Did your elderly loved one fall? Whether you or an elder care provider were with them or not, the fall is still a sign that something isn’t right. It could just be that your elderly loved one has too many things in their home. These could be fall hazards. However, more often than not, elderly people fall because there is something going on with their body. It could be a balance issue, vision issue, or something else entirely. If your elderly loved one has fallen, there are some things that you should have their doctor check for.  

Checking for Illnesses

There are many things that could cause your elderly loved one to fall. In fact, there are some health issues that can cause your elderly loved one to be off balance. For example, your elderly loved one might have a urinary tract infection, be dehydrated, blood pressure issues, or they may have had a stroke. If your elderly loved one has any of these health concerns, it is important for you and their elder care provider to know about them. Getting treatment for these issues could help to keep your elderly loved one from falling again.  

Reviewing Medications 

Your elderly loved one might be on medications that cause side effects. For instance, the medication might cause your elderly loved one to become dizzy, tired, or have blurry vision. When these things happen, your elderly loved one might not be able to see or walk as well. This could have caused them to fall. If your elderly loved one is having side effects from their medication that lead to balance, vision, or fatigue issues, you should talk to their doctor about it.   

Vitamin D Levels 

Another reason that your elderly loved one might have fallen is due to low levels of Vitamin D. When someone doesn’t have enough Vitamin D in their body, especially over a longer period of time, there body isn’t going to feel as strong. Long-term low Vitamin D levels can even cause someone to have weaker bones. If this is the case for your elderly loved one, it might have caused them to feel weaker when walking, which may have caused the fall. You can have your elderly loved one’s doctor check Vitamin D levels.  

Conclusion 

There are many things that your elderly loved one’s doctor could check for if they have fallen. Many elderly people fall. However, it is important to always figure out the reason for the fall. The more you, your elderly loved one’s doctor, and the elder care providers work together, the less likely your loved one will fall again in the future.  

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Elder Care in Laurens, 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://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4707663/ 

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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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