How South Placer County Seniors Can Reduce Fall Risks

According to AARP, 77% of adults over 50 would prefer to age in place instead of moving. There are good reasons for that; aging in place also gives seniors the sense of dignity and satisfaction that comes with living in a home they’re proud of and allows them to keep the routines and relationships that give their life stability and meaning. 

On the other hand, it’s important to keep in mind the fact that most senior falls happen at home. Even if your loved one never falls, just being aware of fall risks can make them hesitate to move around the house or leave it—and the resulting lack of activity can cause their balance to deteriorate further. 

Here’s the good news: There are several steps you can take to help seniors move around with confidence again. By handling important tasks in and outside the house and getting education from the community about how to avoid falls, you can help your loved one regain their stability and independence.

How to Prevent Falls for Seniors in South Placer County

Seniors in South Placer County have no shortage of options for reducing fall risks. From services that help with risky housework to fall prevention strategies from a wide variety of community organizations, the Roseville area has plenty of resources for seniors. Here are some of our favorites:

1. Help Them Clean Up

One reason why most senior falls happen at home is that many older people have trouble cleaning up. Bending over to pick up clutter from the floor is often uncomfortable for them—and it’s also a fall risk on its own. 

Unfortunately, not cleaning up is also a fall risk: Seniors can easily trip over shoes, pet toys and other clutter that accumulates in walkways throughout the home.

That’s why it’s best to help your loved one clean up—and to get to it before they do. Prioritize tasks that remove tripping hazards from walkways, then handle anything that might be risky for them to handle themselves.

Here are a few top priorities when tidying their home:

1. Pick up any clutter on the floor, especially if it’s obstructing a walkway.
2. Dust in high locations—reaching upward can be a fall risk for seniors.
3. Handle any tasks that involve heavy or unwieldy cleaning equipment like vacuum cleaners, brooms and mops.

Once everything is clean, it’s important to keep it that way. Many seniors are proud of keeping a tidy home, and they may be tempted to try cleaning up on their own if something is out of place. 

We recommend contacting a good cleaning service like Home Cleaning Home to tidy up regularly. Not only will this prevent your loved one from trying any risky cleaning tasks, it’ll give them the feeling of dignity and calm that comes with having a tidy home.

2. Stay on Top of Yard Work

Yard work is even more challenging for seniors than cleaning is. It includes the same risky movements like reaching up and bending over, plus a lot of pulling and carrying. It also involves tools and equipment that are bulkier and heavier than anything you might use indoors—which means even more fall risks.

While we don’t have to worry much about snow or ice in Placer County, it’s still important to keep up with yard work. Tall grass, brambles and branches can all become outdoor tripping hazards, so it’s important to stay on top of them by mowing the lawn, trimming bushes and disposing of yard waste.

There are even a few safety improvements you can make outside the house:

• Make sure that all stairways have railings, and that they’re properly secured. 
• Add solar-powered lanterns to pathways so they’re easy to see at night.
• Make sure all pavement or brickwork is smooth. Repair or replace it quickly if not, because cracks tend to get worse over time.

Don’t be afraid to hire help if you need it. A good landscaping service like Alvarado Lawn Care can keep yards and pathways pristine and clear of debris all year round. With their help, coming home will make your loved one feel happy, safe and confident.

3. Get Fall Prevention Training

South Placer County cares about making sure its seniors can move around with safety and confidence, which is why the Roseville Health & Wellness Center hosts a Fall Prevention Academy. This two-week course, hosted by certified personal trainers, includes a variety of strategies and techniques to prevent and deal with falls, such as:

• Exercises to reduce fall risk by improving strength, balance and coordination.
• Information on how to identify and avoid situations likely to cause a fall, both inside and outside the home.
• Ideas for accommodations and home improvements that may help reduce fall risk.
• Lessons on how to fall properly to reduce the chance of serious injury when a fall does occur.

The Fall Prevention Academy is valuable for seniors in South Placer County, their families and anyone else who wants to learn how to help seniors avoid falling. We highly recommend attending this valuable program with your loved one, as well as any other friends or family members who care for an older person.

In addition, Kaiser Permanente Hospital of Greater Sacramento hosts its own free series of award-winning fall-prevention classes, A Matter of Balance. This class teaches seniors to view falls as something controllable, so they can take proactive steps to reduce their fall risk. It also connects them to resources from other organizations in the community like the Sacramento County Department of Health, the Sacramento Ballet and the YMCA of Superior California.

Find a Partner for Fall Prevention

The Roseville area has many resources to reduce fall risk, but there’s one that can help seniors no matter the time or place. A dedicated caregiver from FirstLight Home Care of South Placer County can help your loved one stay upright and mobile both inside and outside the home.

Our compassionate caregivers can also help seniors with many risky daily tasks like dressing and bathing. They can also handle cooking and even some minor housekeeping, all while offering a hand to lean on.

Want to learn more about how a caregiver can help prevent falls? Contact us today.