Threat For Older Adults: The Safety Checklist

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Prevention of trips and fall for the seniors and those suffering from mobility problems is critical. According to recent findings, falls and trips and the top causes of office injuries that range from small bruises to serious traumas like sprains, broken bones, laceration, and head injuries. To minimize the potential dangers due to falls and trips, there are numerous ways you effectively optimize your environment to help reduce the hazards of accidents to the elderly. Make sure the walking surfaces are clean and clutter-freeBy making the alleyways clear, you will lower the possibility for an injury. Note that unobstructed walkway reduces the chances for an elderly to fall on a sudden object and lessens the potential for a spill that might lead to a risky slipping injury. Improve the lighting The majority of falls occurs due to the inability to see the things that are in front. For minimising trips and falls for the elderly, adding proper lighting both outdoors and indoors of a home will help you illuminate the places that are accessed by the elderly frequently. In most cases, steps and other hazards will not be seen clearly at night. So, installation of the state of the art lighting like spotlights and illuminated steps will help you minimize the possibility that an elderly will trip or fall. Get rid of spills immediately In retail shops, the operators have the obligation to keep the environment safe for clients. For this reason, workers must get rid of any spill immediately to prevent slips and falls. The same thing should happen even at home. Once you come across a spill, clear it up immediately. Or else, you or a family member could trip on the spill and lead to a severe fall. Check vision and hearing every yearLoss of hearing senses can cause balance issues and this can make an elderly probe to tripping. On the other hand, vision is also a major factor because someone can easily trip on a substance they did not see. As people get old, the eyes tend to be more venerable to conditions like cataracts and glaucoma. Blurriness and poor depth perception might as well play a huge role. So, make sure your ears and eyes are examined at least once every year to diagnose any of the likely issues. Check on various treatmentIn most cases, the elderly are required to take several medications to curb their health conditions. These drugs might mix with each other to bring downiness or dizziness. In case this happens to you or your family member, ensure you take precaution to avoid falls. Wear proper shoesStrong shoes that are made with rubber soles and fit well are ideal for the elderly. Elderly people should not wear flip flops, slippers, backless shoes, and high heels. Note that even walking bare feet or wearing soaks might cause slips and fall. Therefore, it is advisable to wear appropriate shoes always. Avoid overdoing it If you are elderly who lives alone, do not assume you can do everything without help from someone. Doing too much will make you move fast and this will cause a trip or slip. Instead, ask for assistance from friends, relative or even your neighbours. They will assist you to perform household duties like vacuuming and floor cleaning. If there is excess ice or snow on your driveway, get someone to remove it for you. If there is no one to assist you, hire a professional service provider to do the work. You can hire professional cleaners, nursing assistants, and landscapers to assist you with the work.

Courtney P.

I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!

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