Fall Prevention Tips
The prevention tips discussed in this article can prove to be very effective in keeping the geriatric population safe and injury free. The most frequently documented healthy statistics for seniors is in relation to slips and falls. A fall for even a senior in good health can result in injuries that could lead to death and possibly long-term consequences. There is a tremendous need for fall prevention tips that could lower the fall statistics and keep seniors safe.
A younger healthy senior will experience a fall in their home related to environmental factors such as tripping over clutter. Older seniors whose health is declining are likely to slip and fall due to weakness from poor health, a brief loss of consciousness of other mobility problems. Statistics and studies representing the rate of falls suffered by seniors show that thirty to fifty percent of those seniors who live in their homes will fall or have suffered a fall.
Seniors can be more aware of the causes and complications of falls by following fall prevention tips. Learning the importance of fall prevention can protect the seniors you love and prevent them from becoming a statistic. There is a great fear of falling among seniors who have suffered a fall and it can cause them to fear the mobility they need to keep their muscles strong. Prolonged mobility or decrease in mobility among seniors who have had a hp fracture increases their possibility of death. The risks involved with surgery especially in the higher age brackets involves the consequences of disease or prolonged immobility.
A simple preventive place to begin with fall prevention is to make sure all the rooms of your house have adequate lighting. Poor eyesight is one of the major causes why seniors suffer from falls. Light switches should be easily accessible so they are within easy reach in each area of your home. A flashlight that is maintained, charged and within easy access or that can be carried with an individual is another solution.
Stairs should be equipped with sturdy handrails that will provide security to a senior who is still mobile and using stairs. A first floor room is a better alternative so that the risk of falling using stairs can be eliminated. Home maintenance and awareness of things live loose carpets, uneven flooring or clutter will increase your chances of fall prevention. A clean and neat home setting will provide the best assurance against possible injury do to falls. Non-slip backing on your carpets or removing unsuitable carpets to a different area of the house will give you further preventive protection. A slippery floor due to wet tile or linoleum surfaces especially hazardous to the senior who is already unsteady. Use caution to keep floor surfaces dry and buy non-slip well fitting shoes designed for the elderly.
Mobility devices that offer protective prevention like bed rails should be considered to be installed. Bed rails will allow a senior to maintain their independence and give them the support they need to do their daily activities. Bed rails are a great mobility device especially for seniors who have lost strength in their arms, have become unsteady, and are experiencing general weakness. Bed rails will provide the security they need to continue being mobile with less risk. It is important to purchase bed rails that are sturdy and can be securely mounted to a stable surface.
Preventing falls can assure that a senior will have a greater ability to maintain their independence and avoid injury that could result in a loss of mobility. Following these simple fall prevention tips will give you greater assurance of avoiding the consequences of falls.
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