Most seniors in Whittier prefer to age in place, staying in the comfort of their own home instead of moving to assisted living, for good reasons. Not only is it far more affordable to stay at home, staying in a house they’re proud of can help your loved one retain their dignity and independence.
However, it’s also true that most senior falls occur at home. Even the fear of falling can provoke anxiety in older people and prompt them to become hesitant about engaging in everyday life.
Here’s the good news: Most of those falls are preventable with the right support. For example, specialized exercise programs can help seniors improve their balance and stability, while modifying their home so it better meets their needs can eliminate many of the hazards that increase fall risk.
Fortunately, there are plenty of resources available right here in Whittier to help. Here are just a few of our favorite options.
Reducing Major Fall Risks for Seniors in Whittier
There are plenty of options available to help seniors in Whittier avoid falling. From balance workouts to practical home improvements, here’s how you can improve your loved one’s independence and confidence as they move throughout the day.
- Improve Balance While Having Fun
Not all of the root causes of falling can be addressed directly, but some of them can. As we age, we tend to lose strength and coordination, but staying physically active can delay or even reverse this process—especially if it’s through exercises specifically designed to help seniors improve their balance. By helping them build body awareness and targeting the stabilizing muscles, balance exercises enable seniors to move with confidence again.
If your loved one struggles with solo workouts, have no fear: Many of these exercises are taught in group classes that also give them a weekly social event to look forward to. In fact, one of the best options for senior exercise, Nifty After Fifty, has its headquarters right here in Whittier. Their Fall Free workout classes center on both exercises and skills that can help reduce the risk of falling. They also host assisted movement classes like Chair Yoga that help older people expand their range of movement without risking a fall.
Nifty After Fifty isn’t just a gym. They also conduct wellness evaluations by specially-trained coaches to develop a fitness program designed just for your loved one’s needs. They even put together regular social gatherings like cornhole and trivia to help seniors in Whittier connect and build friendships.
- Find Joy in Movement
While dedicated balance training may be the most effective form of exercise for reducing fall risk, it’s far from the only effective form. Many seniors struggle to motivate themselves to do exercise for its own sake because they find it boring and uncomfortable. In many cases, though, all they need to get moving is a workout that doesn’t feel like work.
If you’re looking to find your loved one a way to get moving that feels like play, look no further than the Upper Whittier Senior Center. They host fun fitness activities every weekday. From the calm focus of Tai Chi and yoga to the joyful energy of line dancing and Zumba Gold, the Senior Center has plenty of fun ways to help older adults get moving.
- Tidy Up Common Tripping Hazards
When older people fall, it usually happens at home—but many of those falls are preventable. They typically happen when a senior’s home no longer fits their mobility needs. Loss of stability turns loose carpets and steep stairwells from annoyances to hazards. Even if they know how to move carefully about the house and avoid falling completely, having to be on guard within their own home can make it a lot harder for them to enjoy everyday life.
Fortunately, there are a lot of improvements you can make to ensure your loved one’s home meets their needs. Start with basic improvements like tightening up loose railings and replacing any dead or dim lights. Next, head over to your local hardware store for safety measures you can install, such as grab bars for bathrooms, night lights for hallways and traction tape to keep slippery rugs in place. If they need more complicated improvements like installing an elevator or smoothing loose carpeting, don’t hesitate to call a handyman service like Super Lugus Construction.
With some elbow grease (and maybe a little help), you can turn your loved one’s home into a place that works for them again. It’s not just about their safety: Making sure their home meets their needs again can boost their everyday confidence and quality of life while putting your own mind at ease.
Get a Fall Prevention Partner
Most senior falls occur at home, but they’re far from inevitable. With the right resources on your side, you can reduce or eliminate many fall risks and enable your loved one to move around with confidence.
A professional caregiver like those at FirstLight Home Care of Whittier is one of the best resources available for fall prevention for seniors in Whittier. They can clear tripping hazards out of walkways and handle light tidying tasks that would be too risky for seniors to do alone, but most importantly, they give your loved one someone to lean on—both literally and figuratively.
Want to learn more about your loved one’s care options? Contact us today.
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