As adults age, their physical abilities may decrease and their bones begin to weaken, which are age-related issues that put them at higher risk for slips and falls. A tumble in the senior years could have severe consequences. Continue reading to learn what can happen if seniors fall and ways to prevent these potentially dangerous accidents.
1. Broken Bones
The most common risks associated with slips are broken bones and fractures. When seniors land on their legs, arms, hands, or any other body parts after a fall, their weight could cause the bones to shift and break. To repair the muscles and tendons, surgery may be necessary.
Eating a healthy diet and exercising are essential to maximizing bone strength, and a professional caregiver can be a fantastic resource if your loved one needs help with these activities. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of elderly home care. You can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care Phoenix to provide an individualized care plan to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
2. Head Trauma
After falling and hitting his or her head on the floor or a large object, a senior may experience confusion and light-headedness. Some instances could lead to a concussion. Head traumas can increase the risk of memory loss and neurological disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. To prevent falls, ensure your loved one’s home is free of clutter, and use non-slip mats. Keeping the stairs and hallways clear could lower the risk of falling and experiencing a head trauma.
3. Stroke
When starting to fall down stairs, the heart rate generally increases, and the mind begins to race. Even before landing and determining how severe or minor the tumble was, your loved one may start to think about possible injuries and how those issues will impact daily life. The increased anxiety and stress could cause a stroke and other cardiovascular problems, disrupting quality of life.
Recovering from a stroke, managing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, and a variety of other health-related situations can make it difficult for a senior to continue living at home without someone there to help. Phoenix, AZ, home care professionals are trained to help seniors who need 24/7 assistance. With the help of an around-the-clock caregiver, your elderly loved one can maintain a higher quality of life while aging in place.
4. Infections
Falling could reduce your loved one’s mobility and prevent him or her from completing daily tasks that pertain to hygiene, including cleaning the house and removing bacteria as well as bathing and washing his or her hair. As a result, the risk of infections and viruses could increase.
5. Hospital Readmissions
One of the top causes of hospital readmissions among the elderly is falling. The accidents could be due to poor health or inadequate care at home. Being readmitted to the hospital puts seniors at higher risk for developing other health problems, and it also limits their privacy. Develop a high-quality care plan, and consider using respite care services when your loved one is discharged from the hospital to lower the risk of slips and falls that lead to readmissions.
6. Death
In the worst-case scenarios, seniors may succumb to their injuries and pass away due to the severity of their falls. Learn as much about fall prevention as possible, including what can trigger a tumble and what changes you can make to the home to lower your parent’s risk. Speak with your loved one’s primary care physician to determine what actions should be taken in terms of in-home care and medical devices that can reduce falls.
Since the consequences of falls can be so severe for seniors, reducing the risk of falling is essential. Seniors can face a variety of challenges as they age, many of which can be mitigated with the help of professional in-home caregivers who provide high-quality home care service. Phoenix families trust Assisting Hands Home Care to help their elderly loved ones age in place safely and comfortably. Call us at 602-847-6549 today to talk to one of our compassionate Care Managers about our high-quality home care services.