Preventing slips, trips and falls for the elderly

December 27, 2023 Uncategorized

Preventing slips, trips and falls for the elderly

Slips, trips, and falls as we get older is quite common. In fact, it is one of the largest causes of hospital admissions. Although majority of falls don’t cause serious injuries, they can leave the elderly feeling quite distressed and damage someone’s confidence and independence. It is also a major cause of the elderly moving to long-term nursing or residential care.

Sometimes, factors such as medications, health conditions and footwear can affect one’s balance when stood up. Despite this, there are many things that someone can do to stay steady when on their feet.

Falls Prevention

There are several things the elderly can do to prevent falls.

  1. Stay active: as we age, muscle strength and balance reduce and there are exercises designed to improve these. If you are caring for an elderly person, and it is appropriate, encourage them to improve their strength by participating in physical activities.
  2. Eat well and keep hydrated: it is important to keep an eye on both your meals and hydration levels. Ensure adequate food and liquid intake.
  3. Take care of your eyes and hearing: book an eye or hearing test if you have not had one recently.
  4. Manage your medicines: certain medicines can make someone feel dizzy or faint and affect your balance. Let your doctor know if you experience side effects as they may need to check the dose or look at alternatives
  5. Choose the right shoes: ensure that shoes fit well, are well-cushioned and provide adequate support. Never walk indoors bare footed, with socks or tights. Always wear shoes or slippers.

Tips for Around the House

Many slips, trips and falls happen when in or around the home. Here are some tips of simple changes that can be made around the home that can make a big difference.

  • Remove trip hazards such as clutter and trailing wires. Avoid glass furniture as it can be harder to see and may cause falls.
  • Move rugs and mats at the top or bottom of the stairs.
  • Install a night light near the bed or motion activated lights just in case you wake up in the night.
  • In the bath or shower, use a non-slip rubber mat and install grab rails if more support is needed
  • In the kitchen and around the house, keep regularly used items at working height.

We all stumble or trip sometimes. The above are just some tips to avoid this from happening. If you are worried about a potential fall, think and plan ahead by discussing your fall risk with your doctor, install a personal alarm or a telecare system that can automatically alert staff at a response centre.

How can Cavendish Homecare help?

At Cavendish Homecare, we provide private homecare for people who need additional support in their own home. If you are looking for homecare services, contact us or email us at info@cavendishhomecare.com.

Our team of nurses and carers is equipped to provide comprehensive care to clients based in London and the home counties, including Kensington and Chelsea, Harrow, Twickenham, Westminster, Camden, and Surrey. We remain flexible to accommodate care requests in other areas, contingent upon available accommodation provisions.

About the Author…

Misha Zemkova

Operations Assistant

As a volunteer at North London Action for the Homeless, Misha stands out for her exceptional ability to connect with people through active listening and meaningful dialogue. With seven years of invaluable experience as a Team Leader and Key Worker for adults with diverse learning disabilities, including cerebral palsy, dementia, Down syndrome, and brain injuries, Misha brings extensive experience and a deep understanding of caring for individuals with unique needs.

Now a pivotal member of the operations team at Cavendish Homecare, Misha actively supports Nurse Managers and the Bookings team in delivering high-quality care. She has demonstrated outstanding commitment to supporting charity partner Cruse Bereavement through events such as the Virtual TCS London Marathon and Light up the Night.

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