As a family caregiver one of your most important priorities is protecting your parent’s safety. While there are many risks and hazards that your elderly parent might face depending on their own individual needs and challenges, one issue that all older adults face is elevated fall risk.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that approximately 1 out of every 4 adults over the age of 64 suffers a fall each year, and that falling once doubles an elderly adult’s risk of experiencing another fall. You can make a tremendous difference in your parent’s fall risk by going through their home and removing potential hazards that increase the chances that they will fall. One area where this is often overlooked is the bedroom.
Use these tips to help you reduce the fall risk for your elderly loved one in their bedroom:
• Ensure their bed is the correct height. It is very important to make sure that your elder’s bed is not too high or too low for comfortable, confident transferring. They should be able to get into and out of the bed without having to climb or lower themselves too much.
• Add a bench. Getting dressed may seem like a simple task to you, but for an elderly adult who is dealing with mobility issues or balance problems, steps such as lifting their feet to put on pants or leaning down to pull on socks might be dangerous. Adding a bench to their room allows them to sit confidently so that they are able to move more easily and securely.
• Ensure adequate lighting. Not having enough lighting throughout the home can make it very difficult for a senior to navigate the space properly. This is particularly true at night and early in the morning when there might be shadows or confusing areas of darkness. Add extra lighting throughout your parent’s bedroom, such as motion activated nightlights or an extra side lamp. If possible, add a switch near their bed so that they do not need to turn off the light at the door and then move through the room in darkness.
Starting elderly care for your aging parent can be a fantastic way to help keep them safer and healthier throughout their later years. An elderly home care services provider can be with your senior loved one on a schedule that is right for them. This is not just about addressing their needs and limitations, but also giving them the support, care, and assistance that they need to help them to achieve and maintain a higher level of independence, activity, and fulfillment as they age in place.
When it comes to helping them to stay safer, this elderly care provider can give your parent physical support and assistance to help them stay mobile and to handle personal care tasks, such as bathing, dressing, or toileting. They can also help your love one with tasks throughout their home and in their daily life that might challenge their physical abilities, such as helping them keep their home neat and tidy, or going to the grocery store with them to help pick up and carry purchases.
As a family caregiver this can help you to have peace of mind knowing that your senior can maintain an active, engaged, and fulfilling lifestyle while staying safer, healthier, and more comfortable.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html
