Most people don’t think about balance until it becomes a problem. Unfortunately, balance problems can lead to falls, injuries, and lifelong health concerns that could have been avoided.
Here’s what you need to know about balance for your senior…
Why Balance Matters
Your senior’s sense of balance is far more important than it seems to be at first. On one level, it’s crucial because keeping her balance means that she can avoid falls. But balance is connected to so many other issues, too. Your senior might have problems with her nervous system, with her cardiovascular system, or with her hearing, all of which can affect her ability to keep her balance.
Several Systems Work Together
That old song about the hip bone being connected to the leg bone is true on other levels, too. Every system in your senior’s body works together. Her vision, her hearing, her nerves, her muscles all receive messages that help her to keep her balance and remain upright. If those systems aren’t working well together or if one system isn’t working at all, that can cause her to have serious balance problems.
Different Types of Balance Issues and Causes
Lightheadedness, weakness, unsteadiness, or the feeling that the room is moving are all part of the umbrella problem of balance issues. Your senior might be having trouble with her balance because she’s sick, because she’s got blood pressure irregularities, or even because of a headache. All of these problems and more can create situations that make maintaining her position difficult, even if she’s seated or lying down.
Finding Answers for Your Senior
Balance problems may come and go for your senior, depending on her health and the types of difficulties she’s prone to experiencing. Any time she experiences new symptoms she should talk to her doctor to rule out bigger health concerns. If your elderly family member is prone to balance difficulty, it might help to have senior care providers available daily. They can help you to do a fall risk assessment and adjust the house so it’s as safe as possible for your aging adult.
Keeping your elderly family member as balanced as possible is a crucial part of helping her to avoid falls and other problems. Some balance issues can even alert you both to bigger health issues that she’s facing. Learn what to look for in terms of balance issues so that you can spot problems sooner rather than later.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering a Caregiver in Piedmont, CA, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care. Call today: (415) 795-2203
- Do You Need Help with Personal Care for Your Senior? - September 16, 2019
- Causes and Risk Factors for Shingles in the Elderly - September 12, 2019
- Five Reasons Your Senior Might Need a Daily Routine - September 5, 2019
