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Seniors 65 and older are most likely to suffer injuries from slip and fall accidents. This can cause broken bones, concussions, and hip fractures. These accidents send seniors from North Charleston to North Dakota to the hospital every year. If you work at a retirement home or have a senior family member, you should minimize falls and trips. Ensure the safety of your senior community members by implementing the following best practices.
You will need time to recover from a fall injury physically and emotionally. With the help of the best North Charleston slip and fall lawyer, you can get the compensation you deserve. To protect the seniors in your life, however, it is essential to remember that prevention is the key. Let’s look at how seniors could be saved from slip and fall accidents.
Tips to Prevent Slip and Fall Accidents
Proper Footwear
It is essential to make sure the footwear of a senior is comfortable and has a solid gripping sole. Seniors should be discouraged from wearing footwear without the proper support, including slippers, flip-flops, and high heels.
Doctor Checkups
Regular medical checkups are recommended for seniors to ensure their eyesight and hearing are in good condition. The auditory system controls balance and coordination in the brain, and an infection can significantly impair that system. In addition to poor eyesight, poor judgment can also lead to falls. Seniors that are struggling with vision loss should see an optician. Your doctor can help you to recognize any balance or eyesight issues that may make you vulnerable to accidents.
Regular Exercise
To keep the muscles in the body healthy and balanced, it is ideal to exercise regularly. Seniors are encouraged to participate in moderate exercise activities, including walking, swimming, biking, and jogging. Seniors that participate in regular exercise are less likely to become injured in a fall. Exercises that include stretching, strengthening, and balance are most useful to seniors.
Supportive Devices
You should provide canes and walking sticks to elders when they lose their ability to support their weight. Senior homes should be equipped with secure stairway railings and bathroom grab bars. For seniors with mobility issues, the risk of slip-and-fall accidents increases. You can invest in a supportive walker or motorized scooter to help maintain your independence and reduce the risk of injury.
Medication Review
Medical prescriptions play an essential role in enhancing the well-being of most seniors. Medicine can sometimes cause dizziness, which can lead to balance problems. It is crucial to consult with a doctor to determine if any prescriptions may cause dangerous side effects. If certain medications are necessary, talk to your doctor about possibly changing the time of dosage to bedtime to avoid dizzy accidents.
Safety Lighting
To provide safety while moving around, seniors should have well-lit homes. Switches for the lights should be placed in an easy-to-reach location. To avoid slip-and-fall accidents in seniors’ homes, common areas should be bright enough to provide a safe environment. It is possible to install motion-sensor lighting in hallways and bedrooms to make it easier for seniors to get up at night if they need assistance getting up.
Clear Clutter
In addition to the deterioration of our muscles as we grow older, our sense of balance also deteriorates as we grow older. The hallways and paths in your home should be organized and free of clutter. It is common for seniors to fall because of potential hazards such as pet bowls, wires, and phone cords.
Safe Pathways
Seniors who may be unbalanced when walking need safe pathways in their homes. To create a secure environment, furnishings may need rearranging to allow for wider paths. All floor clutter, like potted plants, low tables, and electronics, should be cleared from these pathways.
You should also ensure that entranceways to different areas in the home are free of trip hazards. For example, areas that lead from carpeted rooms to hard floors should be repaired, and an even transition created.
Dry Floors
Besides clearing clutter, keeping floors dry and wiping up spills as soon as possible is essential. Clutter or slippery floors are the most common causes of slip-and-fall accidents in senior living facilities. While floors may not always be wet, they can still be slippery. Don’t over-buff or wax hard floors that could create a slippery hazard. Ensure that all rugs and mats are securely fastened to the floor to avoid slippage.
Seniors are a valuable part of our communities. Creating a safe environment is essential if you are a senior living alone or a caregiver. Follow these tips to help seniors prevent slip and fall accidents.
