There are some parts of getting older that many people enjoy. In their older years, many people are able to retire, finally getting the time to travel, enjoy quality time with grand-kids, or the ability to relocate to a place where they’ll never have to shovel snow again. Of course, there are some drawbacks to getting older as well, mostly physical. Keep reading to learn why slipping and falling is one of the most dangerous aspects of getting older and how our elder care experts can help the seniors in your community protect themselves from this health hazard.

Slip-And-Fall Hazards Are A Serious Health Threat For The Elderly

“Each year, millions of older people—those 65 and older—fall,” explains the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “In fact, more than one out of four older people falls each year, but less than half tell their doctor. Falling once doubles your chances of falling again.”

When you’re young, with greater bone density and flexibility, falling down isn’t something you have to fear. In fact, falling down is an important part of life! Think about learning to walk, ride a bike, rollerskate, or ski: all of these activities likely meant that you fell down a lot! However as we age, our bodies become more brittle and unable to handle the trauma of falling down.

When elderly people fall, they can suffer:

• Broken bones, especially wrists, arms, ankles, and hips
• Head injuries, which is very serious is the elder in your care is taking blood thinners
• Fear of falling again, which can be debilitating for a senior who is living alone without elder care services.

Common Fall Hazards Seniors Need To Watch Out For

Part of our professional elder care service is making sure that the senior’s home is devoid of as many slip and fall hazards as possible. There are lots of normal household items and situations that can trigger a fall, you just have to know where to look!

• Throw Rugs – According to many experts, these small area rugs are one of the biggest causes of senior falls. Why? Because these small rugs aren’t attached to the floor and are often placed in kitchens, hallways, and other rooms that have wood or laminate flooring, which is very slippery.
• Clutter – Without the assistance of an elder care specialist, it’s very easy for an elderly person’s home to get cluttered. This precariously piled junk can make it hard to move about the home, and in some cases may even fall down on a person when they try to access a part of it.
• Staircases – Steep, narrow, or particularly slippery stairwells are a huge hazard for seniors, even if they’ve been climbing them their entire lives.
• Poor Lighting – Without the ability to see something on the floor in front of them, it’s very easy for seniors to trip over things they might otherwise have been able to avoid.
• Pets – Seniors love their cats and dogs, and we realize that these animals provide much-needed companionship for an elderly person who’s living alone. However, pets love to get underfoot, which can cause a slip and fall hazard for seniors.
• Unstable Furniture – Sometimes the furniture in a senior’s home can be just as old as they are! While antique furniture is beautiful it may also be rickety, increase the chance of an accident.

Our Elder Care Specialists Offer A Fall Prevention Program To Keep Seniors Safe

Prepare your loved ones for the increased hazards of living on their own with our Elderly Care Fall Prevention Workshop! Contact us to schedule this informative events today.