Our Ask An Angel correspondent is Arlene Petersen, Life Care Navigation Specialist in the area of senior home care.
Q. My mom lives alone, and last month, she fell in her home. Luckily, she didn’t break anything, but we whisked her to the ER to make sure she was O.K. She hasn’t fallen again but that is my biggest fear now (and hers as well). I am constantly worried, and she refuses help when I offer suggestions to make a few changes in her home.
A. It may surprise you to discover that falls are the second leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., and 75 percent of these falls occur in the older-adult population.
Falls are the single largest cause of injury among seniors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, older adults are hospitalized for fall-related injuries five times as often as from injuries with other causes.
Fear of falling can become a major factor in seniors’ quality of life and having this fear can often lead to a fall. Fear also leads to inactivity and loss of confidence, which, in turn, produces a cycle of fear, loss of self-confidence, and inactivity. And your worry doesn’t help her, either.
Here are a few things to be aware of:
* Remove or secure throw rugs, which can cause falls.
* Make sure stairs are fitted with handrails.
* Ensure your hallways are well-lit.
* Eliminate clutter that can cause trips.
* Remove long extension cords, or plug electronics into outlets near the wall.
* Add grab bars next to the toilet, tub, and shower. Have them professionally installed with ADA compliant contractors.
* In addition to grab bars, make sure the tub has non-skid mats. A tub seat may make showering easier, too.
* Trade in floppy slippers for well-fitting slippers with non-skid soles. Also, avoid night clothing that drags on the ground.
If you would like more information about fall prevention, please feel free to call me. We can talk about your concerns and explore ways to check for hazards in your or your loved one’s home.
• Have a question for our angel correspondent? You can send our angel an email to apetersen@visitingangels.com or send your question via mail to Ask An Angel, 65 Woodbury St., South Elgin, IL 60177.
