Did you know that about 36 million senior citizens fall every year? There are numerous reasons why this happens. Generally, it is due to tripping over items in their home, being off-balance, getting weak in the legs, or slipping on wet floors or ice outside. If you are caring for your elderly loved one, it is important to teach them what to do if they have a fall, especially if they are home alone when it happens. Hiring companion care at home providers would be helpful to monitor your senior.
Safe Falls
Companion Care at Home Delray Beach FL – Tips for Senior Citizens When They FallWhile it can seem a bit odd, a safe fall is sometimes possible. If your elderly loved one knows they are going to fall, they should prepare for the fall. The first thing that your elderly loved one should do is to loosen up their body. The tenser they get when falling, the worse they are likely to get hurt. However, if they can keep their joints and body loose, the impact on their body won’t be quite as bad.
Getting Up Safely
If your elderly loved one falls, it is also important that they know how to get up safely. You and companion care at home providers can teach them how to do this. The steps they should take to get up after a fall include:
- Lay there for a moment to see if they are hurting anywhere
- If their neck or back hurts and they don’t have an emergency button or phone next to them, they should slowly move to the nearest device to contact emergency help
- If they don’t feel injured, they should slowly use their hands and knees to sit up straight
- Then, they can stand up and get to the nearest phone to call for assistance (someone should always check on your elderly loved one after a fall, even if they don’t think they got hurt)
If your elderly loved one can learn to get up safely, it can reduce the chances of them falling again after getting up. It can also reduce the risk of the injury (if there is any) getting worse.
Getting Companion Care at Home Services for Awhile
If your elderly loved one was injured during the fall, it would be a good idea to get them some help for a while. They may need assistance cooking, cleaning up after meals, doing the vacuuming, or handling other light housekeeping tasks. If your elderly loved one was put on any medications due to the injury, someone (you or companion care at home provider) may need to remind them to take those, as well. Even if your elderly loved one wasn’t injured, it may be a good idea for someone to stay with them for a day or two after the fall, as the chances of a senior citizen falling after the first fall are much higher.
There are many different fall safety tips for senior citizens. Now that you have read the ones above, be sure to share them with your elderly loved one. Remember, as well, that if your elderly loved one feels or looks hurt after a fall, they should receive a medical assessment to see if there are injuries that need to be treated.
Sources: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/prevent-falls-and-fractures
If you or a family member need to hire Companion Care at Home Services in Delray Beach FL, call the caring professionals at Star Multi Care today at (954) 870-4770. Providing service in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Coconut Creek, Deerfield Beach, Delray Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Lauderhill, Margate, Pompano Beach, and Tamarac.
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