Fall Prevention and Home Safety for Senior Caregivers
What does a Falls Prevention Action Plan look like?
- As we have already discussed, conduct the falls risk assessment and have a conversation with your loved one.
- What is their current health condition? Possibly join your loved one in their next doctor’s visit.
- How is their vision? Is vision check annually? Using tint-changing lenses or bifocals may create additional vision hazards.
- Is your loved one having any issues moving around (holding onto walls and furniture) or having trouble arising from chairs. A trained physical therapist can help improve balance and strength through exercise.
- Is your loved having trouble remembering to take their medication or experiencing any side effects like feeling dizzy or sleepy? A doctor or pharmacist can help.
- Have a senior home care agency conduct a home safety assessment to determine any hazards within the home. The assessor should conduct a safety review in the following areas: appropriate lighting, stairs, bathrooms, and floors. Some senior home care agencies offer this as a free service.
- Find a community based falls prevention program including “Matter of Balance”, “Stepping On”, “Stay Active and Independent for Life”, and my favorite, Dick Van Dyke’s infomercial for “Tai Chi”. Your local Area Agencies on Aging should be able to assist you.
Canyon Lake Senior Home offers a complimentary home safety assessment along with its free In-home consultation to all new clients. Please let us know how we can serve you!
