Are you worried about fall prevention?
If you are not worried about fall prevention you should be. According to stepwiselee.com a service to educate residents of Fort Myers, ,Cape Coral and all of Lee County on fall prevention.
1 in 4 adults age 65 and older fall each year. Falls are the leading cause of injury and death among older adults. Falls are NOT a normal part of aging, if you are falling there is a reason!
How does an in-home care provider help with fall prevention?
Abby Services is committed to helping the seniors of Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and all of Lee County maintain their independence. Fall prevention is just one way an in-home caregiver can assist.
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Meal-Preparation
- Ambulation
- Laundry
- Grooming
- Pet Care
- Light Housekeeping
- Medication Reminders
- Much, much, more…
Even with the support of a private In-Home Caregiver, seniors are still at risk for injury. Fortunately, there are steps anyone can take to improve their safety. As reviewed above, Step WiseLee has some sobering statistics and practical suggestions to help save lives through fall prevention.
- 1 in 4 adults age 65 and older fall each year.
- Falls are the leading cause of injury and death among older adults.
- Falls are NOT a normal part of aging, if you are falling there is a reason.
- Lee County’s death rate from falls is more than double the state average!
Knowing that falls are so prevalent and dangerous, there are ways to prevent them. Abby Services is proud to be a member of The Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition.
The Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition is leading a community-wide effort to prevent falls and fall-related injuries and deaths. One of their programs is appropriately named “Step WiseLee.” On the Step WiseLee website, there are links for free resources to help independent seniors lead an injury-free life by encouraging fall prevention.
Four things YOU can do to prevent falls:
- Begin a regular exercise program.
- Exercise is one of the most important tools for fall prevention. It makes you stronger and helps you feel better. Exercises that improve balance and coordination (like Tai Chi) are the most helpful. Lack of exercise leads to weakness and increases your chances of falling.
- Have your health care provider review your medicines.
- Have your doctor or pharmacist review all the medicines you take, even over-the-counter medicines as a way to help fall prevention. When you get older, the way medicines work in your body can change. Some medicines, or combinations of medicines, can make you sleepy or dizzy and can cause you to fall.
- Has your vision been checked
- Have your eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year to aid in fall prevention? You may be wearing the wrong glasses or have a condition like glaucoma or cataracts that limits your vision. Poor vision can increase your chances of falling.
- Make your home safer. (About half of all falls happen at home.)
- Fall prevention for many begins at home.
- Remove things you can trip over (like papers, books, clothes, and shoes) from stairs and places where you walk.
- Remove small throw rugs or use double-sided tape to keep the rugs from slipping.
- Keep items you use often in cabinets you can reach easily without using a step stool.
- Have grab bars put in next to your toilet and in the tub or shower?
- Use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors.
- Improve the lighting in your home. As you get older, you need brighter lights to see well. Hang light-weight curtains or shades to reduce glare.
- Have handrails and lights put in on all staircases?
- Wear shoes both inside and outside the house. Avoid going barefoot or wearing slippers.