The risk of falling and sustaining a serious injury sharply increases as we age. Many of these falls are likely to lead to major injuries such as broken bones, head injuries, or hip fractures. The body is not able to respond as quickly as it once did in order to repair itself. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a senior over the age of 65 has a 25 percent chance of falling the first time. After this first fall, the risk for another fall doubles. The best thing we can do is work to prevent a senior’s fall from occurring in the first place.
Are you ready to put some protective measures in place to protect yourself or your loved one? Here are just a few things you can do around the home to help prevent future falls.
Declutter the Home
The simplest thing you can do to help avoid a fall is to declutter the home. You need to make sure that stacks of books, piles of clothes, and other miscellaneous items find a new home that is up and off the floor. This is a simple step, yet many seniors overlook the importance of it in reducing the severity and frequency of their falls.
Make Safety Modifications
As you age, it is inevitable that you will have to make some safety modifications if you plan to stay in the home as long as possible. Install bars in the shower and other wet areas that you can hold onto in order to prevent falls. Place traction and better grips on slick surfaces like tile flooring or replace it altogether. The possible modifications that you can make are endless.
Regular Doctor Visits
Certain vitamin deficiencies and medical conditions can make your body weaker and more prone to major falls. Seeing the doctor on a regular basis might be able to minimize some of these symptoms that you are experiencing. They could prescribe a new vitamin, a different medication, or a change in your diet that would make you feel stronger, more alert, and make you less likely to fall.
Vision Screenings
Poor eyesight can easily lead to a fall when you misjudge distances or can’t see something sitting on the floor. One of the simplest ways to make sure that you can clearly see the path in front of you is to receive regular vision screenings from an optometrist. These screenings are an important part of your overall health, but you have to follow through with the care plan the doctor prescribes as well. Wearing your contacts or glasses can help you to avoid major falls and injuries.
Unfortunately, major falls are one of the leading causes of a lack of independence. Friends and family members become increasingly concerned that something could happen that will be a major challenge to recover from. Putting in-home services in place can help. Partners for Home offers trustful home care services in Winnipeg that can put your mind at ease. Contact us today to learn more about what we can offer from the comfort of your own home!
