Senior Safety - Preventing Dangerous Falls

Stumbling or falling can be particularly devastating for seniors, resulting in hip fractures, head injuries or other serious conditions. In fact, thousands of seniors die each year from injuries sustained in falls that could easily be avoided.

The sad thing is a fall or a close call can cause more than a serious physical injury. Often, seniors can be haunted by a fear of falling, which causes them to sink into a more sedentary lifestyle, causing a further decline in muscle strength and mobility.

Ideally, you want your senior to be safe and avoid falls and injuries, but still be able to enjoy an active life. There are many things that can be done to help keep your senior safe and avoid falls. Here are a few tips that you may want to consider, that can help keep the senior you love safe and sound.

Sturdy Chairs and Furniture - Make sure that all of the chairs and furniture in the house are solid and sturdy. A wobbly chair or table are a recipe for disaster. Make sure that furniture is solid and secure, so when your senior grabs hold of it to steady themselves it will render the help that they need.

Railings and Handholds - Railings and handholds should be located near all stairways or hallways where necessary. Railings or grab bars in bathrooms or showers are also a good idea and can be great tools for helping to keep your senior safe and avoid an untimely slip or fall.

Adequate Lighting is Important - Normally as we age our eyesight diminishes, especially if your senior has cataracts. Make sure that there is adequate lighting to light their way, especially at night if they get up to use the bathroom. Nightlights and motion activated lights or lights on timers can be a great help for ensuring that there is plenty of light to navigate through the house. Inadequate lighting and poor eyesight are a dangerous combination, and a major cause for many falls.

These are just a few practical things that you can do that can make a big difference in keeping your senior safe. You may also want to investigate medical alert systems just in case a fall does occur. Especially if your senior lives alone, these devices can be used to render aid quickly in the case of an emergency. Hopefully, some of these tips will be helpful for keeping your senior safe and active for many years to come.