Difference between revisions of "Elderly Falls What to Do"

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If your elderly loved one falls, arrange for them to see a doctor as soon as possible. Falling is often an indicator of underlying medical issues that require treatment, such as dehydration or a urinary tract infection.<br /><br />Ask them if they’re hurt, and look for signs of injury (bruising or other evidence). Then help them get into a chair.<br /><br />Call for Help<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Elderly falls are one of the most serious and frequent types of accidents for elderly people. When they happen, it is important that you take the right steps to ensure that your loved ones are safe and do not suffer any injuries.<br /><br />Firstly, it is important that you call for help. If you think that your loved one is not badly injured and can get up by themselves, you should try to encourage them to do so.<br /><br />However, it is also worth remembering that many falls are accompanied by a number of different injuries including fractures and head trauma. This means that it is a good idea to call an ambulance just in case.<br /><br />This is particularly important if you have elderly people living in your home who are at risk of falling. This is because prolonged periods of time on the floor can exacerbate any existing injuries and lead to a range of other complications including dehydration.<br /><br />Check for Injuries<br /><br />If your elderly loved one has a fall, it’s important to check them for injuries. This means assessing their head, neck and spine to see if there is any pain or swelling. If there is moderate to severe pain in the head, neck or spine, it is not advisable to try and move them and you should call 911 for an ambulance.<br /><br />It is also a good idea to monitor your elderly loved one for 24 hours to make sure they are fine and that there is no lingering pain or other problems from the fall. It is also a good idea to speak with their doctor about the fall so that it can be added to their medical records.<br /><br />In order to prevent further falls, it is important to improve lighting in stairways and hallways, add handrails to the stairs and put in grab bars in the shower or bathroom. It is also a good idea to talk to your loved ones about their medications and any health issues that may affect their balance or lead to a fall.<br /><br />Stay Calm<br /><br />Many seniors feel embarrassed about falling and may downplay their incident. However, they should be encouraged to share their concerns with family and medical professionals. Frequent falls can indicate an underlying condition and increase the risk of serious injury or death.<br /><br />Checking for injuries is the first step after an elderly person falls. Ask if they’re hurt and help them stay down while you look for any broken bones, bruises, or sprains.<br /><br />If they don’t have any serious injuries, encourage them to get up slowly. Have them roll onto their side and then on to their hands and knees. If they have enough strength, they should be able to push themselves up into a sitting position.<br /><br />If they have difficulty getting up, consider investing in an emergency response system that allows them to push a button for help. Also, keep their home free of trip hazards, such as loose rugs or carpeting, cords, and clutter.<br /><br />Encourage Your Loved One to Get Up<br /><br />When an elderly person falls, it can be difficult to get them back up without injuring yourself or causing further harm to their body. Try to assist them by rolling them onto their side and helping them to kneel slowly. Then, position two chairs that are stable and unlikely to move to where they can use them as support for getting up. Ask them to use the chair in front of them and then slide their strongest leg forward, starting with the knee, so it’s flat on the floor.<br /><br />Remember to continue to check for any injuries that may have been exacerbated by the fall. And, if your loved one continues to insist on trying to get up, take it slow and stop them if they are feeling any pain or getting stuck in the process. If their fall has resulted in serious injury, call 911 and keep them comfortable while waiting for assistance to arrive.<br /><br />
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An elderly person might not seem badly hurt after a fall and may not need an ambulance or to go to hospital. But it’s important for them to see a doctor as soon as possible for further checks to make sure they don’t have any hidden injuries.<br /><br />Typically, if your loved one falls, you should help them up slowly. Begin by pushing them into a side sitting position and crawling towards a chair or other sturdy object.<br /><br />Check for Injuries<br /><br />Almost half of all falls result in at least a minor injury, such as a bruise or sprained ankle. However, some falls can cause more serious injuries, including broken bones and loss of consciousness.<br /><br />If a family member falls, it is important to check whether they are injured before trying to get them up. Injuries to elderly people can be very serious, so it is best not to move them until they are fully checked by medical professionals.<br /><br />Start by gently rolling them onto their back. Then slowly and carefully work your way up their body, checking for bleeding or pain as you go. If the person is very uncomfortable or seems to be in a lot of pain, call for help right away. It is also important to keep an eye on their pulse and breath, as they may have a heart attack or a stroke.<br /><br />Stay Calm<br /><br />Falling can be frightening, but it’s important for seniors to keep calm. If they’re panicked, it’ll be harder for them to figure out what caused the fall and how to avoid it in the future.<br /><br />Try to get your loved one to sit or lie down as soon as possible. Ask if they’re hurt and where they’re feeling pain. Don’t move them if you’re unsure they can handle the movement, since moving someone who is already injured can accidentally exacerbate their injuries.<br /><br />If they’re unable to stand up, roll them onto their side and help them rest for a minute or two before trying again. This will give them time to catch their breath, assess their injuries and decide if they can get up on their own or need assistance. If you can, try to make sure they always have a telephone or emergency medical alert device within easy reach so they can call for help when necessary.<br /><br /> [https://kamaschool.org/members/stewmallet0/activity/83902/ emergency button for seniors] Call for Help<br /><br />Elders who fall often believe it’s embarrassing and a sign of their decline, leading them to downplay the incident and hide any injuries. This is a dangerous move that could cause them to be less active and make them more likely to fall again.<br /><br />Instead, reassure them that falling isn’t a big deal and that it can actually be beneficial. Encourage them to get up and exercise to improve their strength, and consider installing grab bars or other safety features in the home to prevent future falls.<br /><br />During the time that you are waiting for help to arrive, make sure your loved one is comfortable by placing pillows or rolled-up quilts or bolsters next to them to avoid pressure injuries. Also, try not to move them too much as this could exacerbate any injuries they may have. Ideally, you should call for an ambulance but with the NHS being so under pressure at the moment this can take some time.<br /><br />Get Help<br /><br />Even if your elderly loved one isn’t seriously hurt in their fall, lying on the floor for too long or getting up incorrectly can lead to complications like dehydration, hypothermia, pneumonia, or pressure sores. Caregivers are often too eager to help their senior family members get up after a fall that they forget to check for injuries or address underlying issues that can make them more likely to fall again (such as medications that make balance worse).<br /><br />After an elderly person falls, it’s important to assess the situation and determine whether or not they need medical attention. A GP or walk in clinic visit can be very helpful as they will have the expertise and tools to check for any serious injuries. They can also provide advice on how to avoid further falls. This could include recommending the addition of grab bars or handrails to the home, improving lighting in walking areas, and reducing clutter.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

