There are some obvious ways to help your elderly family member to avoid falling, like encouraging her to use the cane her doctor recommended. But there are other fall prevention ideas that you might overlook, especially if you’re newer to helping your elderly family member with her daily needs.
Talk to Your Senior About Any Falls They May Have Had in the Recent Past
Believe it or not, it’s highly likely that your senior either has already fallen before or has had at least one or two near misses. The problem is that prior falls often lead to more, and subsequent falls are usually worse and cause more damage to your elderly family member. It’s embarrassing for seniors to admit to falls, however, so she may not have mentioned it before. You may also want to talk with her doctor about potential fall risks.
Address Muscle Loss with Exercise
While you’re talking with your senior’s doctor, find out if exercise is okay for her to start or to continue. One of the factors involved in fall risks tends to involve loss of muscle tone. That’s incredibly easy for seniors to start experiencing, but it can be partially avoided by moving a little more regularly. If your elderly family member doesn’t already have an exercise routine she enjoys, now might be the time to start one with her doctor’s blessing.
Assess Your Senior’s Diet
What is your senior eating on a regular basis? If you’re not sure, it’s time to find out. A healthier diet can give her body more of what it needs to take care of her properly, including reducing her fall risk. The right diet also contains enough protein to help support her muscles, which are vital in preventing falls. If cooking is something she’s not so excited about anymore, consider hiring elder care providers to help with meal prep.
Get Your Senior’s Eyes Checked
If your elderly family member’s vision has changed, she might not realize the extent to which it is affecting her ability to avoid a fall. Regular eye exams are absolutely essential for aging adults. Not only can your senior’s vision change without warning, but she can also have serious eye illnesses that have symptoms which are difficult or impossible to notice. Regular eye exams can identify those illnesses early.
Get Some Extra Help for Your Senior
At some point, it just makes sense to get some extra help for your senior. Home care providers can help your elderly family member to stay on target with her goals. They can also take over handling daily tasks that directly help your elderly family member to avoid a fall, like tidying up and keeping her home safe. Elder care providers can also make sure your elderly family member is eating regularly and that she’s not experiencing issues that might make a fall more likely.
Fall prevention is an ongoing task for you as a family caregiver. There’s a lot to keep up with, but it’s all important in order to help keep your senior as safe as possible.
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