Falls are one of the biggest safety risks that seniors face in their own homes. Luckily, there are many things that can be done to help minimize the chances of this happening. Some of them can be done immediately without anything extra purchased or set up on your end. Some of them require a little bit of work on your part.
In this article, I am going to explore a few little things that you can do right now–and with a little bit of time and elbow grease–to help reduce the risk of falls and help your older loved ones stay in their own homes in a safe way.
Keep Walkways Safe
High traffic areas are a common location for falls to occur. One easy way to avoid this from happening is to keep them free of trip hazards. Picking up clutter and removing rugs that aren’t secured quite right can prevent falls. This might seem like a really easy thing to do, but when someone has limited mobility or trouble bending over to pick things up, it can become a major chore. Some seniors might see that this is a task that needs to be done–but might not be able to do it on their own. Help with this might be necessary.
Install Hand Rails
One of the easiest home improvement projects that can be done is to install handrails in the bathroom and other areas where transferring is needed. They can help someone get up and down a little more easily, or transfer from one place to another. If you’re unsure of what you’re doing when it comes to installation, please consult with a professional who knows what they are doing. Installing a handrail improperly can be dangerous if someone is relying on it, only to have it come loose from the wall. You might end up doing more harm than good if they aren’t properly mounted.
In-Home Care
An in-home caregiver can help to keep an eye on things, prevent unsafe situations from occurring, and then maintain supervision and safety in the home over the long term. In-home care can also do a lot of other things that help with safety in the home, such as monitor medication and ensure that unsafe situations in the home are addressed.
Statistics say that about one out of every four seniors fall each year. About one in three of those falls results in the need for medical attention. That means that if you have a loved one that’s 65 or older, there’s a strong chance that they are at risk of an injury because of a fall. It also means that a fall isn’t inevitable. There are lots of things that can be done to help prevent this from happening.
If you have questions about how professional in-home care can help you and your family keep an older loved one safe, please feel free to reach out to us. One of our professional caregivers would be happy to talk more with you about how care can help. Give us a call or send us an email to start the conversation today.
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