The physical and psychological consequences of the fall can have a significant impact on the quality of life of older people.
According to the National Council on Aging, 33% of people aged 65 or over fall each year, resulting in more than two million visits to the emergency room. Falls are the main cause of head trauma in the elderly, and consequences such as hip fractures and other serious injuries are common.
On National Fall Prevention Awareness Day, Monday, September 23, we compiled this nursing awareness guide that provides helpful advice and resources to help you reduce the risk of falls. Family members.
Eliminate the risk of falling at home
One of the most important things you can do as a carer is to assess your loved ones' living environment to get rid of common risks. Follow these steps to make your loved ones' home safer:
• Reduce clutter. Watch out for piles of magazines or clothes on the floor. Pay close attention to the sidewalks around the house and remove or direct electrical or telephone wires in areas that can pose a risk of tripping.
• Open areas with heavy traffic. Be aware of where your loved ones often move at home, and remove items such as coffee tables, end tables, plants, lampposts, and magazine shelves that can block sidewalks.
• The floor is fixed. Carpets and rugs that are not mounted on the ground can pose a risk of tripping, especially if your parents use a stick or walking aid. Remove them from the house or hold them on the floor with a non-slip brace or a double-sided tape. Any tiles or floorboards that are not fixed should also be repaired immediately.
• Keep frequently used items at hand. If a family member uses a chair to fetch clothes from the top shelf of the wardrobe or a bowl in the upper closet, they are likely to fall. Keep the most used items at hand.
• Clean up spills and dirt immediately. Older people may find it difficult to perform certain physical tasks, such as bending to clean coffee or spilled juice, but these incidents can make the floor slippery and increase the risk of falling. If you are not able to stay with your full-time loved ones, consider hiring a caregiver or companion who can help with these types of household chores.
• In winter, outdoor sidewalks and sidewalks must be free of snow and ice.
In some cases, major changes at home allow older people to stay at home longer as they age. For example, you might consider redesigning the house by adding a bedroom and bathroom on the first floor, so that your loved ones have fewer stairs to climb.
Use tools to reduce your loved one's risk
Technology and assistance can also be useful in preventing stumbles and falls. Keep in mind the installation of these utilities in your loved ones' homes:
Install handrails and slip-resistant mats in bathrooms. In fact, 80% of falls in the home occur in the bathroom. Non-slip handles and mats can make it easier for older people to get in and out of the bathtub or shower and sit and get up from the toilet. Bathing seats can also be useful for seniors who find it difficult to keep calm in the bathroom. Using a manual shower is often easier to reach all basic areas without bending or twisting too much.
Install appropriate lighting throughout the house. Bad lighting can make it difficult for older people, especially the visually impaired, to see barriers and other hazards as they move around the house. Use night lights in corridors, bedrooms, and bathrooms, put lamps in an easily accessible place of the beds, and keep the corridors free for all the keys in the house.
Be sure to install the handrail on both sides of the tray. Stairs are a particularly poor place for the elderly. By making sure that these places are well lit and the handrail is installed on both sides so that your loved ones can rest peacefully, you will greatly increase your safety.
Consider smart lighting solutions. There are a number of solutions that your loved ones can control by voice or automatically when they enter a room or through applications. Using these tools, the person dear to you will no longer need to cross the room to turn on the lights, which can be particularly useful in tight spaces.
Think of the movement's help. If a family member has balance problems, mobility aids, such as a stick or walking aids, can help you.
Save the right shoes. Your loved ones' shoes should be comfortable and warm. Make sure that the right shoes are easily accessible throughout the house. For example, you don't want to be forced by a dear person have to climb the stairs to wear comfortable sneakers before going out. It's good to have suitable shoes on every floor of the house and near the places, you usually need, such as a bathroom or door. (But be careful that extra shoes don't contribute to floor congestion.)
Some older people initially hesitate to wish "help" in navigating the house. However, most older people feel happy after seeing how safe and straightforward to navigate in their daily lives. If a member of your family is susceptible to fall, the medical warning will keep you safe when it's not on your side.
Improving the health of your loved ones
Help get obviate the mess and other household hazards, but maintaining health and maintaining strength is that the best defense for the elderly against falling. It's knowing to make a meeting together with your primary health care provider to debate a fall prevention plan.
On this date, you'll want to review the list of medicines and supplements taken by your relations. Some medications have side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, or maybe blurred vision, all of which may increase the danger of falls. By knowing the side effects you ought to search for, you'll be proactive when these symptoms appear. you'll also take the chance to debate possible alternative treatments if medications cause unwanted side effects.
You'll also need to talk about your loved ones' current health status. For example, some eye and hearing diseases can increase the risk of falls. The doctor can also evaluate the walking style, balance, and muscle strength, and discuss any symptoms you may experience while walking, such as b- shortness of breath, dizziness, pain, or numbness in the limbs or joints.
This information is important in assessing the risk of falls for older people, but it can also provide your health care provider with information about potential health problems that may not have been discussed in previous visits.
In addition to your medical care provider, your close relative must undergo regular eye checks to take care of current prescriptions. you ought to also ask other relations to stay everyone informed, ensuring that everybody keeps their eyes open for potential dangers and warning signs.
Regular exercise is vital to take care of physical strength and balance throughout life. It's never too late to urge started. There are many activities and exercises suitable for older people with different fitness levels. Encourage them to exercise regularly, like simple exercises like walking or gardening, or doing large exercises on the spot. Physical activity isn't useful without stress. Finally, the importance of a healthy diet shouldn't be ignored - for the general power and health of your loved ones, good nutrition is extremely important.
The role of nurses in preventing falls is ongoing. Make a home safety assessment every few months to eliminate potential hazards and await signs of losing physical strength or balance, like sticking to furniture or walls to take care of balance, or making it difficult to urge up from a chair. Let your loved one's general practitioner know if you notice a change. Preventing falls requires constant effort, but as a nurse, it plays a crucial role in minimizing the danger to big people.
Hire a Live-in Caregiver Vist: Thehomecarecompany.org