What can be done to help preventing falls in the elderly? A fall at any age can be extremely serious. But as a person ages, the chance that they will break a bone increases. For older people, a broken bone is much harder to heal. They will generally have a longer recovery time than a younger person.
So, how can we prevent such problematic falls for our elderly?
Not every single fall can be prevented, as falls which occur due to medical conditions can’t be predicted. However, there are steps which can be taken to help avoid falls and seriously injuries.
Make Their Environment Fall-Proof
If your loved one is in their own home, you can reduce the risk of a fall by making their environment as fall-proof as possible.
This means removing any trip hazards such as rugs and clutter from the floor. You can also ensure that any low furniture is moved to a more visible location. It’s also a great idea to install grab bars in places like the bathroom and the bedroom. This gives them more stability when standing up.
Encourage Them to get an Eye and Bone Test
Failing eyesight is one of the main causes of falls in elderly people. So it’s important that that they have access to vision aids. This allows them to navigate around more safely.
Make sure that your elderly loved one attends regular eye tests. This can help to detect any deterioration in their vision. Eye deterioration may lead to them not being able to see objects while they are walking.
There are also tests that can detect osteoporosis. That’s a serious condition which affects the strength of the bones. If osteoporosis is detected and treated, even with a fall, their risk of breaking a bone is reduced.
Encourage Them to Exercise
Exercise is a great way to help seniors keep mobile and strong. Not only does it keep them moving and building up their muscle, exercise can also help strengthen their bones. This is crucial in combating the brittleness which comes along with osteoporosis.
Install Home Aids
If your loved one lives in a home which has more than one floor, you can help them transition between floors in a safer manner by installing a stairlift.
It’s a common misconception that stairlifts have to cost a lot. There are many different options available, such as reconditioned stairlifts which don’t cost the earth, yet still do the same important job in the home.
Eradicating the need for the elderly person to walk up and down the stairs greatly reduces the risk of them taking a tumble down them. Even if you have a curved stairwell, there are curved stairlifts available to help tackle those corners which can pose a trip risk themselves if the individual can’t manoeuvre very well.
Preventing as many fall hazards as possible is essential , especially where elderly or disabled people are involved. Here at UK Stairlifts, we’re dedicated to helping people with mobility issues reclaim their home and feel safer when travelling between floors. If you would like to find out more about our wide range of stairlift products and services, don’t delay in getting in contact with us by calling 0800 046 3438 and our team will be happy to help.