Reduce the Risk of Falling for Seniors and Provide Solutions for Recovery

Uncategorized  |  October 25, 2018

There are many seniors who fall without getting hurt, but one out of five do get seriously injured and less than half will tell their doctor. Unfortunately, once adults have fallen, they often become fearful of falling again. This begins a downward spiral since the fear of falling yields less activity. Next, as people become idle, they become weaker, thereby increasing the odds of yet another fall.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falling is commonplace in the elderly population, but injuries will make it hard to get around, perform everyday activities, or live independently. Annually, millions of aging adults have to get emergency care for injuries after a fall. The medical costs from seniors falling down continue to climb while the number of elderly persons in our population grows.

Here are some facts about falling:

• Falls many times lead to broken bones of the wrist, arm, ankle or hips

• Head injuries may be worsened by common medications, like blood thinners.

• Injuries from falling require longer hospital stays than other medical admissions.

• One out of 10 adults over 85 years of age will end up fracturing a hip from a fall.

• Risk factors in the home environment can be reduced.

What is the solution for our aging loved ones? Help reduce risk factors that lead to falls. Falls can happen because of lower body weakness, vision or eyeglass problems, poorly fitting shoes, Vitamin D deficiency, sedatives or other medications that affect balance. Other risk factors are household clutter, items left on the floor or steps, and animals, their feeding dishes, or toys. The more risk factors there are, the higher the chance of a fall.

In-home caregivers can greatly help aging adults by reducing the number of risk factors in a home environment. Caregivers trained at Comfort Keepers® are qualified to assess your loved one’s environment and make suggestions that reduce the likelihood of a fall. We can offer recommendations for safety, such as discarding throw rugs, repairing uneven flooring, and using better lighting. If an adult has already incurred an injury, a caregiver can aid in their recovery. Caregivers can help improve the odds of independent living again. Comfort Keepers® can also drive aging adults to important medical appointments.

If you would like to talk to one of our experts about how our home care services can help your loved one, contact us today!

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