Latest revision as of 09:49, 19 May 2024

An elderly person might not seem badly hurt after a fall and may not need an ambulance or to go to hospital. But it’s important for them to see a doctor as soon as possible for further checks to make sure they don’t have any hidden injuries.

Typically, if your loved one falls, you should help them up slowly. Begin by pushing them into a side sitting position and crawling towards a chair or other sturdy object.

Check for Injuries

Almost half of all falls result in at least a minor injury, such as a bruise or sprained ankle. However, some falls can cause more serious injuries, including broken bones and loss of consciousness.

If a family member falls, it is important to check whether they are injured before trying to get them up. Injuries to elderly people can be very serious, so it is best not to move them until they are fully checked by medical professionals.

Start by gently rolling them onto their back. Then slowly and carefully work your way up their body, checking for bleeding or pain as you go. If the person is very uncomfortable or seems to be in a lot of pain, call for help right away. It is also important to keep an eye on their pulse and breath, as they may have a heart attack or a stroke.

Stay Calm

Falling can be frightening, but it’s important for seniors to keep calm. If they’re panicked, it’ll be harder for them to figure out what caused the fall and how to avoid it in the future.

Try to get your loved one to sit or lie down as soon as possible. Ask if they’re hurt and where they’re feeling pain. Don’t move them if you’re unsure they can handle the movement, since moving someone who is already injured can accidentally exacerbate their injuries.

If they’re unable to stand up, roll them onto their side and help them rest for a minute or two before trying again. This will give them time to catch their breath, assess their injuries and decide if they can get up on their own or need assistance. If you can, try to make sure they always have a telephone or emergency medical alert device within easy reach so they can call for help when necessary.

emergency button for seniors Call for Help

Elders who fall often believe it’s embarrassing and a sign of their decline, leading them to downplay the incident and hide any injuries. This is a dangerous move that could cause them to be less active and make them more likely to fall again.

Instead, reassure them that falling isn’t a big deal and that it can actually be beneficial. Encourage them to get up and exercise to improve their strength, and consider installing grab bars or other safety features in the home to prevent future falls.

During the time that you are waiting for help to arrive, make sure your loved one is comfortable by placing pillows or rolled-up quilts or bolsters next to them to avoid pressure injuries. Also, try not to move them too much as this could exacerbate any injuries they may have. Ideally, you should call for an ambulance but with the NHS being so under pressure at the moment this can take some time.

Get Help

Even if your elderly loved one isn’t seriously hurt in their fall, lying on the floor for too long or getting up incorrectly can lead to complications like dehydration, hypothermia, pneumonia, or pressure sores. Caregivers are often too eager to help their senior family members get up after a fall that they forget to check for injuries or address underlying issues that can make them more likely to fall again (such as medications that make balance worse).

After an elderly person falls, it’s important to assess the situation and determine whether or not they need medical attention. A GP or walk in clinic visit can be very helpful as they will have the expertise and tools to check for any serious injuries. They can also provide advice on how to avoid further falls. This could include recommending the addition of grab bars or handrails to the home, improving lighting in walking areas, and reducing clutter.





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