Our Ask An Angel correspondent is Arlene Petersen, Life Care Navigation Specialist in the area of senior home care.
Q. I landed in the hospital after a fall in my home. I had to go to rehab, and I don’t want it to happen again! I consider myself in good shape and a youthful senior, yet this fall took me by surprise. What can I do?
A. Falls in the elderly are very common. Some can be prevented and others cannot. Awareness is the key, and you are asking questions, which is good! Since you fell in your home, let’s start there. Evaluate your surroundings. Most falls occur in the bathroom or bedroom. A fall can happen simply by getting in and out of the shower, or in and out of bed. If you are sensing your balance may be faltering, think about installing grasping tools to help, especially in the bathroom. Consider all areas that might pose as a tripping hazard. Rugs, slippery floor mats, or clutter in hallways can be a cause for a fall. Poor or dim lighting can also pose a problem. Let’s face it, as we age we really don’t like to admit we might be losing our mobility, but the decline in our physical strength causes falls to happen. The best we can do is to learn! If you don’t have an exercise regime in place, it would be another good area to investigate. Building muscle strength has been proven to help with balance and overall body strength. Keep learning, and you’ll find yourself doing the best you can to eliminate fall risks!
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.
