Winter is the time of the year when it is all the more important to keep a vigil eye on seniors, and ensure that aged people are able to live as safely as possible. Apart from the cold weather and snow, the winter season can expose seniors to health-related hazards and other forms of injuries. This is one of the main reasons that it’s imperative for friends and relatives to check with aged neighbors, friends, and family members from time to time to make sure they are doing okay. One of the major concerns for seniors is experiencing an inadvertent fall. While fall prevention may not seem like an exciting topic, it is extremely important when it comes to caring for the elderly.
In winter’s icy and snowy conditions, it is quite easy to slip and fall. And for seniors who are less stable on their feet or struggle more to recover from a fall, it can be all the more troublesome. This is the reason that it is advisable to put road salt and sand on sidewalks to help make such areas as slip-free as possible.
There are many reasons behind seniors experiencing a sudden fall. Let’s take a look at some of the chief reasons.
Why Seniors are More Susceptible To Falls
Firstly, it is important to understand that with age, we lose on certain aspects such as flexibility, balance, and coordination. Poor vision is yet another reason that aged people experience a sudden fall, this happens because, in an aging eye, minimum light reaches the retina. Chronic conditions are equally responsible for more than 75% of adults experiencing a sudden fall. Some of the ill-health related conditions are arthritis, diabetes, and stroke. An elderly individual suffering from similar ailments can experience a fall because similar health conditions result in pain, inactivity, depression and lost bodily function.
Safety Tips for Fall Prevention
Adhering to certain safety guidelines can help in guaranteeing an optimum level of safety and help with fall prevention. Firstly, it is vital to make sure that the ramps leading to the residence are stable and have sturdy railings. Secondly, it is suggested that an elderly person wear boots/shoes which fit properly. Also, wearing footwear with sufficient tread to be able to facilitate a better degree of traction on ice/snow can also help with fall prevention. If you have a senior who is using a cane with a worn out rubber tip, replace the tip. You can also use an ice pick-line attachment that fits tightly onto one end of the cane to help in lessening the probability of a fatal fall.
Even when safety measures for fall prevention are in place, a fall can still happen. When it does, it is imperative that you help immediately. If you are interested in familiarizing with the best ways of preventing a fall in seniors, this Caring People article is a superb resource. Fall prevention can be ensured with proper planning and the acceptance on your part that the probability of risk is always higher.
Infographic courtesy Caring People.