10
Aug
“It won’t happen to me.” – The sentence that has heralded the coming of Captain Hindsight so many times that were those occasions dimes, there wouldn’t be one poor person in this world.
Falls are a very common occurrence when it comes to the elderly, after which the person can end up with hips and wrist fractures, head injuries or dislocations. Sadly, they can also be fatal sometimes. Although complete control of the environment is never possible, there are certain improvements which can certainly reduce the chances of this happening.
If you live with an elderly person, than you know they can get disoriented quite easily, especially if they have cognitive impairment. Therefore, preventative measures are a must, both for the home and for when out and about.
First and foremost, it is your obligation to talk to your older loved one about the importance of prevention and see whether they are aware of the potential risk. Before you go on discussing the changes to be made in your home, it’s important to address what goes on out of the home, where you have even less control. This is when senior fall prevention products come in quite handy.
The most advanced and popular among the senior fall prevention products is the rollator. This lightweight walker with four wheels and a built-in seat, can give you the much needed piece of mind and for the elderly person it can mark the beginning of a whole new relationship with their independence from other people. With this aid, the person will be able to go groceries shopping, visit a friend or take a walk knowing that safety walks beside them and also there’s the option to rest whenever they need to. Rollators are especially required for people that are in high risk regarding falling.
Other preventative measures include installing grab rails, especially in wet areas, removing clutter and all hazardous items. For this project, you’ll need to do a walk-through safety assessment of your house or apartment. You’ll also need to add more lighting options for seniors often get up during nighttime. A hand-held shower and a shower chair is also a great addition along with some grab bars for your bathroom. Stairs without two secure rails are also a no-no.
Finally, don’t forget to keep you older loved one’s sight in check by making sure they visit their eye doctor regularly and if they wear glasses, make sure they have a current prescription.
