doubles someone’s chances of falling again.
Reducing accidents in the home, including falls, is one of the most important planning strategies for helping seniors stay independent. Fractures, head trauma and other injuries can cause long term mobility issues and have lasting physical effects. And, once an injury occurs, it can affect someone’s ability to live the way they want to and enjoy the same lifestyle and activities.
I would always tell my patients, “a well-planned fall reduction strategy adds years of quality life.” This especially applies to seniors living independently at their homes. We feel it is so important that we are not only blogging about it but also make it an important component of our in-home assessments.
Health issues that occur more often as we age can also make seniors more likely to fall. These risk factors include:
There are some precautions that seniors and their families can take to reduce the likelihood of a fall.
Evaluating risk factors and taking preventative measures in a way that considers the unique lifestyle, needs and health of a senior can help.
Some families only think about fall mitigation after a loved one is hurt, when it is too late. Taking precautions before an accident happens can help seniors maintain their physical health and their independence.
To learn more about our in-home senior care services, contact Comfort Keepers Kitchener and Waterloo.
Comfort Keepers Kitchener and Waterloo provides senior care for each client with the respect and dignity we would provide a member of our own family. Our goal is to elevate the spirits of our clients and their families every day. As part of an individualized care plan, caregivers can also help with activities like cooking, cleaning and physical care. Established in 1997, Comfort Keepers ®provides, home care services to thousands of people by way of close to 600 franchised offices in Canada, the United States, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Comfort Keepers Kitchener and Waterloo opened in September of 2020.
For more information contact:
Dahlia Joseph, Client Care Coordinator
kitchenerwaterloo@comfortkeepers.ca
Phone: 647-557-3126
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