Most seniors would prefer to age in the comfort of their own home. Not only does it help them retain their independence, it may even improve their physical and mental health as well.
At the same time, it’s important to remember that nearly 80% of elderly falls occur at home. Even if a fall never happens, fearing them can cause seniors to avoid many daily activities.
There’s a solution: By making proper preparations and installing safety measures, you can give your loved one the confidence and dignity that comes with having a home that actually works for them. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources right here in Licking County that can help. Here are a few of our favorites.
How to Prevent Falls for Seniors in Licking County
Seniors in Licking County have no shortage of ways to reduce their fall risk. From exercise classes that improve balance to expert-designed education, there are plenty of ways to help them move through life with confidence.
- Get Them Help with Risky Tasks
Many senior falls happen while they’re doing some form of housework. From using a stepstool to dust a high shelf to bending down to pick up pet toys from the floor, certain everyday tasks can be more hazardous than you might expect. On the other hand, ignoring them for too long can cause tripping hazards to accumulate and decrease your loved one’s overall quality of life.
While a professional caregiver can clear tripping hazards from walkways and do other light tidying tasks, they won’t handle nonessential cleaning. That’s why we recommend signing them up for regular house cleanings from a company like Tap Clean Service.
Tap will show up on a regular schedule to keep your loved one’s home clean and tidy. They’re reliable and a breeze to work with. It’s a great way to ensure they can continue to thrive in their home without taking on hazardous cleaning tasks themself.
- Improve Balance—The Fun Way
Loss of strength, balance and coordination are some of the most common reasons why seniors fall. However, regular exercise can help with all three and significantly reduce fall risk—especially if it’s in the form of an exercise class designed to help seniors stay on their feet.
Some of the best senior exercise classes we’ve seen are right here at the Buckeye Valley Family YMCA. From specialized senior balance training classes to other classes like yoga, dance and Zumba Gold, the Y has a wide range of options to help older people improve their stability. By turning workouts into social occasions, their classes can also help if your loved one has difficulty finding the motivation to get moving.
- Get Guidance on Fall Prevention
Licking County makes senior safety a priority. It’s so important to us that our county Health Department has dedicated fall-prevention resources for seniors. They offer checklists of steps you can take to help them move confidently about their home, such as night lights, elevators and grab bars. They even host a regular Bingocize class, which combines balance and stability-focused exercises with a fun game of Bingo.
Our Health Department knows that fall prevention starts in the home, but it doesn’t end there. They also do education and advocacy work to ensure our public spaces are safe for seniors. They offer local businesses and organizations guidance, prompting them to install safety features like grab bars and non-slip flooring in their facilities.
Get a Fall Prevention Partner
Falls are the most common cause of injuries in seniors, but most of them are preventable. Adding safety features to their homes and using community fall-prevention resources can help—especially if they’re paired with support from a professional caregiver like those at FirstLight Home Care of Licking and Fairfield Counties.
Our compassionate, skilled caregivers can offer seniors steady hand they need to approach daily tasks like bathing and dressing with confidence. They can also keep walkways clean and handle minor cleanups that might be challenging for your loved one to handle alone.
Want to learn more about your care options or request a consultation? Contact us today.
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