If your senior parent is living alone, they need to be careful at home to avoid falls. Falls can be very serious for older adults. Often, when older adults need emergency treatment, it’s because of a fall in their home that caused a broken bone or other painful injury. Home care can help protect your senior parent from falls at home.
A home care provider can take over the chores that are becoming difficult for your senior parent so that there’s less chance they will fall. Home care providers are a great resource to help seniors live independently and be safe doing it.
Some other things that you and home care providers can do to help your senior parent avoid falling at home are:
Make Their Home Safer
The first step in preventing falls is to remove hazards from your senior parent’s home. Check for loose rugs, clutter, or cords that could cause them to trip. Make sure their home has good lighting, especially in hallways, staircases, and bathrooms. Install grab bars in the shower and near the toilet. Adding non-slip mats in the bathroom and securing loose carpets can also help.
If they have stairs, make sure the handrails are sturdy. If possible, encourage them to sleep on the first floor to avoid stairs altogether. Small changes like these can make a big difference in keeping their home safe.
Encourage Them to Stay Active
Regular exercise helps improve balance, strength, and flexibility, all of which reduce the risk of falling. Encourage your parent to do activities like walking around the house or the yard if they can. Even simple chair exercises or light stretching can help.
Check Their Medications
Some medications can cause dizziness, drowsiness, or weakness, increasing the risk of falling. Review their medications with their doctor or pharmacist to see if any could affect your senior parent’s balance. If they take multiple medications, ask if there are any interactions that might make them more prone to falls.
A home care provider can help your senior parent get around the house safely if they feel off-balance. They can also make sure to remind your senior parent to take their medications on time.
Get Their Vision and Hearing Checked
Poor vision or hearing can make it harder to notice obstacles and maintain balance. Make sure your parent has regular eye exams and wears the right prescription glasses. If they use bifocals, they should be careful on stairs since these can sometimes make depth perception tricky.
Hearing loss can also affect balance. If they have trouble hearing, a hearing test might help. Wearing a hearing aid, if needed, can reduce their risk of falling.
Provide a Way to Call for Help
Even with precautions, falls can still happen. Ensure your parent has a means of calling for help if needed. Home care is a great option because it allows someone to be in the home with your parent. But a medical alert system with a wearable emergency button can be a good backup.
If you or an aging loved one needs Home Care in Davis, CA, contact A Better Living Home Care today (916) 514-7006
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