by Meredith Troy
24. July 2009 23:08
We have good news and bad news. The bad news is there is a serious threat to senior safety, one most people overlook. Someone dies every 35 minutes and it is the leading cause of fatalities among people over 80. The threat is the danger of falling.
There is good news too. Falling danger is easily preventable and our home care professionals are trained to make our clients safe.
Making your Home Safe
Our homes make us feel safe and secure, but security can blind us to some of the hazards we face. Take a fresh look at your home and look for tripping dangers. Our home care staff can alert you to many hazards you might not see.
You know that loose floorboard you've been meaning to get fixed? It's time to get it fixed. How about the area rug you've tripped over before? Maybe it's time to get rid of it or at least secure it.
Bright lighting throughout the house is important. Don't hesitate to use 100-watt bulbs in appropriate fixtures. Let the young folks worry about energy conservation. Use nightlights in your bedroom and bathroom for those increasingly frequent midnight trips.
You're Retired - It's OK to Slow Down
When you get up in the morning, don't leap out of bed to greet the day. Take your time. Sit up and make sure you aren't dizzy before you stand. If the phone rings, don't run to answer it. It's probably just a telemarketer. Your family will understand that sometimes you can’t get to the phone right away and it may be necessary to call back.
Dress for success. Stick to shoes that fit well and have non-skid soles. Robes, coats or pants that drag on the ground can make you trip as well. If you wear glasses, wear them even if you just walk across the room.
Keep the floor clear. Some of us can't avoid clutter; it multiplies when our backs our turned. At least keep it on tables so you don't trip over it. Home care includes light housekeeping which helps make your home safe.
A Healthy Body is a Safe Body
The changes in our bodies as we get older can be subtle enough we don't notice. If a family member or one of our home care staff notices you are walking unsteadily or are weaker, see your doctor even if you think it's nothing.
Monitor your vision with regular eye exams. If your prescription changes, replace your glasses immediately. Wearing the wrong prescription can be disorienting and lead to more falls.
Nobody is too old to benefit from exercise. Even a small amount of activity every day increases your strength and balance. You will move more steadily, and even if you do fall you are less likely to be injured.
The best advice we can give is to take the danger of falling seriously. When you make these few changes, you make your environment safer and greatly reduce your chance of serious injury.
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