A fall may not be a big deal for a child or young adult, but it can have serious consequences for senior citizens. One out of every four seniors will suffer from a fall annually according to recent research – and falls are the number one cause for injury and death in aging people. Falling even from a short height can break bones, fracture hips, or cause serious head injury. Additionally, falls can take a mental toll on your loved one, resulting in depression, fear, and helplessness. Proactively taking steps preventing falls will help keep your family member independent yet safe.

Why Do Falls Occur?

Multiple factors can result in falls for senior citizens, such as:

Vision:Corners, depths, and obstacles become more difficult to see as eyesight deteriorates.
Stability: A loss of balance, coordination, and flexibility due to a less active lifestyle can cause falls.
Chronic conditions: 80% of senior citizens suffer from a serious condition which causes inactivity, depression or pain.
Medications: Some medications can have negative side effects that include bouts of dizziness or fainting.

Preventing Falls – What You Can Do?

The first step to receiving help is to ask for it; however, many aging loved ones may be tentative or ashamed to admit that they are experiencing a loss of balance and coordination. Make the first move and bring up any concerns or questions regarding their daily health.

Ask your family member if they have any immediate health concerns, or if their current medications are causing undesirable side effects. Be sure to write down these side effects to bring them up with your loved one’s physician. Together, discuss how they feel overall and try to identify possible fall risks. Note these items as well.
If your loved one wears glasses, check in to make sure they have a current and accurate prescription. You can also take note if they squint or complain more often about issues with their vision. Increased blurriness, loss of depth perception, and darkening vision should all be looked at by their optometrist.
Physical therapy can work wonders for maintaining balance, flexibility, and strength. If you observe that your loved one regularly relies on objects to correct their balance (walls, furniture, etc.) or that they struggle to stand and walk, consider going to see a physical therapist. Together you can create a low-impact exercise regimen that can work wonders in decreasing the chance of a fall. If the therapist recommends an aid like a cane or walker, be sure to get it properly sized–using equipment that is too high or low can actually increase the likelihood of a serious fall.
You may be successful in preventing falls by changing their interior design. Rearranging the furniture in your family member’s living space significantly contributes to safety and fall prevention. Brighter lights, grab bars in showers or next to toilets, and secured railings next to stairs can be a great improvement. Remove trip hazards like trim on the floor between rooms if possible. Assisted living provides extra comfort in the form of occupational therapists that can assist your loved one if home navigation becomes difficult.

The skilled staff at A Banyan Residence is committed to making sure that your loved one is as safe and comfortable at our facility as possible. If you have any questions or concerns – or would like to take a tour of our Villages memory care or assisted living residences – call us today.