Fall Risk Prevention
An older adult suffers from a fall every second of every day. Unfortunately, every 20 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall. The older an individual is, the more dangerous a fall can be. As an individual over 65, or as someone with a loved one over 65, it’s important to take the right precautionary measures to reduce the risk and danger of falls. Shawn Mccomb, Executive Business Director of Right at Home - Milwaukee, has been presenting at multiple locations around the Greater Milwaukee Area informing elderly individuals about fall risk prevention.
This article will explore some preventative measures you can take to reduce the risk of falling.
Understand Existing Conditions That Can Increase Risk
There are a number of existing conditions that can increase your risk of falling. Notably, certain medications can cause fatigue and dizziness as well as make you feel less alert. It’s important to understand how your medication affects you, so you can be prepared when taking it.
If you wear eyeglasses, keep your prescription up-to-date. It’s a good idea to visit the eye doctor every one to two years and always wear your current glasses (unless you’re sleeping or bathing).
Conduct Exercises to Improve Your Balance and Strength
Two of the largest factors of falls are poor balance and a lack of strength. By improving these two areas, you can reduce your risk of falling. If you have weak balance, always talk to your doctor, or medical professional when considering new exercises.
Consider implementing:
- Sit to stand exercises without any support
- Feet together, feet apart, and one-foot strength and balance exercises
Explore this article from Hopkins Medicine for detailed step-by-step instructions for these exercises.
Prepare Your Living Area
There are many hazards at home that can increase your risk of falls. Be sure to address these items in your living room, bathroom, and kitchen to reduce the risk of accidents.
Most importantly, be sure to clear clutter to create an open path as well as install proper lighting to make it easier to see. If your loved one is often at home alone, consider implementing a smart home system like Google Home or Alexa that will allow them to turn lights on and off from anywhere in the house, as well as call in case of an emergency.
Address High-risk Scenarios
The bathroom is the riskiest place for falls in your home. Be sure to install necessary support devices, such as grab bars and a tub transfer chair to reduce the risk of falls. Additionally, remember to never grab a towel rack, shower curtain rod, or doorknob for support.
Outside of the home, remember to hold onto the railing when walking down the stairs. If necessary, bring a cane or walker with you when leaving the house. Additionally, ensure that you’re wearing appropriate footwear for your planned activities.
Right at Home Milwaukee is Here to Support Your Loved Ones
The above information is provided to you by Right at Home, Milwaukee. We are passionate about providing Personal and Companion Care to Seniors and those with disabilities with heartfelt compassion and a high quality of service in homes, Independent Living, and supplementary assistance to those in Assisted Living and Memory Care. If you haven’t already done so, be sure to check out our Fall Prevention Guide.
Our Personal Care includes ambulation, bathing, showering, toileting, grooming and hygiene assistance; feeding, dressing, condition observation, Alzheimer's and Dementia care, a range of motion exercises, along with various homemaker services, respite care, and transportation.
Our Companion Care services include a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, including socialization, hobbies, crafts, games, walking exercises, and more.
All our caregivers are employees, and are bonded, insured, background checked, and thoroughly interviewed.
Call us for a no-obligation assessment at (414) 877-1795.
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