If you’re the primary caregiver for a senior loved one with dementia, you need to take steps to lower his or her risk of falls. Cognitive deficits, coupled with preexisting medical conditions, can heighten an elderly person’s risk of accidents and injuries. However, there are several simple ways to prevent falls in older adults with dementia.
Older adults with dementia may exhibit a shuffling or unsteady gait. Always gently remind your loved one to pick up his or her feet while walking. In addition, provide nonslip, well-fitting shoes that offer comfort, safety, and support. If possible, shoes that tie should be avoided, because your parent may trip over the loosened ties. Slip-on shoes, footwear with buckles, or shoes that use a hook-and-loop method of closure may be safer choices than shoes with laces.
There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to address if their families opt for professional senior home care. You can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep your loved one safe and comfortable while aging in place.
Uneven surfaces or surfaces that transition from carpet to tile or hardwood could cause your loved one to trip and fall. To reduce the risk of tripping and falling, install transition strips between the two different floor heights so your loved one won’t fall when walking from one room to another. You can buy transition strips at a local hardware or home improvement store, and they’re easy to install.
Slip-and-fall accidents are quite common among older adults with dementia. As soon as you notice wet areas on the floor, wipe them up so your loved one won’t slip and fall. Spills can be especially dangerous for elderly people when they happen on ceramic tile or stone floors. Falls are more likely to happen in bathrooms, so placing a nonskid throw rug near the bathtub may keep your loved one safe. Installing grab bars on the walls, next to the toilet, and in the shower can also prevent accidents and injuries.
If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of home care service in South Orange County that families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
The side effects of some prescription medications could place your loved one at a heightened risk for falls or other accidents. Certain medications, such as those used to treat high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, chronic pain, allergies, and insomnia, cause dizziness, impaired vision, unsteady gait, and lightheadedness. Work with your parent’s physician to determine which medications may be causing undesired side effects that raise the risk of falls. The doctor may decide to lower the dosage of the medication or prescribe a different medicine that’s less likely to increase the risk of falls.
Caring for seniors with dementia can be challenging for family caregivers. Luckily, there is dementia care in Dana Point families can rely on. Professional dementia caregivers help seniors with dementia stay safe and comfortable at home by preventing wandering, providing cognitive stimulation, and assisting with household chores. Assisting Hands® Dana Point will work with you to customize a care plan that’s just right for your loved one’s needs.
Assisting Hands® Dana Point, is a California based, State Licensed, non-medical, home care agency, that services the cities of Dana Point, San Clemente, Capistrano Beach, Laguna Niguel, San Juan Capistrano, Rancho Mission Viejo and Ladera Ranch. If you or a loved one is in need of in home care, please call (949) 426-7300 for additional information or to schedule an in-home consultation or click “Schedule a Free Consultation” to submit your request online.