Fall Prevention

Fall Prevention Home Health Care July 22, 2024

As we get older, our bodies undergo various changes, some more noticeable than others. Dizziness, and even vertigo, tends to become more prevalent and intense as we grow in age, significantly impacting our daily life and even indicating underlying health concerns. Read this article on how dizziness gets worse with age, what factors cause it, and how you can manage and mitigate its effects.

A woman sitting on the bed because she is dizzy

What Causes Dizziness in Older Adults

Dizziness can show up in several ways, from feeling lightheaded to experiencing severe vertigo. As we grow older, several physiological changes contribute to an increased risk of dizziness, including:

Inner Ear Changes

The inner ear plays an important role in balance. Age-related changes such as damage to the vestibular system or reduced blood flow through the inner ear can cause imbalance and vertigo symptoms.

Reduced Muscle & Strength

Aging often leads to decreased strength and muscle mass, causing a negative impact on posture and stability. This muscle reduction can make it harder to stay balanced and recover when dizziness occurs.

Blood Pressure Inconsistency

Changes in blood pressure are more frequent as we grow older, especially when standing up quickly. These changes can trigger dizziness or light-headedness.

Side Effects of Medication

Many medications may include dizziness as a side effect, causing imbalance and dizziness, especially in older adults. It’s important to review medications regularly with your healthcare provider.

Underlying Health Conditions

Chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and neurological disorders can affect the nervous system and its ability to maintain balance.

Tips & Strategies for Managing Dizziness

While growing older may cause dizziness, there are some proactive steps you can follow to manage and reduce its impact on your quality of life.

Stay Hydrated: Dehydration can exacerbate dizziness, so ensure you drink an adequate amount of fluid.
Exercise Regularly: Engage in balance-enhancing exercises such as tai chi or yoga to strengthen muscles and improve stability.
Review Medications: Work with your healthcare provider to review medications regularly and discuss any potential side effects that could impact your quality of life, such as dizziness.
Make Dietary Adjustments: Dietary changes, like reducing salt intake, can manage your blood pressure, and therefore prevent dizzy spells.
Use Assistive Devices: For individuals at higher risk of frequent falls, use a walking aid or install grab bars throughout your home to provide added stability.

Understanding why dizziness worsens with age can help you take proactive steps towards managing your health. By addressing underlying causes, making lifestyle adjustments, and seeking medical assistance when needed, it is possible to reduce the impact of dizziness on daily life significantly.

Managing Dizziness with Home Health Care

Residential Home Health provides specialized vestibular rehabilitation services for individuals who experience frequent dizziness and instability. This home health care program focuses on empowering individuals to manage their symptoms, reducing the risk of falls, alleviating symptoms, and enhancing overall strength and stability. If you or a loved one is dealing with severe dizziness, consider exploring our home health care services available in your area.

Fall Prevention

Fall Prevention Home Health Care May 29, 2024

Old man suffering with pain and struggling to get up after falling down at home

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), millions of people ages 65 and older fall each year. However, many falls are preventable with awareness and the proper fall safety measures. In this guide, we will explore the common causes of falls, ways to mitigate fall hazards in your home, and essential tips for getting up safely after a fall.

Common Causes & Risk Factors of Falls

Falls can happen for many reasons, and understanding the common causes and risk factors is important for proper fall prevention. Several common factors include:

Age-related declines in balance
Muscle weakness and mobility issues
Side effects of medications
Low blood pressure
Sensory deficits, such as impaired vision or hearing
Home hazards, including cluttered walkways or poor lighting

By addressing these common causes and risk factors of falls, you can take proactive steps to reduce your risk of falling while maintaining safety and independence.

