When you're young, a fall isn't a big deal. Children can fall several times a day with hardly any ill effects.
Sadly, this resilience doesn't last into later life. According to the World Health Organization, falls in older people are a major cause of pain, disability, and loss of independence worldwide.
Not only are these injuries disruptive to life, but they also increase the risk of falls in the future. Seniors in Newton will need to weave effective fall prevention interventions into their daily lives to protect themselves
Interested in learning more about avoiding falls in seniors? Read on for some workable senior safety tips.
Seniors face a massive risk of falling. According to the CDC, fall-related injuries resulted in more than 3 million emergency room visits and 38,000 fatalities among seniors in 2021. Getting regular exercise is the best way to avoid being included in that statistic.
Many seniors in Newton have either experienced a fall themselves or know someone who has. As we age, we get weaker, our senses diminish, and we're less balanced on our feet. To make matters worse, our bones get weaker, too.
While kids can fall several times in an afternoon and not even break their stride, for seniors, a fall could result in problems like:
Being cautious about head injuries is an essential part of assisted living safety. A head injury could be extremely dangerous, especially for seniors. If there's ever any doubt about whether or not a senior hit their head after a fall, it's better safe than sorry.
Some head injuries are internal and don't look too bad from the outside. Underestimating the extent of a head injury is particularly risky with seniors with memory issues, as it can be hard to pin down the source of confusion.
Balance exercises for seniors are essential if you want to avoid precautionary trips to the emergency room.
Some of the most effective fall prevention activities involve making changes at home.
Eliminating clutter is an easy method to establish a safer environment and mitigate the possibility of falling. You can lower the number of falls by getting rid of anything that could get in the way of doorways and walkways. Caregivers should schedule routine inspections of senior spaces to guarantee safety.
They should look out for things like:
Simple fixes can stop people from slipping and hurting themselves badly in high-risk areas like the bathroom. These fall prevention interventions need to be correctly installed to be effective.
According to the U.S. Access Board's ADA Accessibility Standards, grab bars and the supporting structure must be able to withstand a 250-pound force. If you are still worried about safety, get a professional contractor to take a look.
Remember that when installing bathroom safety features, correct installation is essential. An incorrectly installed grab bar could rip out of the wall when a falling senior reaches out for support. Such things cause serious injury, so don't take chances with DIY installations if you don't know what you're doing.
Regular hearing a vision checks keep senses sharp and help seniors perceive hazards. Make the basic checks part of the senior wellness routine to cut avoidable risk.
Medicines help, but mixes and side effects can harm balance.
According to the CDC, side effects from common medicines can cause drowsiness, loss of balance, vision changes, and slower reaction, so regular medication reviews are important.
At our Newton, NC community, safety leads every decision. We use research-backed fall prevention interventions such as handrails and exercise programs to protect residents across assisted living and memory care.
Here at TerraBella Newton, our Executive Director leads a wellness program that understands each resident's needs in our assisted living and memory care programs. We offer tailored health and fitness options to suit different ability levels.
See our approach in person. Contact us to schedule a tour.