Elderly adults face many challenges throughout their later years, but one of the most pressing is increased fall risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 1 in every 4 seniors over the age of 64 throughout the United States suffers a fall each year. Many of these result in the need for medical care at an emergency room. Approximately 1 in every 5 falls, a full 20 percent of the falls that occur each year, results in a serious injury such as a broken bone or a traumatic brain injury. In your role as a family caregiver it is important for you to take steps to reduce the risk that your aging parent will suffer a fall. There are many ways that you can help protect your parent from suffering the potentially catastrophic injuries of a fall, from providing physical support and assistance to making meaningful modifications throughout their home to reduce the hazards. One of the most important, however, is staying in close contact with their doctor.
Some things about fall risk you should discuss with your parent’s doctor include:
- Medications. If your senior is like many elderly adults, they are taking at least one prescription medication. These medications can have a wide variety of side effects, including dizziness, light-headedness, and loss of balance. These can put your parent at much higher risk of suffering a fall. If your parent has started taking a medication and you have noticed increased issues that make you worry about their fall risk, talk to the doctor about them. They might be able to suggest ways that your parent can manage these side effects better or even offer an alternative medication.
- Health concerns. If your elderly parent has started showing more signs of imbalance, mobility problems, or frequent injuries, their health issues might be to blame. Talk to your parent’s doctor about how their diagnoses might influence their fall risk and what you can do to ensure that they are managing these conditions properly so that they can reduce their risk.
- Lifestyle choices. The health of your parent’s body makes a tremendous difference in their fall risk. Talk to their doctor about the lifestyle choices that you can help your parent make to strengthen their body and keep them healthier as they age in place. This can include the foods that they eat, their hydration levels, and exercises that are appropriate for their needs.
If you have noticed that your elderly parent’s needs have increased, that you have not been able to handle them as effectively due to your own challenges and limitations, or you simply think that they would benefit from more diversified care, now may be the ideal time for you to consider starting home care for them. An in-home care provider can work with you to create a customized schedule so that you can feel confident your parent is getting all of the care, support, and assistance that they need at all times. This can be particularly beneficial when it comes to helping your senior stay safer while also maintaining a more active and fulfilling lifestyle. This care provider can provide physical assistance to help them with their daily tasks, safe and reliable transportation to where they need and want to go, and encouragement to make good lifestyle choices that will help them to keep their body stronger, healthier, and safer.
If you or a family member are in need of a professional caregiver in Boca Raton, FL, call the caring professionals at Star Multi Care today at (954) 870-4770. Providing service in Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Weston, Southwest Ranches, Pembroke Pines, Cooper City, Lighthouse Point, and Wilton Manors.
Source:
https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html
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