One of the leading causes of death in the older adult population is, surprisingly, falling. This might be far from what you thought could have been the most significant cause of death among older adults, whether you thought it would be car accidents or health problems. Regardless, falling is a real risk for older individuals because of bad eyesight, limited body movements, and more, making getting around a lot more challenging.
As such, you must put in the measures to reduce the risk of falling, especially if you’re in the category of older adults or have to take care of such individuals. In this article, we’re going to share with you a few tips to do precisely that:
1. Wear the Right Shoes
Older adults should avoid wearing high-heels, slippers, or any other shoe that’s hard to move around in. Wearing such footwear will only increase the likelihood of slipping and stumbling, leading to falls. The proper shoes to be worn are sturdy non-slip shoes that will reduce the risk of falls and help reduce joint pains, if any.
2. Utilize Assistance Devices
There are many assistance devices out there that one can use to reduce the risk of falling. For example, the home can be set up with various handrails to allow for extra support using the hand, and the house can have non-slip treads placed on slippery surfaces to reduce the risk of falling further. Apart from at-home installations, devices like canes, walkers, and the like can also be used to help the individual maintain balance to prevent falling.
3. Get Rid of Hazards
Tripping hazards come in all shapes and forms. It can show itself as a loose rug, a rogue box, a wet floor, and more. Regardless, all of these things are hazards that will significantly increase the risk of falls, and not just for older adults. As such, scanning through the home for such hazards to be addressed will go a long way in creating a trip-free environment.
4. Properly Light Up the House
Older adults already have a hard time seeing things in broad daylight due to vision problems. Unfortunately, it may become near-impossible for them to see anything clearly in low-light areas. If such is the case in a house, low-light can hide tripping hazards, and this can easily cause someone to trip onto something and take a nasty fall. As such, the home, in and out, should be well lit, especially in the evening. This way, plenty of light is provided to keep things easily seen, reducing the risk of falling accidents.
Conclusion
To maximize your home’s safety and reduce the risk of falling, it is recommended that you apply as many tips we’ve shared with you in this article. They will all work in unison to prevent falling accidents from occurring in your household, ensuring all old adults living in the home can go about their usual business without running into tripping hazards that can lead to severe injuries or worse. That being said, if you are struggling to create a fall-prevention strategy, we highly recommend reaching out to a doctor. They can identify any health conditions, medications, and other details that may increase the risk of falling, helping them craft for you a fall-prevention plan.
Gateway Home Health and Hospice offers professionally-trained clinicians and therapists aimed to provide the highest home-based patient care possible. If you are looking for elderly fall prevention assistance in Colorado, work with us today!