Falling-related accidents are the number one cause of injuries among senior citizens. It can result in serious health concerns like hip fractures, muscle pulls and ligament tears, ankle sprains, head injury, or even fatal brain injuries. If your elderly parents are living alone, you must hire a caregiver from a domiciliary care in Kingston upon Thames. This way, your parents are always under watchful observation to prevent any unfortunate accidents.
1. Keep the body active
While it is true that your body starts to slow down in old age, physical activity can actually help a great deal in fall prevention. A light form of daily exercise keeps you fit and maintains your body balance, which reduces the chances of a fall. At least 30 minutes of walking daily is enough to keep your body physically active. It is also advised to spend at least 8-10 hours in a day in a sitting posture to maintain a better equilibrium. A caregiver at home can help your elderly to keep moving and active. If possible, it is also a great idea to make your elderly join a local club or community. These groups often organize outings and social activities which again keeps them moving.
2. Remove all hazards at home
Sometimes, even a small tumble could lead to serious injuries. This is why the first step in fall prevention is to de-clutter your home. Go through each room, especially the sections of the house most visited by your elderly, and remove all potential fall and trip hazards from the concerned areas. Remove loose carpets, slippery rugs, extendable phone cords, and other obstacles. Clear away excess furniture and old boxes and newspapers that are lying about. Make your stairways and narrow passages clean and devoid of clutter. Remember to take special care of the bathroom and fix all slippery surfaces. You can even safety rails in the bathtub and shower.
3. Consider changing footwear
Wearing socks on your hardwood floor might be comfortable, but they come with a risk of slipping and falling. Wear non-slip shoes with soft rubber soles for maximum safety. They stick to the floor’s surface, giving the elderly a strong footing even on wet and slippery surfaces. For walking outside, running shoes are both comfortable and safe. Floppy slippers and shoes with slick soles should be avoided at all times.
4. Light up your space
Install bright lighting in your living space to avoid tripping on objects that are hard to see. Add night lights in the bedroom, hallway, and bathroom to better illuminate the house at night. It is also advisable to keep a night lamp within close reach of your bed in case of midnight emergencies. Having a night-time caregiver can also help prevent any falling accidents during a nightly bathroom visit.
5. Schedule an appointment with their GP
Falling incidents can be caused by poor eyesight and hearing, dizziness, shortness of breath, and more. A visit to your general physician will take care of any such health concerns. Sometimes, certain medications can also cause side effects which may lead to a sudden fall. In such a case, the physician will reduce the dosage or altogether stop the medication. Getting expert advice is always a good idea.
When an elderly lives alone at home, there is always a constant worry for their safety. Hiring a professional caregiver from a domiciliary care in Croydon will help put your worries to rest.
