| I'd rather leap down a flight of stairs blind-folded than to | | | | reach for items to stabilize themselves and lamps |
| watch an elder fall. Falling is a very embarrassing | | | | easily fall. (Install overhead lights) 6) Install night-lights in |
| experience for anybody and especially harmful to our | | | | the bedroom and bathroom. 7) Assist them walking |
| seniors. As we age our bones become fragile and can | | | | every opportunity you can. 8) Elevate their legs with a |
| break with ease. Once a bone gets broken such as a | | | | footstool so blood doesn't linger there. 9) Install ledges |
| hipbone, it is all down hill from there. They may never | | | | or rails on wall areas where they often feel unsteady. |
| fully recover. A senior falling can be the equivalent of a | | | | 10) Get them a walker or other assistance. 11) Make |
| death sentence. | | | | the home handicap accessible. (Handicap showers |
| Almost half of our thoroughbred Americans fall every | | | | have no ledges to climb over and offer a seat) 12) |
| year. This statistic is way too high and needs to be | | | | Inspect home for loose thresholds, moving rugs or |
| lowered. By taking preventive measures we can | | | | other falling hazards. 13) Keep their ears clean to |
| greatly reduce this number. | | | | enable balance. (Consult your Doctor) 14) Be certain |
| Female caregivers have a disadvantage when caring | | | | they have proper vision aids to see where they are |
| for the elderly. As I was visiting some caregiver | | | | going. 15) Encourage them to stretch their legs at times |
| support groups I noticed some women caregivers | | | | by bending over. 16) Rub their legs with lotion and |
| were having trouble lifting their loved ones when they | | | | massage those muscles to stimulate them. 17) Monitor |
| fall. They were pondering to rent a hoist because they | | | | their diet so they do not become overweight. 18) Offer |
| weren't strong enough to lift them. I suggested they | | | | them Tylenol to prevent aching muscles and bones. 19) |
| search for some walking aids to prevent the falls. | | | | Eliminate clutter and any unsafe or unneeded items for |
| Below are some useful tips that will assist you in | | | | clear pathways. 20) Constantly search for ways to |
| preventing elders from falling. | | | | prevent falling before it happens. |
| 1) Make sure they have a high protein diet to | | | | By taking some of the steps above we can prevent |
| strengthen muscles. 2) Buy them a good pair of | | | | many seniors from falling and allow them to keep on |
| running shoes with good arch support. 3) Install high | | | | trucking. Christmas is coming soon and would be a |
| watt light bulbs so they can see better (As we age | | | | perfect time to have granny sporting around in her |
| our eyes require more light.) 4) Ensure they have a | | | | new tennis shoes. Lets allow our seniors to safely |
| good diet and take vitamins for proper nourishment. 5) | | | | enjoy their lives. |
| Remove lamps because elders have a tendency to | | | | |