Fall Prevention Week: Promoting Safety in Personal and Memory Care
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Have you ever wondered how you can learn more about why seniors fall, or prevent falls from occurring in your everyday life? Falls Prevention Awareness Week, which occurs during the final week of September, is the perfect opportunity.
In this article, we will explore Fall Prevention Week, how falls impact seniors in Sellersville, PA, and aging mobility strategies that you can implement to thrive safely and independently. Let's dive in!
The Scope and Impact of Falls
According to the CDC, one in four seniors aged 65 and older suffers a fall annually, making falls one of the primary causes of injury for older adults. Additionally, falls can cause a cascading reaction.
Seniors with conditions such as osteoporosis can fall and break a hip, which may lead to a hip replacement operation followed by months of rehabilitation. Falls caused by cardiac events can lead to death if a senior can't reach a phone to contact medical help.
Why Fall Prevention Week Matters
Fall Prevention Week provides vital education to seniors and caregivers surrounding falls. Many people believe that senior falls are inevitable, but that assumption could not be further from the truth. There are many steps you can take to stop falls before they occur.
As a senior, preventing falls can drastically improve your quality of life. You will be able to move freely through your living space without fear and have reliable support systems should an accident occur.
Common Causes of Falls in Seniors
Seniors are more at risk for falls than many demographics for a variety of reasons. These causes include:
- Medication side effects that cause dizziness or vertigo
- Eye conditions such as glaucoma or cataracts
- Clutter in high-traffic areas
- Confusion caused by cognitive decline
- Weakening muscles due to age
- Joint conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis
- Lack of adequate support systems to prevent falls
Senior Safety Tips
There are many steps that seniors can take to prevent falls from occurring. Here are just a few.
Install Fall Prevention Devices
Grab bars and other supportive devices around your house can stop falls as they occur. When you feel yourself slip, you will be able to grab onto a bar that can lessen the impact or prevent the fall completely.
Common locations for grab bars include:
- Next to the toilet
- In showers and bathtubs
- Next to beds and couches
- Next to doorways, such as entrances and exits
- Staircases
Grab bars also help seniors maintain independence and dignity. They can complete tasks such as using the bathroom or showering unaided if they wish. Grab bars are one of the many solutions that can allow seniors to age in their own homes.
Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise is crucial for maintaining mobility and independence as a senior. It may be tempting to relax every day in retirement, but your body can quickly deteriorate with limited movement.
Exercises that support senior wellbeing include:
- Water aerobics: A cardio workout where attendees perform aerobic exercises in the pool to reduce the impact on joints.
- Yoga and Tai Chi: Exercises that focus on breathwork and slow, deliberate movements, which can improve balance and endurance.
- Zumba: Fun, upbeat classes that are inspired by dance, led by instructors who tailor routines for seniors.
- Walking: A social activity that allows seniors to get outdoors, take in the fresh air, and socialize with others while getting their steps in.
- Lifting weights: Supervised weightlifting can help seniors maintain or grow their muscle mass, which can improve strength, flexibility, and balance.
At Hidden Meadows on the Ridge, our exclusive Dimensions Health and Fitness program is specifically designed with the needs of our residents in mind. Not only does the regimen focus on physical health, but it also enhances:
- Emotional health
- Mental health
- Social health
- Intellectual health
- Spiritual health
Consider Personal Care or Memory Care
Personal care and memory care programs are designed for seniors who need assistance with everyday tasks. Personal care involves residents receiving 24-hour nursing care while enjoying their lifestyle. Memory care is exclusively for seniors suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
How do you know which option is right for you? If you need a little bit of extra help maintaining your lifestyle and features such as medication management, consider personal care. If you have received a dementia diagnosis and the symptoms are more prevalent, it may be time to move into a memory care community.
Personal care and memory care units feature designs exclusively for seniors. When you move in, fall prevention measures are incorporated directly into the floor plan, from widened doorways to grab bars in high-traffic areas.
Wearable Alert Devices
Although it might seem excessive, a wearable alert device can save your life in a dire situation. When you have fallen and cannot access a phone to call the paramedics, you could remain trapped in the same position for hours or days.
Wearable alert devices often feature a button that you can press, which will automatically notify relevant authorities and loved ones when an emergency occurs. Some devices even track your heart rate and can send out an automatic notification if it slows or stops.
You can find wearable alert devices in many different forms, including:
- Necklaces
- Bracelets
- Watches
- Clip-on buttons
Although you may have some time if you fall due to a safety hazard or a stumble, seconds matter when you experience a cardiac event. The authorities must reach you as soon as possible so you can receive adequate care.
Celebrate Fall Prevention Week at Hidden Meadows on the Ridge
Fall Prevention Week is a fantastic opportunity to educate others and learn more about memory care safety and fall risk reduction. With this guide, you can develop a fall reduction system that works for your needs and enroll loved ones to help modify your lifestyle so you can remain safe and independent.
For personal care support in Sellersville, PA, consider transitioning to a senior living community. At Hidden Meadows on the Ridge, we offer exclusive programs and amenities, such as outdoor walking paths, an on-site beauty salon, and life-enrichment programs for our residents.
Interested in learning more about our community? Reach out to us today with any questions you have, or visit us in person at our beautiful location in Sellersville, PA, to see it for yourself. We can't wait to meet you!