Senior Care Expert Explains the Dangers of Falling at Home and Ways to Prevent It
600,000 people over the age of 65 experience serious injuries from falling every year. Seniors Helping Seniors® provides tips on how to fall-proof the home.
Nearly three million people over the age of 65 go to the emergency room every year for fall injuries, and about one million of those occur at home, with 20% of cases resulting in serious injuries such as broken bones or head trauma. Unfortunately, less than half of people who fall even tell their doctor, meaning these injuries can go undiagnosed and untreated for long periods of time.
Falling is scary no matter what, but falling at home, the place you feel most safe and secure, can be devastating mentally as well as physically. Luckily, there are steps you can take to actively avoid falls, make your home as safe as possible and give you access to immediate help should a fall ever occur.
June is National Home Safety Month, an annual campaign created by the Home Safety Council meant to educate and motivate families to take actions that will increase the safety of their homes. For seniors who are at risk of falling or have fallen before, Seniors Helping Seniors recommends they follow these tips from the National Institute on Aging:
- Place handrails on both sides of the stairs, and make sure they are tightly fastened. If you must carry something while going up or down the stairs, hold it with one hand and use the handrail with the other so you can clearly see the steps.
- Ensure there is adequate lighting throughout the home, especially around high-risk areas like stairs, doorways and bathrooms. Replace bulbs frequently and install new lighting fixtures if needed.
- Tidy up. Don’t leave clutter, laundry, trash or shoes on the floor as these are easy to forget and trip over.
- Avoid using throw rugs, mats and small area rugs that are not securely fastened to the ground.
- Place nightlights throughout the home and keep a flashlight on the nightstand in the event you need to get up in the middle of the night.
- Especially if you live alone, invest in a medical alarm system such as a bracelet, necklace or phone app to alert 911 immediately in the event of a fall emergency.
Seniors Helping Seniors® offices provide a variety of services to support seniors so that they are able to maintain their independence and enjoy life not just in their homes, but also in their neighborhoods. These services include companionship, light housekeeping, cooking, and shopping support, assistance with personal care, dementia care, pet care, light handyman services and repairs, yard work and medication reminders.
“Your home should be a safe haven,” said Namrata Yocom-Jan, Seniors Helping Seniors® president. “We are there to provide peace of mind and high quality, compassionate care to seniors in the comfort of their own home.”
For the in-home senior care brand, it all comes down to The Power of Love® and providing compassionate care that makes seniors feel seen, heard, and independent while providing purpose and passion for its senior caregivers.
ABOUT SENIORS HELPING SENIORS®
Seniors Helping Seniors® was founded by husband-and-wife duo Kiran and Philip Yocom. Kiran grew up in India and later worked to advance humanitarian efforts alongside Mother Teresa. After Kiran moved to the U.S. in 1995 and married Philip, the Yocoms felt called to provide loving care to seniors and to cultivate an exchange of gifts at every generational level. Together, the Yocoms founded Seniors Helping Seniors® in 1998 and later began expanding the brand through franchising in 2006. With a mission to be the most respected and rewarding homecare provider in the U.S., Seniors Helping Seniors® stands apart from its competition as the only senior-care company that prioritizes hiring active seniors to provide care services to their less-active counterparts. Seniors Helping Seniors® aligns caregivers and care recipients based on the abilities and needs of both by offering a wide range of care services. Seniors Helping Seniors® has grown to more than 200 locations in 30-plus states and seven international locations, with 125 franchise partners. For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors®, visit https://seniorshelpingseniors.com/. To learn more about franchising opportunities with Seniors Helping Seniors®, please visit https://franchise.seniorshelpingseniors.com/.