Blog > Risk Factors that Lead to Falls

Risk Factors that Lead to Falls

Falling is one of the largest concerns for the elderly population. We see it on the news when elderly celebrities fall, and it can make your loved one nervous and scared about falling. As a caregiver, it can also give you concern as your loved one is living independently, especially if they live alone. You might worry that a fall will happen and they won’t be able to call for help. Having a home care assistance provider visit regularly can help address some concerning issues.

While a fall can happen to anyone at any time, there are certain factors you can look for the next time you’re with your loved one to see that might indicate a fall is more likely to occur. The good news is that many of these risk factors can be addressed so you can then reduce the risk of your loved one falling when you’re not around.

Let’s look at the risks and how to reduce them.

Poor vision

Home Care Assistance Tower Road FL – Risk Factors that Lead to Falls

As your loved one ages, her vision may get worse. Cataracts are common as well as thickening corneas, making light more difficult to reach the retina. That means what may seem light enough to you or her home care assistance team, may not be enough light for your loved one. Without good vision, your loved one may not see that dark shoe on the floor and trip over it.

To prevent falls due to poor vision, there are two main steps. First, have your loved one’s eyes checked regularly so her prescription is correct, and look for concerns such as cataracts. Second, increase the lighting in her home, especially in those dark areas like stairwells and corners. Nightlights might help as well as brighter light bulbs.

Medications

Some medications cause dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when standing too quickly. They might also lead to dehydration, which could lead to lightheadedness and then a tumble when she tries to walk.
To help your loved one combat this dangerous side effect, talk to her doctor about the best way for her to take her medication as well as possibly switching it if it’s particularly bothersome. Your loved one will need to learn to change positions more slowly, giving her body time to adjust to change so that she’s not immediately dizzy.

Keeping Her Home in Order with Home Care Assistance Overseeing

We talked about lighting before, but are there other areas of her home that may lead to tripping? Loose rugs, uneven floors or steps, and just clutter can all lead to tripping hazards.

Having a home care assistance provider visit regularly to clean and pick up may be one way to keep the clutter at bay. You might also want to look at securing anything on the floor that might cause your loved one to stumble.

Balance

As the elderly become less active, there is an increase in the loss of balance, flexibility, and coordination, making it more difficult to recover when tripping over something.
Keep your loved one active by having her take daily walks or go to the local senior center with her home care assistance provider for swimming or pickleball. Whatever activity keeps her moving is more likely to prevent her from falling than sitting in a chair all day.