The risk of falling increases with age making it essential for caregivers and families to learn the leading causes for falls and how to prevent them.
If your loved one suffers from health conditions such as memory disease, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, muscle weakness, or vision impairment, they may need assistive or adaptive devices.
Falls can be dangerous and even fatal, so elderly fall prevention is necessary. In adults over 65, falls are the main cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries, often causing hip fractures or another serious injury.
Without proper safety measures, your senior loved one may suffer from broken bones, hip injuries, and head injuries if they fall.
Learn more about the 4 P’s of fall prevention, cause and risk factors, fall prevention strategies, and where to find the perfect community for your loved one to live safely and comfortably.
The importance of fall prevention
Learning how to prevent your loved one from falling can make a huge difference in their life. Many older adults live in fear, knowing how dangerous a fall can be.
Your senior loved one may decide they no longer want to go for walks, trips to the store, or engage in hobbies they have always enjoyed.
By avoiding life and the things they enjoy, your loved one’s quality of life and well-being will decline, eventually putting them at a higher risk for falls.
Your loved one needs to stay active to maintain a healthy and strong body, which can help prevent future falls.
To help your loved one feel better about staying active, you can ensure their home is safe from tripping hazards and well lit.
Ensure their steps and walkways are salted in the winter, as many falls happen on slippery surfaces.
For seniors prone to losing their balance or getting tired quickly, install grab bars in their bathrooms, near stairs, and areas they spend the most time in.
Keep your senior active by teaching them how to do chair exercises and sit-to-stand exercises. These exercises can keep their body strong and help them maintain their balance, which helps reduce their chance of falling.
For seniors with Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, or dementia, you may want to consider transitioning them to a senior living community where they can receive support, assistance, and rehabilitation.
An assisted living or memory care community can be a safe option for seniors who cannot live alone and are prone to falls.
The 4 P’s of Fall Prevention
Learning the 4 P’s of fall prevention can help you determine your senior’s risk for falling.
For loved ones that need assistance with walking or completing daily activities, caregivers should ask their loved ones how they feel multiple times throughout the day to protect them from falls.
Pain
Ask your senior loved one if they are in pain or discomfort. If so, they may need rest before engaging in physical or daily activities.
Position
Are they in a comfortable position? If not, help them get into a better position, so they don’t hurt themselves trying to change positions alone.
Placement
Does your loved one need food, a drink, a phone, or remote control? Put anything they may need or want within reach.
Personal needs
Frequently ask your loved one if they need to eat, use the bathroom, or the washroom. If left alone for too long, they may try to do these things themselves, increasing their risk of falling.
Assisted living and memory care communities observe their residents and update their care plans as needed to ensure health and safety.
Causes and risk factors for falls
Identifying risk factors is the best way to protect your loved one from falling.
Some of the most common causes of falls are:
- Chronic conditions
- Parkinson’s disease
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Memory disease
- Low blood pressure
- Stroke
- Home hazards
- Cluttered environment
- Poorly lit environment
- Slippery floors
- Icy steps
- History of vertigo
- Loss of balance
- Medications
- Osteoporosis
- Poor eyesight or hearing
Fall prevention strategies
While there are many causes of falls, there are just as many fall prevention strategies.
If your loved one struggles with balance and mobility, ensure they have the assisted devices needed to get around, such as a wheelchair, walker, or cane.
Since most falls occur at home, you can help safety-proof your loved one’s home by keeping floors and pathways uncluttered, and removing tripping hazards, like rugs and cords.
If your loved one has hardwood floors, you may consider putting down carpet to avoid it becoming slippery.
A walkthrough of your loved one’s home will show where modifications need to be made.
For senior loved ones that cannot safely get around by themselves, even when improvements have been made, it will likely be time to consider a senior living community.
Kensington senior living communities can meet the unique needs of seniors and offer a full spectrum of clinical support, with a physical or occupational therapist available right on site.
Whether your loved one just needs someone to assist them with daily tasks while recovering from an injury or needs around-the-clock care, our team can offer help and assistance to improve their quality of life.
True aging in place
Kensington senior living communities provide your loved one with a safe, loving, and cozy home to age in.
We fulfill Our Promise to love and care for your family as we do our own by offering high acuity care, safety features, rehabilitation services, and daily comforts.
We developed our communities to give seniors a safe and enjoyable home to transition to, giving caregivers and family members peace of mind.
When your loved one joins our community, you can expect:
- Around-the-clock care
- Beautiful surroundings
- Couple accommodations
- Enhanced wellness programs
- Exquisite dining services
- Individualized care plans
- Life-enrichments activities
- Medication administration by nurses
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapies
- Physician services on-site
Contact us to learn more about our safe and comfortable senior living communities, the amenities we can offer your loved one, and where to find caregiver resources and events.