How To Reduce Your Loved One’s Risk Of Falling At Home

Victoria Senior Home Care  |  August 1, 2019

What Every Senior in Victoria, BC Needs to Know About the Risks of Falling While at Home

Risk Of Falling At Home | Falls are one of the biggest safety concerns for older adults in Canada, with over one-third of the country’s seniors experiencing a fall at least once as they age. Falls can, unfortunately, have a serious impact on seniors, ranging from physical disability and chronic pain to severely reduced quality of life and decreased independence. Falls sometimes even result in death!

To help your loved one stay happy, healthy, and independent, it is important to do whatever you can to prevent falls and accidents. To minimize the risk of falls, you should first know the most common risk factors for falls, that is, health issues that increase the possibility of falls.

Risk of Falling at Home: Common Reasons Why:

• Muscle weakness
• Cardiovascular disease
• Poor vision
• Parkinson’s disease
• Dementia
• Malnutrition
• Low blood pressure
• Chronic pain
• Pain or insensitivity in the legs or feet

Fortunately, there are several measures you can take to reduce to risk of falls even if your loved one is at a higher risk of falling. Here are some precautions that minimize the chance of falls:

• Eliminate trip hazards – Some of the most common trip hazards at home include stairs, loose rugs, carpets, poorly lit hallways, and clutter. If this sounds like a description of your loved one’s home, the first thing you should do is eliminate these hazards. You can, for example, secure rugs and carpets, install night lights and grab bars, remove clutter, and more.
• Get good footwear – Not wearing proper footwear can lead to falls. If your loved one constantly wears shoes that do not fit properly or are slippery, it is time to go shopping and get them safe shoes with non-skid soles.
• Learn about medication side effects – You should speak with your loved one’s medical team about the potential side effects of the medications they are using. If your parent is taking medications that may cause dizziness or balance issues, discuss alternatives with their doctor or ask for advice on reducing side effects.
• Promote good nutrition and exercise – Eating a good diet and regularly engaging in physical activity can improve physical health, thus reducing the risk of falls.

Many families take precautions only after a fall happens. However, it is important to speak with your loved one and incorporate healthy habits into their routine so they can enjoy a safer, healthier life at home.

At Comfort Keepers® Victoria we feel that home is the best place to be.

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with 24-hour care, senior care, companionship care, end-of-life care, post-surgery care, palliative care, personal care, senior living transition services, and much more! 

Comfort Keepers® Victoria Provides In-Home Elderly Care Services

Comfort Keepers® trained caregivers help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home. Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Comfort Keepers® Victoria In-Home Caregivers Can Help with Interactive Caregiving™

Our philosophy is to elevate the human spirit and our caregivers will be there every step of the way to ensure your loved one has a better quality of life. Personal and empathetic care is care that starts in the heart, and it allows us to meet our client’s exact needs. Learn more about our unique service which offers personal care, companionship care, palliative care, and end-of-life care by contacting the Comfort Keepers Victoria office.

Comfort Keepers® Victoria is proud to provide senior care and home care services to keep seniors safe in their homes.

If you are searching for home care near me, Comfort Keepers® Victoria can provide home care for the seniors of Victoria and the surrounding areas of Colwood, Saanich, Sidney, James Bay, and Oak Bay. Please call (778) 265-5999 and learn how your loved ones can receive compassionate, professional in-home care.

Comfort Keepers® Victoria has been accredited with Exemplary Standing with Accreditation Canada. Accreditation is an intensive process in which an organization’s processes, policies, and procedures are examined by industry experts against a set of quality standards. To achieve accredited status, Comfort Keepers offices met or exceeded the rigorous standards for Home Care companies, as defined by Accreditation Canada. 

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