Broken bones are astonishingly common for aging adults. Falls are a massive source of future problems and there may be some things you can do to make injuries less of a likelihood for your senior.
Get an Idea How Healthy Her Bones Are
Your elderly family member’s doctor can test how strong her bones are. These bone density tests give you an idea whether she’s at risk of a fracture if she should fall. The test also gives your senior an opportunity to improve her bone strength over time. Changing her diet, exercising, and even medication can all help.
Test Her Vision Regularly
If your senior can’t avoid obstacles then she’s more likely to encounter problems around them. Getting your senior’s vision tested regularly helps to ensure that you’re both aware of how her vision could make her more likely to fall or bump into things. Corrective lenses help immensely, but so can surgery in extreme cases.
Make Sure She’s Getting Plenty of Rest
When your elderly family member isn’t sleeping well, that can leave her open to falling and injuring herself. Being even a little bit sleep deprived is equivalent to having a few alcoholic drinks. And that kind of circumstance can leave your senior more vulnerable to falling and therefore developing a fracture.
Examine How Much Exercise She Should Be Getting
Exercise isn’t something that everyone enjoys, but it can do so much for your aging adult. First of all, it improves her muscle tone and her balance. It also helps to improve your senior’s stamina. Be sure that she’s doing the right kind and amount of exercise for her health and her abilities. Doing the wrong kinds of exercise is worse than not exercising at all.
Investigate Options for Assistive Devices
Assistive devices are not always fun, but they are incredibly helpful for maintaining your senior’s balance and allowing her to avoid a fall. The problem is that your elderly family member might do a lot to avoid using a cane or other assistive device, especially in her own home. It might take some doing to convince your elderly family member to give these devices a chance, but it’s worth the effort.
Look into Home Safety
Home safety is another aspect of avoiding injuries and broken bones. Look for places to add hand rails, for instance, and determine if clutter is a problem for your aging adult. Correct issues with carpeting and avoid using floor wax or anything else that can leave the floor slippery.
Keep tabs on some of these situations for your elderly family member, because they can become even more important over time. As her risk for taking a fall grows, your senior’s doctor can help you to determine what else to focus on in order to protect her as much as you can.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Fairfax, VA, please contact the caring staff at Assisting Hands today. (703) 982-0050.
