How to Prevent Falls: Practical Advice for Caregivers and Family Members

The Medical Dangers of a Fall

We often underestimate the consequences of a fall, no matter how minor or serious it is. The medical dangers can be so overwhelming and serious that, at times, they can even be fatal to the person concerned. Here are some dangers that are associated with a fall:

● Fractures and Broken Bones

When you fall, the most common risk you face is a serious fracture. Your bones are quite prone to breaking or suffering from tears, especially if you are above 40 years old.

Moreover, if you suffer from fractures in your ribs or spinal cord, you will be at risk of being admitted to the hospital for quite a long time. It can also lead to internal trauma and bleeding and harm essential organs.

● Memory Loss

If you have had a fall that is quite serious and may have unfortunately hurt your head, you can also suffer from traumatic brain injury or a potential hemorrhage. Many people report feelings of nausea and dizziness accompanied by short-term memory loss.

● Lacerations and Severe Bruising

A cut or a deep bruise accompanied by severe pain can also be a consequence of a minor or a major fall. This especially happens if you happen to fall on a hard surface like a stony pathway or stairs.

If you get lacerations, you will probably need some stitching. On the other hand, if you are bruised, you will have severe pain as well as some swelling in the area.

● Loss of Confidence

Besides the physical threats, a fall can also injure your self-confidence and your feelings of worth, especially in the case where you have done damage in public.

It can also take away your dignity and throw you into a state of mind where you feel you cannot live a life of independence. This can also induce a sense of fear while going out in a public space.

Advice on How to Prevent Falls

While it is common to trip or fall, there are some practical tips you can always follow when you want to know how to prevent falls.

● Use a Medical Alert System

These are high-tech, advanced devices that are not only functional but also quite easy to use. Most medical alert systems come with sensors that can track if there are any serious bumps on roads or if there's an obstacle nearby.

This will help effectively prevent falls by making the person aware of the geographical features of their surroundings. Moreover, most sensors can alert authorities when there has been a serious injury or accident.

● Use a Walking Cane

This is another very commonly used tool that does a lot of work at once. From providing balance and optimal support to using it as a tool to sense nearby obstacles, a walking cane is perhaps the best handy tool when it comes to preventing falls.

● Use a GPS

A GPS system can be quite useful when it comes to preventing falls and accidents. It can effectively show you the obstacles on your path and what way you should take or especially avoid them.

So try installing a GPS system on any smart device and you will pretty much save yourself from the risks of falling.

● Ensure You Have Proper Lighting

If you are a family member or caregiver, do not forget that dark places or poorly lit paths can make your loved one fall. You can thwart this by making sure there is enough light in every corner of your loved one's house.

You can also talk to your city or town's magistrate to ensure that the parks and public pathways are properly lit up.

● Use Vision and Hearing Aids

A lot of seniors face the risk of falls because they either don't have strong vision or have some deficiency in hearing.

Using medical aids that can strengthen your vision or hearing is a proven way to prevent falls. This can also be quite easily achieved by just going to your doctor and having a general consultation regarding your eye and ear.

● Install Handrails Everywhere You Deem Fit

A lot of people, especially seniors, struggle with balance and mobility issues. It can also lead to sudden falls quite often. To help prevent this, family members can install handrails on appropriate places so that seniors can hold them and maintain their balance whenever needed.

● Keep Your Floors Clear of Clutter

Another general advice for family members of a senior individual would be to help floors remain obstacle-free and devoid of any clutters, such as toys or unwanted objects. Many times, we hear people tripping and falling on objects.

Hence, it would really reduce your chances of falling if you are able to keep the floor free of unnecessary items.

● Exercise Regularly

Regardless of your age or condition, try practicing some gentle forms of exercise as per your doctor's or physiotherapist's recommendation.

Exercises generally help you improve your core muscles and can support you with balance or mobility issues. With your legs strengthened, you will have very minimal chances of falling or tripping.

Conclusion

To sum it up, falls can be traumatic to your physical and mental health, causing fractures, internal bleeding or even memory loss. On answering how to prevent falls, we would advice you to use medical alerts, or walking canes.

If you are a family member, you can also ensure that the floor remains free of clutter or there is proper lighting all around!