The elderly are not guaranteed to develop diseases like arthritis, dementia, and osteoporosis, with none of these conditions being a normal part of the aging process. However, while conditions like this are not normal, the risk of developing them does increase with age.
Among those seniors who do end up developing mobility inhibiting diseases like arthritis or dementia, it becomes necessary for the caregiver to help reduce the risk of a senior fall.
Senior falls can happen in any room of the house or when the senior is away from home. As a caregiver, it is important to help protect the senior from falls, by reducing their exposure to risks. In the case of traveling away from home, this means that it is necessary to help the senior avoid tripping hazards, such as slippery surfaces or curbs. However, the majority of injuries among the elderly occur at home, so it is extremely important to spend time focusing on making the home safer and more accessible.
Of all areas of the home, the stairs represents the largest risk to the elderly. There are several reasons for this and often it is a combination of factors that makes the staircase so dangerous. For example, it may be that in addition to the stairs being poorly lit, the senior has arthritis and is unable to bend their knees as easily as before. In some cases, installing something like a stair lift, which carries the seniors up the stairs, might be the best way to increase safety. However, in addition to using devices like stair lifts, it is essential to ensure the staircase itself is well maintained.
There are a number of areas, aside from only the stairs, that can present a fall risk though, so it is important to inspect and evaluate each room, as well as all areas in and around the home, for risks. Falls can happen anywhere, so it is essential to make sure the places like the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom can be used as safely as possible.
One of the most important components for reducing falls is to ensure that all areas are well lit and that light switches for these areas can be easily accessed. In the case of outdoor areas, such as around the house and garage, installing motion sensor lights is often the best bet.
The advantage of motion sensor lights is that there is no need for the senior to remember to leave the lights on when they leave home or exit the house. Instead the light will turn on automatically, as soon as they detect any movement. However, it is important to spend some time adjusting the direction of the light, as well as the sensitivity of the motion sensor and the length of time that the light stays on. This is because it is imperative that the light remain on long enough for the senior to enter the house, without being rushed, and is sensitive enough to detect their movement.
Falls can and do happen to people of all ages. Seniors are, however, at an increased risk for falls and will usually have a much harder time recovering from an injury. This makes taking steps to make the stairs, as well as all other areas of the home, safer and easier to use essential to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for the elderly.
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