If you are helping an elderly loved one by supporting her desires to remain in her home, there can be lots of things that worry you when you aren’t there. One of the main things many caregivers talk about is the fear of their loved ones falling while living alone, and no one being there to help them. Falls are not inevitable for seniors, but they are more common for many elderly, and taking precautions to prevent falls is key to keeping them safe in their homes. Senior fall risk management services can help.
When Seniors Fall More Easily
There are plenty of reasons that anyone can fall – a simple misstep or a miscalculation of their surroundings. But for seniors, falling is often more likely because of the increased risk of not seeing a potential hazard or not being able to physically react quickly when their footing becomes unstable.
In short, all of the following can increase the risk of a fall:
- Poor eyesight
- Reduced reflexes
- Medications that cause dizziness
- Diminished muscle and core strength
- Health conditions that affect circulation to the legs and feet
- Cognitive conditions that affect the ability to discern their surroundings
- Making poor choices about what they can manage safely.
Getting Help at Home with Senior Fall Risk Management
One great way you can help your loved one stay safe in any room of her home or even out in the yard is to have a senior fall risk management team visit her home for a personalized assessment. The senior fall risk management professionals will be able to review her area, talk to her about any health issues she may have that will increase her risk, and then help her and you find solutions to possible areas of the home that might present problematic areas.
It can be helpful to have an outside and professional source for suggestions for your elderly loved one. Many seniors think they’re caregivers are needlessly worrying about something that will never happen, but a professional team of senior fall risk management experts can help your loved one understand the importance of being proactive in keeping herself safe.
Preventing Falls in the Kitchen
If your elderly loved one enjoys spending time in the kitchen, then the kitchen is the perfect place to start making some changes in order to help keep her safe. It’s also a great time to consider senior fall risk management services and remind her of some safety practices to adhere to in the kitchen in order to reduce the chance of a fall occurring:
- One preventative step you can take to help your senior before she enters the kitchen is to help make sure everything she needs is within easy reach. Avoiding standing on tiptoes and climbing step stools will reduce the risk of an ankle getting turned or a misstep and falling off the stepstool.
- Flooring is another thing to consider in the kitchen. While it’s nice to have a mat by the sink, make sure none of the edges are turned up, as this might cause her to trip.
- For daily use, remind your loved one to always tuck all chairs under the table to prevent stubbing her toe on a chair leg, always clean up any spills right away (even a dropped ice cube that melts can create a slippery puddle), and consider sitting when doing some kitchen chores like chopping or cleaning vegetables.
Knowing your loved one can stay safe in her kitchen will give caregivers peace of mind.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Senior Fall Risk Management in Berkeley, CA, please contact the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care today at (415) 463-1400
Aviva In-Home Care provides exceptional senior home care in the Bay Area, including San Francisco, Burlingame, San Mateo, Hillsborough, Atherton, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Berkeley, Lafayette, Orinda, and surrounding areas.
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