Four Types of Help for Avoiding Falls

The thought of falling might be a terrifying one for your senior and for good reason. People who fall once are twice as likely to fall again and even one fall can cause serious injuries that linger far longer than you might think possible. Helping your elderly family member to avoid a fall is a big part of your caregiving duties.

Home Health Care in Bridgehampton NY: Fall Prevention

Sturdy Shoes

Your senior might not enjoy wearing shoes, but the reality is that shoes are an excellent way for her to avoid a fall. The best shoe for her to be wearing has a sturdy and supportive upper with support for the arch of her foot. The sole needs to be non-slip and the shoes should fit her properly. If she’s got the right shoes, your senior won’t notice that she’s wearing them but she’ll be fully supported.

Assistive Tools

Something else your senior might not enjoy is using an assistive tool, like a cane. But the reality is that these devices can help your elderly family member quite a bit if she’s got any sort of balance issues at all. Working with physical or occupational therapists can also help because they can show her how to use these devices properly to meet her specific challenges.

Personal Medical Alarms

A personal medical alarm is a wearable device, usually something that looks like a watch or that your senior wears as a pendant, that allows her to call for help if necessary. These devices are usually very simple, with one button that allows the wearer to call for help. Newer devices have fall-detecting technology that helps even more. If the device determines that your senior likely fell, it contacts an operator for her who can send help to your elderly family member.

Hands-on Help

One of the best ways that your senior can avoid a fall is by having more hands-on help available to her. You may be there with her more often than at any other time in the past, but you might not be there as much as you want to be. That could be where senior care providers come in. They can help your senior with mobility and with other tasks as needed. This can help you and your senior to both feel more secure.
Talk to your senior’s doctor about her fall risks. This can help you and your elderly family member to put more thorough fall-prevention plans in place for her.

If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring Home Health Care in Bridgehampton, NY, call the caring staff at Artful Home Care today at 631-685-5001.