Do you have elderly parents or loved ones who absolutely love their home? Perhaps they should not even be living alone but could not imagine living in a nursing home or an assisted living quarter. Do have long work hours and/or a family to take care of? How bout a job that requires a large amount of travel time away from home and you simply can not be home with your parents 24/7. What if you are away on a trip and get a dreaded phone call that your loved one has fallen and although recovering requires a hospital stay. Of course you are worried, upset and may even feel guilty or partially responsible for the unfortunate accident.
What can you do to help prevent any falls or injuries when your elderly loved ones remain at home? How can you protect them to the best of your ability? How can you maintain their quality of life?
The following CDC (Center For Disease Control) fall prevention and safety tips will help protect, preserve and lengthen your elderly family member's life while in the comfort of his/her cherished home environment:
Facts:
Each year, one in every three adults ages 65 or older falls and 2 million are treated in emergency departments for fall-related injuries. And the risk of falling increases with each decade of life. The long-term consequences of fall injuries, such as hip fractures and traumatic brain injuries (TBI), can impact the health and independence of older adults. Thankfully, falls are not an inevitable part of aging. In fact, many falls can be prevented. Everyone can take actions to protect the older adults they care about.
Prevention Tips
You can play a role in preventing falls. Encourage the older adults in your life to:
Get some exercise. Lack of exercise can lead to weak legs and this increases the chances of falling. Exercise programs such as Tai Chi can increase strength and improve balance, making falls much less likely.
Be mindful of medications. Some medicines—or combinations of medicines—can have side effects such as dizziness or drowsiness. This can make falling more likely. Having a doctor or pharmacist review all medications can help reduce the chance of risky side effects and drug interactions.
Keep their vision sharp. Poor vision can make it harder to get around safely. Older adults should have their eyes checked every year and wear glasses or contact lenses with the right prescription strength to ensure they are seeing clearly.
Eliminate hazards at home. About half of all falls happen at home. A home safety check can help identify potential fall hazards that need to be removed or changed, such as tripping hazards, clutter, and poor lighting.
The following checklist can help older adults reduce their risk of falling at home:
Remove things you can trip over (such as papers, books, clothes, and shoes) from stairs and places where you walk.
Install handrails and lights on all staircases.
Remove small throw rugs or use double-sided tape to keep the rugs from slipping.
Keep items you use often in cabinets you can reach easily without using a step stool.
Put grab bars inside and next to the tub or shower and next to your toilet.
Use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors.
Improve the lighting in your home. As you get older, you need brighter lights to see well. Hang lightweight curtains or shades to reduce glare.
Wear shoes both inside and outside the house. Avoid going barefoot or wearing slippers.
I would also add getting them a medical alert button. Loved ones should also receive regularly scheduled physical exams with primary doctor and follow up with tests/labs/procedures. Having a family member, friend and/or dear neighbor checking in on a regular basis is also a good idea. Also keeping a charged land line and cell phone nearby with an important phone list will help keep your family member safe.
Please remember that some of the greatest gifts of love you can give to your elderly loved one are dignity, joy, pride, protection and quality one on one nursing care all while in the comfort of his/her cherished home environment.
If you can't be at home with your loved the way you would like to , consider one on one private duty nursing/companion care.
Ultimate piece of mind is knowing your loved one is protected by a qualified healthcare professional.
Wishing you well in all that you do,
Deneene Shipanga RN BSN
Owner/Operator Angel Nurseworks
Home Health Care
Private Duty Nursing At Its Best
www.angelnurseworks.com
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