Most Oklahoma City seniors prefer to age in place, and there are a lot of benefits to doing so. Staying in the home they’ve built over the years allows them to retain a sense of pride and dignity. In addition, staying close to their support system and comfortable routines improves independence and, frequently, their mental health. However, issues like loss of balance can increase their fall risk until they no longer feel safe moving about the house.
Here’s the good news: There are plenty of things you can do to reduce seniors’ fall risk at home. From helping them clean up and remove tripping hazards to exercise classes that improve balance and coordination, the right support can make your loved one’s house work for them again.
How to Help Oklahoma City Seniors Avoid Major Falls
Oklahoma City has no shortage of ways to help seniors improve their stability and remove fall risks from the home. With the resources available right here, it’s easy to help your loved one feel confident moving about—both inside and outside the home.
Here are some of our favorite options:
- Improve Balance With a Supportive Group
Fear of falling can make many Oklahoma City seniors hesitate to get moving, but exercise is actually one of the best ways to improve stability, strength and coordination—especially if it’s in the form of workouts specifically designed for that purpose.
These workout classes come in a few varieties. Some seek to strengthen the stabilizing muscles responsible for keeping us upright and steady, while others use movements inspired by dance or martial arts to improve coordination.
One of the best balancing exercises for Oklahoma City seniors is Moving for Better Balance, hosted at the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City. This evidence-based 12-week exercise program is based in the movement style of Tai Chi, modified to specifically reduce fall risk by improving balance, strength and flexibility. It’s taught by qualified instructors who know how to encourage seniors, helping them regain the confidence and independence they may have lost due to fear of falling.
In addition, this class offers older adults a safe and warm group environment with kind instructors and peers who understand the stress and isolation that often come with limited mobility. Over the course of the program, they’ll have a chance to build connections with fellow seniors that can grow into lasting friendships.
- Help Them Tidy Up
Seniors aging in place tend to be rightly proud of their homes, and keeping the house clean gives them a sense of accomplishment and meaning that’s crucial for their ongoing mental health. However, cleaning the house presents a dilemma for seniors with impaired balance and coordination: Cluttered floors and walkways are a tripping hazard that can lead to avoidable falls, but the act of cleaning up itself presents a fall risk.
That’s because many activities involved in cleaning are tests of balance and coordination. Bending over to pick up objects from the floor or reaching up to dust off fans and shelves are common causes of falls. On top of that, cleaning equipment like vacuums, brooms and mops can be unwieldy.
The best way to help here is to handle cleaning tasks promptly. By cleaning up before your loved one gets a chance to, you can remove any temptation they might have to do it themselves. The idea is to get your loved one used to having cleaning done for them so they get out of the habit of getting up to tidy on their own. Consistency is key, so it’s best to get help here.
While a professional caregiver can help with minor cleanup tasks, they’ll always be focused on your loved one’s most immediate needs. That’s why we recommend scheduling regular visits from a professional housekeeper like Touched By Jay to keep the house in good shape at all times.
- Stay on Top of Yard Work
Tripping hazards don’t just appear inside the house. Without proper maintenance, the yard gradually becomes overgrown, storms can cause debris to accumulate and walkways become uneven and cracked. It’s easy to stumble over protruding tree roots, fallen branches or buckled pavement. To make sure your loved one feels confident they can head outside without falling, it’s important to keep the exterior of their home in good condition.
In many ways, yardwork is more hazardous to seniors than indoor cleaning. It involves many of the same reaching and bending movements, plus additional challenges like larger tools, heavier loads and uneven ground.
Fortunately, there are a few improvements you can make to reduce the risk of falling outside your loved one’s home:
- Add lights over the door, as well as any stairs or walkways.
- Make sure all stairways have handrails on both sides. Install new ones if necessary, and tighten up all existing railings.
- Make sure to maintain stairs, platforms and walkways yearly so they don’t degrade. Seal anything made of brick or concrete, and stain or paint anything wooden.
In addition, make sure to handle everyday yard maintenance before your loved one gets to it. The best way to do this is by scheduling regular visits from a trustworthy landscaper like Don’s Lawn & Pest to keep outdoor spaces tidy and free of tripping hazards for Oklahoma City seniors.
Find a Partner for Fall Prevention
Having the right resources is key to reducing fall risk, and help from a dedicated caregiver is one of the best options available. The compassionate caregivers at FirstLight Home Care of Oklahoma City can make sure your loved one always has a steadying hand they can reach for. Our caregivers also help seniors with a variety of risky everyday tasks, from bathing to dressing to light housekeeping work.
Want to learn more about how we can help your loved one continue to thrive in their home? Contact us today.
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