How Falls Can Create a Chain Reaction that Leads to a Decline in Health: Senior Care Home Safety near Anderson, SC

For anyone, falling down and being injured can be frustrating. It can also lead to other potentially serious health issues. An elderly individual may be at an increased risk of tripping or falling and if they are seriously injured, it can lead to a decline in their health. This is a major senior home safety concern.

The Decline in Health

Any time there’s an injury; a person must go through a healing process. Depending on the injury, it could be a significant amount of time. Once the injury has healed, the individual may need to go through physical therapy to regain strength, mobility, flexibility, or more.

For elderly patients, an injury may take longer to heal for them than for younger patients. During the time in which they are unable to use that part of their body (for example, they broke an ankle or leg), their muscles are beginning to atrophy and they will likely lose muscle mass and strength.

It is much more difficult for elderly individuals to regain strength and muscle, especially as they get older, which often means they may experience more challenges with their balance, ability to do certain things, and face potentially increased health hazards.

Another factor that may be more common for elderly individuals is that their body won’t heal as well as it did when they were younger. While their bones may heal, they may not return to the strength of their youth.

All of these potential factors can lead to a decline in overall health. It may lead to an increased risk of falling, loss of ability of interest in doing certain activities, and more.

What the Home Care Aide can do to Help

One of the most important things any home care provider can do for an elderly patient with regard to falls and injuries is be proactive. Evaluate the individual’s living situation. Try to pay attention to potential tripping hazards, places where the elderly homeowner could fall or slip, and take steps to correct those problems.

A family member or home care aide can also provide support for the patient as he or she goes up and down stairs, needs assistance doing certain activities, or cleaning or fixing up their home.

Preventing falls is crucial, but in the event an elderly person is injured due to a fall, encouraging physical therapy, exercise, and focusing on getting back to good health can be vital for the patient to avoid a continued decline in their well-being

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring senior care services in Anderson  SC, contact Heart of the Carolinas Home Care at 864-991-3116.

Providing Home Care Services in Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, Anderson, Spartanburg, Mauldin, Seneca, Laurens,Charleston, Columbia and the surrounding areas.

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Edward Harrison

Founder at Heart of the Carolinas

Edward Harrison founded the Heart of the Carolinas Homecare in 2007 when he saw there was a need for caregivers that provide non-medical home care services, at a price that most people could afford. It was standard in the industry to require hourly minimums and it was common to be assigned a caregiver, not matched with one based on your individual personal needs. Edward understood that to make a successful relationship between caregiver and client, skills were not enough, personality and compatibility plays as much a role as do skills.

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