Home Care New York: Tips For Fall Prevention
Falls can have serious consequences for older adults, especially those with chronic conditions. Statistics show that tens of thousands of adults 65 and older die each year from a fall. Millions visit the emergency room every year after a fall.
Safety and fall prevention is an important part of home health care services. In this blog, we’ll talk about the dangers of falls for older adults and why they’re at risk. We’ll also describe how family caregivers and home health aides help prevent falls.
If you reside in New York, you have free access to Trualta for even more information about home care, fall prevention, and caregiving. If you live in another state, you can check if you also have free access to Trualta.
What Causes Falls?
Anyone can fall at any age with serious consequences. Older adults are more vulnerable to falling for several reasons:
- Older adults are susceptible to sarcopenia. This is the natural decline in muscle mass and strength with age.
- Vision and hearing typically decline with age.
- Reflexes also become less sharp with age.
- Chronic health conditions that affect balance are more common in older patients.
- Other health conditions may cause an older adult to rush to the bathroom, which could lead to a fall.
- Cognitive decline in dementia patients increases the risk of falling.
- Some medications cause side effects like dizziness or confusion in older patients.
Why Are Falls So Dangerous For Older Adults?
A fall can be dangerous for anyone. It can lead to cuts, scrapes, broken bones, or worse. Older adults have a greater risk of poor outcomes from a fall.
- Loss of strength and muscle mass increases the risk that a fall will cause an injury.
- Older adults often have weaker bones. They are more susceptible to fractures from a fall.
- Older adults alone at home may not get timely treatment. This can worsen injuries.
- The ability to heal from injuries declines with age.
- A head injury from a fall can be especially dangerous with certain medications, like blood thinners.
The risk of a fall also affects an older adult’s independence and mental health. Many adults hope to age at home, but they lose independence if falls are too risky. They may need more home care services or to move to assisted living or a nursing home. Fear of falling is common in older adults and negatively impacts mental health.
How Can Home Health Aids Prevent Falls?
Falls are common in older adults but don’t have to be. Fall prevention measures make a big difference. Quality home care plays a big part in reducing the risk of falls and preventing them.
Start A Conversation About Dangerous Falls
Not all older adults understand the risks of falls. The first step to preventing falls is awareness. Begin a conversation with your loved one or care recipient.
Talking about your concerns isn’t easy. Your loved one may not be receptive. Be sensitive to this and use considerate language. Keep the conversation positive and focus on the fact that you want to help. Discuss how home care can make them safer.
Make The Home Safer
Change the home care environment to make it safer and to reduce the risk of a fall:
- Keep floors clear of clutter.
- Arrange furniture to allow plenty of space for walking and where they can be used for balance.
- Add grab bars in the bathroom.
- Make sure lighting is adequate in all areas.
- Remove rugs that may be trip hazards.
This is a useful home care safety checklist for older adults, caregivers, and professional care management teams.
Assist With Mobility
Many older adults need mobility assistance from in-home care. Mobility assistance does not require nurses or certified home health aides; even a family caregiver can provide this help.
Be next to your loved one when they walk around the house or for particular challenges. They may need your arm to use the stairs or to get in the bathtub.
Some care recipients with more significant mobility challenges could benefit from assistive devices like walkers. They may also benefit from a professional or more skilled home health aide.
Encourage Exercise & Activities
Muscle mass declines with age, increasing the risk of a fall. Exercise can delay some of this loss. Exercise also improves balance, flexibility, and coordination. It makes activities of daily living easier and safer.
Many older adults are afraid to exercise. Home health care aides can help their care recipients get more exercise by keeping them safe while active.
As a family caregiver, you can encourage more activity by talking to your loved one’s medical team. Get advice on what type of exercise they can do. Their doctor or a registered nurse can also advise you on how to keep them safe as they get more active. Community or senior centers may have fall prevention exercise classes.
Keep Up With Medical Care
Staying in optimal health can prevent falls:
- Get hearing and vision tests. Keep eyeglass prescriptions up to date.
- Manage chronic health conditions.
- Stay up-to-date with doctor appointments.
- Check the feet for pain and other issues that could cause a fall.
- Talk to doctors about the side effects of medications.
- Update the personalized care plan to address the risk of falls.
Good health helps prevent falls. A caregiver or home care agency worker cannot force care recipients to take care of their health. They can, however, encourage them and make it easier.
Support Fall Prevention Lifestyle Changes
Home care agency workers should be knowledgeable about fall prevention factors. They can educate their care recipients about what they should be doing every day to prevent falls:
- Eat regular, balanced meals.
- Get adequate sleep.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Wear comfortable shoes that fit well.
- Avoid going out in bad weather.
- Keep hands free when walking.
- Stand up slowly from lying down or sitting.
- Always use handrails, furniture, and assistive devices.
Finding The Best Home Care in New York
New Yorkers can access information to choose a good home health care agency. A New York home care agency is a good resource for families. If you can’t always be there with your loved one, a visiting nurse service or personal care aide can. They can provide the necessary personalized care that keeps your loved one from falling.
The New York State Department of Health lists licensed and certified agencies. Use this resource to find skilled nursing care, a home health aide, or other other home health care services to support your loved one. Quality care is so important for preventing falls.
We would love to share more information with you to help keep your loved one safe at home. If you reside in New York, you have free access to Trualta for even more information about home care, fall prevention, and caregiving. If you live in another state, you can check if you also have free access to Trualta.
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