Feeling Safe in Your Home
There is nothing more important to any senior than feeling safe at home, and when it comes to home care, it is vital that the caregiver does everything possible to achieve this goal. At Home & Hearth, our number one priority is providing an environment of care, comfort, and safety for each of our valued clients – and one of the most important aspects of this is helping to prevent falls.
Common Causes of Falls
With more than 25% of older adults suffering falls in the U.S. every year, it’s crucial for families and loved ones to step in and help prevent falls from happening as much as possible. Every time a senior falls, their risk for a subsequent fall increases. Here are some of the most common causes of falls for the elderly:
Chronic Conditions
Certain illnesses can increase the risk of falling due to how they affect the body. Conditions including Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, and diabetes can cause body systems to malfunction, resulting in lightheadedness, stiffness, or lack of coordination, which, in turn, increases the risk of falls.
Home Hazards and Obstacles
All homes have the potential for obstacles to increase the risk of falling, however, the key is keeping walkways and paths clear. Rugs can slide, curl or fold up, shoes and cords can be tripped over, and items dropped while walking from one room to another can go unnoticed.
Impaired Vision
It’s important to schedule regular eye exams for seniors, ensuring they always have glasses suited to their changing eyesight. Take care to remind your loved one to wear their glasses as recommended by their optometrist. Cataracts, blindness, and partial blindness become more prevalent in seniors as well – and these conditions should be promptly addressed by medical professionals to ensure
Medication
Certain prescriptions, like antidepressants, sedatives, and blood pressure medication, can have several possible side effects, including dizziness caused by drops in blood pressure, loss of balance, drowsiness, and reduced mental acuity – any of which increases the risk of falls. Make sure to discuss any medication changes – even medications that are well tolerated for many years can suddenly cause unexpected side-effects.
Weakness
Many times when recovering from an illness or injury, seniors will experience increased muscle weakness due to being bed-ridden or simply doing less.. Muscle weakness and lack of mobility can occur for many different reasons, so it is important to be aware of muscle atrophy or a reduced range of motion.
