80-year-old Edith tripped over a rug in her home and fell. Although she wasn’t seriously injured, she was shaken up and worried about falling again. Because she was afraid of falling, Edith began to limit her activities, spending more time simply sitting in her favorite chair. She hadn’t told anyone about the fall, but her daughter, Judy, knew something wasn’t right. She coaxed her mother into talking and, after learning about the fall, Judy decided it was time to do something to help her mother feel safer.  

If your aging relative has fallen and worry about falling again is curbing their activities, there are ways to help them rebuild their confidence. Below are some tips for helping your older family member to feel safe again. 

Talk About Falling

Discuss the fall with your older family member. Talking about it can help you both understand why it happened. Once you’ve identified some possible causes, you can start to take steps toward reducing the senior’s risk of falling again. Make sure you listen to what the older adult is saying and take their concerns seriously.  

Ask About Assistive Devices 

Talk to the older adult’s doctor about whether the senior might benefit from using an assistive device, like a walker or a cane. They may need some help to learn to use the device properly, such as working with a physical therapist. 

Slowly Increase Activity 

If your aging relative has not been very active lately, it will help them to begin increasing their activity slowly. They might begin by walking to the end of the driveway with assistance. Slowly work toward longer or more strenuous activities. Set small goals to work toward, like being able to walk confidently down the front steps while holding the rail or walking around the yard. 

Take Safety Steps in the Home 

Evaluate the home and take measures to reduce fall hazards in the home. Remove or secure loose rugs. Pick up clutter around the home. Install grab bars in the bathroom near the toilet and the shower. Increase lighting around the house.  

Use Home Care 

Home care can be an excellent way to help older adults to be less concerned about falling. A home care provider can assist the senior while they are walking, offering support and making it less likely that they will fall. In addition, home care providers can encourage the older adult to be more active, which can help them to build up muscle strength that prevents a fall. Just having a home care provider around can increase confidence because the senior knows there is someone available to help them should they need it. 

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Home Care in Simpsonville, 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. 

Sources 

https://dailycaring.com/4-steps-that-help-seniors-regain-confidence-after-a-fall/ 

https://www.cdc.gov/features/falls-prevention-day/index.html 

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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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