To those who are in the business of caring for seniors learning ways to prevent falls is a must. May people are still not aware of the fact that there are just as many fall hazards to seniors in the home but with the proper measures it is easy to prevent falls so that seniors are safe from the life altering effects of having a tumble and here are a few ideas that you can implement in the home.
• When in the kitchen, do you leave your counter top appliances such as mixer, coffee maker, mixer, and toaster on your countertop? Move them out of the way they might fall as your elderly companion does his or her cooking.
• Many seniors easily feel tired when standing for prolonged periods so anything that concerns food preparation should be done sitting down at a table to lessen the risks of falling and of course to prevent the senior from feeling fatigue.
• Clutter on the floor is oftentimes ignored but they are potential hazards because the senior has the potential of tripping on those things scattered on the floor.
• Regarding the floors, are they made of slippery surfaces? If so there is a danger that the senior will have a slip and fall accident which is why the best thing that should be done is to use non slip mats on walkways or have the senior wear non slip shoes all the time.
• Are power cords from appliances loose and are directly in the senior's path? If so, tape them to the floor or re-arrange your appliances in such a way that power cords become inconspicuous.
• Do the senior use mobility aids? If so they should be able to navigate easily around the house especially that most walking aids take up space. Hence rearranging furniture should be done so that the individual who uses medical walkers or wheelchairs have lots of room to maneuver, you may also try selling those furniture you don't really to have more space in the house.
• For seniors who use walkers with wheels or other mobility aids you can prevent falls by throwing away loose carpets and throw rugs should be removed altogether because they have the tendency to get snagged on those things decorating your floor.
• Many seniors have problems with incontinence and might wake up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. When the path from bedroom to bathroom is not well lighted, this is a falling hazard to seniors especially those who already have eyesight problems. What you can do is install brighter lights on these areas and you could also add grab bars for them to hold on to.
• Chairs that are too low will make it difficult for a senior to get in and out of chairs especially if he or she already has joint problems. There are a number of solutions to prevent falls, you may use cushions to raise the chair seat to proper height, or you may use furniture risers to raise the whole furniture to appropriate height.
• The same thought applies to a bed with low height. For safety and easy access they should be adjusted to the correct height and if the senior feels dizzy as he or she tries to rise up from the bed, advice him or her to sit for a while at the edge of the bed until the dizziness subsides to avoid having a slip injury.
To prevent falls doesn't only refer to making changes in the living spaces it also involves staying physically active with exercises not only for their health but for balance. Keeping the mind active with puzzles, reading, and doing hobbies ensure that the mind is constantly at work to deal with daily situations.
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