How Dangerous Is a Fall for Your Elder?

Elder Care Brooklyn NY

Elder Care Brooklyn NYIn your role as a family caregiver, you will help your elderly parent through a variety of challenges. One of the most important things that you can do to prepare you to give your elder the best care possible is to understand the dangers that they are facing. This enables you to identify their greatest risks and customize the care that you give them to help ensure that they stay safe and healthy while also encouraging them to continuing living an engaged, active, and fulfilling lifestyle.

One such danger is a fall. Elderly adults are at a far higher fall risk than younger adults, but they can also suffer more serious consequences. Understanding these can help you give your elderly loved one the care that they need to avoid these potentially devastating effects as they age in place.

Some things that you should know about the dangers of falls for elderly adults include:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one out of every four adults over the age of 64 experience a fall each year.

• 20 percent of falls results in a serious injury. This is one out of every five falls.

• Over 95 percent of hip fractures occur as a result of a fall.

• More than 2.8 million older adults throughout the United States seek medical assistance in emergency departments after suffering falls.

• More than 800,000 older adults throughout the United States must be hospitalized as a result of the injuries that they suffer as a result of falls.

• The most common injuries that elderly adults experience after a fall are hip fractures and traumatic brain injuries.

It is important to keep in mind that experiencing one fall puts your elderly adult at twice the risk of suffering another fall. Consider talking to your aging parent’s doctor about their risk of falling and what you can do to help them reduce this risk or help your parent recover effectively if they do suffer a fall.

If you are concerned about your elderly parent’s fall risk and have been looking for ways to help them stay safer and more secure throughout their later years, starting elder care for them may be the ideal option. An elder home care services provider can be with your elderly loved one on a schedule that is customized specifically for them and for the amount of care and assistance that they need.

This means that the care provider will take into consideration not just your senior’s needs, challenges, and limitations, but also the care that you give to them, their personality, and their lifestyle goals. Through these highly personalized services, this care provider can ensure that your elderly loved one gets the level of care that they need, and the quality of life that they deserve.

When it comes to helping them to reduce their fall risk, this elder home care services provider can help them to identify and abate potential dangers throughout their home, give them physical support and assistance with their personal care tasks, and even encourage them to stay more active and eat a healthier diet to keep their body stronger and more resilient.

Sources:  https://www.ncoa.org/news/resources-for-reporters/get-the-facts/falls-prevention-facts/
https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html

If you or an aging loved one are considering Elder Care Services in Brooklyn NY, please contact the caring staff at Gentle Hands Home Care.