Falls and fall-related injuries are more common among the elderly. They’re one of the leading causes of deaths and hospital admissions among seniors and can cause disabilities that make aged people lose their independence. This is why fall prevention is essential in a senior living community.
Fall prevention reduces the number of falls elderly people suffer from. You must recognize that falling is not necessarily an inevitable part of aging. You can stay on your feet and live worry-free.
Why Is Fall Prevention Important?
Falls put aged people at risk of disability, injuries, and even death. According to the CDC, about 36 million seniors fall each year, resulting in more than 32,000 deaths. An estimated three million elderly people are treated in the emergency for a fall injury. One out of every five falls causes an injury, such as broken bones or a head injury. These worrisome statistics more than show us why fall prevention is one of the most significant senior safety concerns today.
Still wondering if fall prevention deserves so much attention? Here are a few reasons that will convince you:
1. Falls Can Be Traumatic
Each year, one in three elderly people experience a fall incident. Falls often result in injuries and sometimes require hospitalization. They can also be traumatic and affect aged people’s independence. One fall often results in subsequent ones because people who fall once are more likely to fall again.
2. Falls Can Be Expensive
Falls cause injuries that need to be treated. Depending on your insurance cover, it may cost you a lot of time and money. Procedures like hip replacement and physiotherapy are not cheap. You may also need to spend up to a year recovering in a long-term care facility.
3. Falls Can Be Fatal
Apart from motor vehicle crashes, falls are the leading cause of death and injury among the elderly. This is a senior safety concern because falls are an everyday occurrence. Alarmingly, the rate of fall-related deaths among seniors in the United States has been rising steadily over the past few years.
4. Falls Can Be Prevented
Research reveals that falls are preventable. By implementing fall prevention strategies and educating aged people, we can ensure a massive decline in the yearly number of falls. These fall prevention programs are best carried out in community settings. In our senior living communities, we put effective fall prevention measures in place to ensure that you are safe and comfortable.
Simple Tips to Prevent Falls in the Elderly
Below are a few simple tips that can help you prevent falls in the future:
1. Exercise
With your doctor’s permission, consider taking short walks and doing simple stretches. These activities improve your strength, balance, and coordination and so reduce the risk of falls.
2. Remove Home Hazards
Make your house fall-proof by removing home hazards. To make your home safer, you can do the following:
Remove cords from walkways.
Store your necessities within easy reach.
Clean spilled liquids, grease, or food immediately.
Use a bath seat while you shower.
3. Join a Community
In Conservatory communities, you have access to fall-proof, private, and well-lit living spaces. For assisted living, you are introduced to team members who can help you with your needs. As an active senior, your living space is equipped with assistive devices to make living easier.
Learn More from Conservatory Senior Living
If you or your loved one is a senior and at risk of falling, you should consider getting into a well-planned senior living community. You need not worry about how and where you can find a senior living community that will adequately care for your needs.
You will enjoy the following in any of our Conservatory communities:
- Effective fall prevention strategies
- A safe and vibrant environment for seniors to thrive.
- Independent senior living specially designed for active seniors, with spacious apartments alongside lots of activities and amenities.
We invite you to learn more and schedule a tour of one of our communities today:
- Conservatory At Alden Bridge
- Conservatory At Champion Forest
- Conservatory At Keller Town Center
- Conservatory At North Austin
- Conservatory At Plano
Reach out to our amazing team through our secure online form today or call us at 832-843-9962 to learn more.