Enhancing Home Safety to Prevent Falls

Creating a safe home environment is important to reduce the risk of falls, particularly for older or elderly adults who spend a significant amount of time at home. By addressing these potential safety hazards, you can significantly lower your risk of falling. Here are some effective ways to enhance your home’s safety:

Improve lighting with light-sensitive night lights or motion-detecting lights that turn on automatically.
Fix or replace worn flooring including carpeting or floor tiles. Secure rugs with tape or no-slip rug pads to reduce the risk of tripping.
Rearrange furniture & clutter to ensure walking areas are free of obstacles.
Remove electrical cords from walkways and under rugs.
Restrict pets to certain areas if balance is an issue. Make sure pet food and water dishes are not placed in walkways.

Be Aware of Medication Side Effects

Although medications are supposed to help your health, some have side effects that can put you at risk of falling. It is a good idea to consult a pharmacist or a doctor about ALL the medications you take — including over-the-counter medications and herbal supplements. Be alert of side effects such as dizziness and balance problems, fatigue, confusion, loss of coordination and weakness that can be risk factors of falling.

How to Get Up from a Fall

Getting up quickly or the wrong way could make an injury worse. If you are hurt, call for help using a medical alert response service or your telephone. If you are not injured, follow these steps to safely rise from a fall.

Prepare

Take a moment to gather yourself and make sure you are uninjured before attempting to get up from a fall.
Look around for a sturdy piece of furniture or the bottom of a staircase. Don’t try to stand up on your own.
Roll over onto your side by turning your head in the direction you are trying to roll, then moving your shoulders, arms, hips, and finally your leg, over.

Rise

Push your upper body up. Lift your head and pause for a few moments to steady yourself.
Slowly get up on your hands and knees and crawl to a sturdy piece of furniture or the bottom of a staircase.
Place your hands on the furniture or stairs for balance and slide your foot forward so it is flat on the floor.

Sit

Prepare to rise by planting your back foot on the floor.
From this half-kneeling position, slowly rise and turn your body to sit in the chair.
Sit for a few minutes before you try to do anything else.

How Home Health Can Help with Fall Prevention

Home health services can play a vital role in managing fall prevention, especially for individuals with conditions that frequently cause falls. Residential Healthcare Group’s StepWise Fall Prevention Program is designed to enhance patient independence and safety by improving mobility, balance, and strength, thereby reducing the risk of life-changing falls. This comprehensive program includes an evaluation of fall risks in the home, exercises to improve mobility, balance, and strength, education for both patients and caregivers, and preparation for maintaining independence and safety both inside and outside the home.

Fall Prevention

Aging In Place Fall Prevention Home Health Care Home Improvements October 20, 2017

For aging adults who live independently, adjusting their home environment for reasons of safety or accessibility can feel like an admission of defeat. However, putting off such improvements exposes aging individuals to greater risk of even more serious injuries — the kind that threaten the very self-sufficiency they are protecting. Rather than ignoring the changing needs and capabilities that often come with age, the best way to preserve independence and continue aging in place is to welcome these alterations as a way to stay safely at home.

For caregivers looking to improve the safety of a loved one’s home, the bathroom is a smart place to start. Specifically, the Centers for Disease Control once named the shower as the number-one location of home injuries. Fortunately, a wide spectrum of improvements can increase accessibility in of one of the most hazardous areas of the home. Read on to learn about DIY options for a range of skill levels.

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Fall Prevention

Fall Prevention Fitness Home Health Care April 15, 2016

As the body ages, it naturally loses bone density and muscle mass. Endurance exercises help maintain and strengthen muscles, reduce the risk of falls in older individuals and can help reduce symptoms related to depression, arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis, and back pain, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Before starting a new exercise routine or helping someone do exercises, consult with a physician to make sure it does not pose a health risk.

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Fall Prevention

Aging In Place Fall Prevention Home Health Care February 12, 2015

Pet ownership has been shown to have numerous benefits for emotional health and quality of life, especially in seniors. However, having a pet in the household can pose disadvantages and dangers that are also important to consider.

Whether you or your loved one already has a trusty animal companion, or is merely considering bringing a pet into the home, adoption and caretaking decisions should always be carefully weighed. Read on to explore the risks and rewards of pet ownership for seniors, and learn how expert help and advice from an in-home occupational therapist can help ensure that the experience is a happy one. (more…)