Accidents in the home are some of the most common causes of hospitalization for seniors. Poor eyesight, limited mobility, chronic pain, and medication side effects can contribute to the risk for accidents. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help your senior loved one avoid accidents in the home.
Use Transition Strips
If your loved one has a carpeted floor in the living room and a linoleum floor in the kitchen, the two floors may be uneven in height, which could cause him or her to trip and fall. Install transition strips between the two rooms so your loved one will be less likely to trip. Transition strips are inexpensive and can be purchased at any home improvement store. They’re easy to install and are very durable.
Monitor Psychotropic Drug Use
Psychotropic drugs are used in the treatment of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders. While effective at managing symptoms related to these conditions, they can lead to serious side effects, including dizziness, confusion, sleepiness, an unsteady gait, and tremors, all of which can raise the risk for accidents at home. If your loved one develops adverse reactions after taking psychotropic medications, talk to his or her doctor about lowering the dosage or replacing the offending medication with a different one that is less likely to cause side effects that raise the risk for accidents at home.
Certain age-related conditions can make it more challenging for seniors to age in place safely and comfortably, but Huntsville live-in care experts are available around the clock to help seniors manage their health. Whether your loved one is living with dementia or is recovering from a stroke, you can trust the professional live-in caregivers from Home Care Assistance to enhance his or her quality of life.
Offer to Do Ladder Chores
When seniors need to wash windows, dust ceiling fans, or paint, they may need to use a ladder, which can be extremely dangerous, especially if they have poor eyesight, hip or knee pain, cognitive deficits, or side effects from medication. Doing chores on ladders can significantly raise the risk for accidents at home. If your loved one needs something done that requires climbing a ladder or step stool, offer your help. If you’re unable to climb a ladder, ask another family member or friend to assist, or hire someone to help.
Many older adults are choosing to age in place, and some need a helping hand to continue living at home safely and comfortably. Luckily, there is professional at-home care Huntsville seniors can trust and rely on.
Visit the Eye Doctor
Age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts can cause blurred, hazy, cloudy, or double vision, which can substantially raise the risk for accidents in the home. Seniors with visual deficits may also have difficulty with perception and may miss a stair, resulting in a fall that could cause an injury. If your loved one has poor eyesight or sees flashes of light in his or her peripheral vision, make an appointment with an eye doctor. The eye doctor will perform a comprehensive eye examination to determine the cause of the vision issue. Depending on the diagnosis, treatment may include cataract removal, laser surgery, eye drops, or simply an eyeglass prescription change.
Keeping your loved one safe is your number one priority, and a caregiver can be a tremendous asset. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care. Huntsville families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia. Call us at (256) 716-9940 today to talk to one of our compassionate Care Managers about our high-quality home care services.