When you live in one part of the country, and your elderly parents live in another, it can cause a lot of concern and worry -especially if your parent starts to have issues with falling. In the last blog, I wrote about fall alert buttons. This is a good idea, but it only helps after the fact, that is, after the person has fallen. This week, I would like to write about 6 simple things that you can change in the home that would lessen the chances of a fall happening in the first place.
1. Remove all throw rugs, these are just things to trip on.
2. Install good lighting in darkened entrances, hallways, and staircases.
3. Install sturdy grab bars in the shower and bath areas.
4. Use night-lights, especially from the bed to the bathroom.
5. Install a banister or railing anywhere there are stairs or steps.
6. Have a phone on the bedside table, so no one needs to run to answer the
phone when half awake.
Hopefully, these simple fall prevention ideas will help your loved one to be safe at home. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! If your parent needs more help, or is falling despite already having a safe home environment, then they need to go and see a physical therapist who specializes in balance training and fall prevention in the elderly. The therapist will evaluate your parent, and then design an individualized treatment plan to address their specific balance needs.
Painting by Edvard Munch, 1943: Self-portrait. Between the Clock and the Bed.
