Eldercare Advice & Planning

When you’re eighty years old, there’s no such thing as a simple slip anymore. Many elders (and their caregivers!) discover, much to their dismay, that the slips, trips, and falls that they may have shrugged off when they were younger now result in serious injury.

How many times have you heard about a fall resulting in a broken arm, shattered pelvis or worse? There’s a reason for that. The aging process changes our bodies. We become less resilient. Bones break more easily. We bruise more easily. It takes longer to ‘bounce back’ and recover from even minor injuries.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. There are steps you can take to help aging parents prevent slips and falls. Read the below elder care advice to learn more:

Talk to the Doctor

There are several health conditions elders experience that can contribute directly to slips and falls. Gout, bursitis, arthritis, and similar conditions can make it difficult to maintain one’s balance, especially if you’re on uneven ground. It’s good to know what your elder is dealing with and what you can expect. Your doctor may provide additional elder care advice such as checking the side effects of prescription medications. They may make your elder dizzy or unsteady on their feet.

Check the Lighting

One reason elders fall is that they simply don’t see the obstacles that trip them up. Our vision changes as we get older. Cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration make it hard to see, especially in a low light environment. Help aging parents by making sure your elder is living in a well-lit area. Pay particular attention to staircases and entryways: two areas where many falls happen.

Help Aging Parents With The Housework

Clutter and debris that gets underfoot can contribute directly to your elder falling down. Most elders have the best intentions. They mean to keep their living areas clean and tidy. However, that isn’t always possible. Having someone help your elder perform the tasks of daily living helps ensure that they are in a tidy environment without the clutter that causes falls.

Check The Shoes & Slippers Your Elders Wear

Footwear choices can have a tremendous impact on the number of slips and falls your elder experiences. Check the shoes and slippers they wear. You want the soles to have good tread, making it easier to avoid slips and falls. Smooth bottomed shoes make it easy to fall! Replace worn out shoes and slippers regularly. This is also a great way to help cut down on the fungal infections that plague many elder’s feet! For elder care advice regarding appropriate footwear choices, consult with your elder’s doctor or podiatrist.

Embrace Adaptive Technology

There are many ways you can make your elder’s home safer. Installing handrails and grab bars in slip-prone areas, such as the bathroom, can make a tremendous difference. Something as simple as having a bar to hold onto while getting in and out of the shower can make independent living much safer for your elder. Stair lifts, chairlifts, and vertical platform lifts are all specialized lifts that can be installed in your elder’s home so they can travel from one floor to another without having to physically climb the stairs. This greatly reduces the risk of falling.

Every elder is different and has different needs. Bass Eldercare can help you assess which solutions are right for your family and provide targeted, specific elder care advice to meet your individual needs. Preventing slips and falls needs to be every caregiver’s goal, throughout 2012 and beyond!