Difference between revisions of "Elderly Falls What to Do"

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Falls are very common in older people. They are usually caused by a combination of risk factors. These include:<br /><br />Physical obstructions, slippery ground or medical equipment failure<br /><br />Cognitive decline and other mental changes<br /><br />Medicines that affect balance and how steady you are on your feet (like blood thinners).<br /><br />Falling can cause a head injury<br /><br />If someone falls and hits their head it is important they get help immediately to avoid serious damage to their brain. If they have a medical condition, like Alzheimer's, it is even more important they get help right away as the damage can be irreversible.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It is important to find out what happened in the days leading up to the fall - was the person having trouble eating, missing their medication or not feeling well? This can help you and your loved one to understand what could have caused the fall.<br /><br />Ensure your elderly person has a personal alarm that can be pressed in the event of a fall or other problem, to alert a 24 hour response centre for help. These are usually wristbands or pendants that can be worn at all times.<br /><br />Encourage them to exercise and keep active at all times as it helps their muscles, bones and joints stay strong and flexible. Joining an exercise class, joining a walking group or getting involved in tai chi are all great ways to keep fit and prevent falling.<br /><br />If they are not injured after the fall and you feel able to assist them to their feet, gently roll them onto their hands and knees, look for a stable piece of furniture and gradually support them on to it before assisting them back up. Once they are on their feet and stable, try to get them to stand up on their own. If they do not seem to be able to do this, it is safest to call an ambulance and keep them as warm and comfortable as possible until help arrives.<br /><br />
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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 />

Revision as of 09:37, 18 April 2024

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.

Ask them if they’re hurt, and look for signs of injury (bruising or other evidence). Then help them get into a chair.

Call for Help





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.

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.

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.

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.

Check for Injuries

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.

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.

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.

Stay Calm

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.

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.

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.

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.

Encourage Your Loved One to Get Up

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.

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.

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