Written by guest blogger Caroline Maurer, SafeWise.com
When you’re little and take a tumble at the playground, a Band-Aid makes you as good as new. But when you’re older, a minor fall can endanger your life. Over 25 percent of American adults over 65 fall each year, and since falls are the leading cause of injuries and fatal traumas in this age group, they’re something to take very seriously. While these facts are scary, there are plenty of preventative measures to protect yourself and your loved ones from falls. Follow the steps below to ensure the seniors in your life stay healthier and happier for longer.
Be Active
Leading an active life is proven to prolong life and help people maintain optimal health as they age. That’s because regular exercise decreases the chance of heart attack, regulates healthy body weight, reduces the risk of diabetes, improves mood, and prevents inflammation. Exercise also combats muscle loss, increases flexibility, and maintains coordination—benefits that increase mobility and decrease chances of falls. The CDC recommends seniors spend a minimum of two-and-a-half hours walking briskly or 75 minutes doing intense cardio per week, plus two days of muscle strengthening per week to gain health benefits.
No matter how you exercise, the key is to keep your heart pumping at a moderate to intense rate for at least 10 minutes at a time. Walking the dog uphill, riding your bike, kayaking, doing yoga, and taking aerobics class are all suitable means to stay in shape as you get older.
Optimize Mobility
Although leading an active lifestyle is one way to maintain strength and prevent falls, not everyone is able to do so. Mobility issues are the number one disability reported for people over 65, but there are things you can do to help your older loved ones stay safe.
- Install bedrails. It’s easy to become disoriented when waking up from a nap or for a bathroom break in the middle of the night. Installing a bed rail provides support while standing, and a barrier between the mattress and the edge of the bed while asleep.
- Consider an insert for the tub or shower. The bathroom is the most dangerous place in the home for falls, so make it less so by outfitting tubs and showers with senior safety equipment. Many companies fit handicap-accessible bathtubs and showers to existing bathrooms, which include rails, benches, and easy entrance points for safer bathing.
- Get a stair lift. Stairs can be a major hazard for older adults. Play it safe and install a stair lift to transport your loved one safely between levels of the home.
- Install handrails. Hallways, bathrooms, and dressing areas are prime spots to add handrails for added stability. Have a professional install handicap railings in your senior loved one’s home so they have something sturdy to hold onto in case he/she feels unsteady.
- Buy a cane or walker. These devices can increase stability, decrease chances of falls, and minimize the severity of injury when they do happen. A 2010 study published to the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society studied 262 people age 65 and older to determine the effectiveness of canes and walkers. Of all the falls reported during the study, 75 percent happened when the participant didn’t have a cane or walker, and 100 percent of the fall-related injuries that required surgery occurred without a walker or cane.
Read About Side Effects
Four out of five seniors have chronic conditions, which explains why one-third of all prescriptions filled in the U.S. are used by this demographic. The problem here is that medications can have side effects that lead to falls—and since 40 percent of seniors have difficulty reading labels and 67 percent have trouble understanding information given to them. According to the National Council on Patient Information and Education, this can be a problem.
If the senior you care for will oblige, get a list of his/her medications. Look them up or talk to a pharmacist so you’re aware of the risks involved. If dizziness or headaches are potential side effects, talk to your loved one to see if they can get a different prescription with fewer risks.
Talk About Health Concerns
Dizziness isn’t the only cause for elderly falls. Poor eyesight, heart conditions, and mobility also pose risks. Have frequent conversations with your older friends and relatives so you know what’s going on in their day-to-day lives. Some pertinent questions to ask include:
- How are you feeling?
- Are you taking any new medicine?
- Can you handle work around the house?
- Is driving hard for you?
- Are you having trouble seeing the TV?
- Can you hear the phone and doorbell ring?
Being aware of health concerns helps you both determine in-home needs and additional care. Learn other questions you should ask your aging friends and relatives on AARP.
Stay in Touch
More than 12 million people over age 65 live alone. Instead of hovering over a senior loved one, help them maintain independence by getting a wearable safety device. These range from medical alert pendants that allow people to call for help if they fall or have a medical emergency to GPS bracelets that help find disoriented elderly people. In an emergency, they’re real life-savers.
Growing older doesn’t have to be scary or difficult. When you follow these tips above, you and your elderly loved ones can lead safer, healthier lives.
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