According to the National Council on Aging, one in four adults in the United States who are age 65 or older fall each year. And, every 19 minutes an older adult dies because of a fall. Because of the danger of falls and their prevalence, it’s important to understand what contributes to falls since it may help you with elderly fall prevention.
1. Weakened Muscles
Muscles tend to get weaker as people age. This results in a lack of support for the body and can also affect balance. Weak muscles also make it more difficult to do some daily tasks, which may also lead to a fall. In addition to normal muscle changes that come with age, older adults often do not get enough exercise to help maintain muscle mass.
Home care can help seniors to keep their muscles stronger by encouraging them to be more physically active. Home care providers can involve older adults in physical activities around the house or drive them to exercise classes.
2. Chronic Illness
Many of the chronic illnesses that occur in older adults make falls more likely. Conditions like diabetes, arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, and others can affect strength and balance. People with more than one chronic condition have an even greater risk of falling.
Home care providers can help manage chronic illnesses by reminding seniors to take their medication and driving them to medical appointments.
3. Medications
Many medications have dizziness as a side effect. In addition, the way the body metabolizes medicines changes as people get older, which can make them stay in the body longer or interact with other medications.
Home care can watch for signs of dizziness and allow the senior to sit until it passes. They can also help them to get safely to a place where they can sit or lie down, which is a significant aid in elderly fall prevention.
4. Problems with Vision and Hearing
Not being able to see or hear well can lead to falls. Poor vision makes it harder for seniors to see what is coming as they walk, such as uneven surfaces. Problems with hearing may make it harder to hear someone or something coming up behind them, causing them to startle.
Home care can help seniors with vision and hearing problems to navigate safely. They can lend a steadying arm and warn the older adult about upcoming obstacles, aiding with fall prevention for the elderly.
5. Environmental Factors
There are many things around the home that can lead to falls, such as unnecessary clutter that may cause the senior to trip. Uneven surfaces, lack of handrails, and slippery floors are also a problem.
Home care providers can help with some environmental factors in the home. They can keep the house tidy so that there is nothing for the senior to trip over. They can also remove throw rugs that slip or can cause tripping.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering finding services for home care in Benton City, WA, please contact the caring staff at Solutions today. We serve all of the Tri-Cities areas. Call 509-627-8575.