Elder Care in Pinellas Park FL: Hip Fractures in the Elderly
Falls in the elderly are the number one cause for hip fractures. These fractures can have devastating consequences including loss of mobility and independence. According to Aaron Rossi, MD, “Only one in four hip fracture patients make a full recovery.” Only about half of these seniors are able to walk without a mobility aid following a hip fracture.
Prevention
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”—Benjamin Franklin. Help your loved one keep their bones strong by eating a diet high in calcium and other important nutrients. These include leafy greens and low-fat dairy products. Vitamin D is an important component of healthy bones and is found in sunshine as well as fatty fish, mushrooms, cheese and egg yolks.
Help prevent falls by keeping their home environment safe. This includes removing slipping hazards such as throw rugs and tripping hazards such as furniture that is sticking out into pathways. Make sure they have good lighting as well as grab bars installed in the shower and by the toilet.
After the Fact
Check with their occupational or physical therapist to see if they recommend a mobility device to help them get around while their hip heals. This could mean a walker, cane or wheelchair. Help make it easier for them to get in and out of chairs by raising the seat and do the same for their toilet.
Make sure they perform the exercises recommended by their therapists. Remaining immobile quickly produces muscle loss, promoting further falls. Ensure their diet is high in foods that promote strong bones such as low-fat dairy, fruits and vegetables, and lean meats. Avoid soda which can leach calcium from bones.
During the healing phase they will need to live on one level. If their bedroom is on the second floor, you will need to find a way to set a bed up on the first floor and one that is low enough that your parent’s feet touch the floor when they are sitting on the side of it.
Elder Care Provider
Your loved one will need assistance with the daily activities of living while their healing progresses. An elder care provider can provide assistance with bathing, dressing and offer support as your parent moves throughout the home. They can run errands and do the grocery shopping, prepare meals and perform light housekeeping. They can provide transportation and keep your loved one company, helping their spirit to remain strong and positive as their healing progresses.
Resources
https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adulthipfx.html
http://www.healthycellsmagazine.com/articles/hip-fractures-the-consequences-are-significant
http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/247269-an-ounce-of-prevention-is-worth-a-pound-of-cure
If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Elder Care in Pinellas Park, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.
Latest posts by Becky Moultrie (see all)
- Five Things You Should Know About In-Home Care - April 7, 2023
- Are There Healthy Alternatives to Caffeine for Seniors? - March 31, 2023
- Home Care Assistance Covers a Range of Services and Support - March 24, 2023
Becky Moultrie is Owner and Administrator of Assisting Hands Home Care Serving Pinellas. Guided by a motto to Do Good with Love, she’s well positioned to do just that at Assisting Hands. She has a passion for helping families keep seniors and those who are diabled happy and healthy at home. She serves on a number of boards in Pinellas County including the Pinellas Park Gateway Chamber and Better Living Seniors (BLS), leading the Membership Committee. Annually, she hosts a Silver Santa Party, collecting donations for nearly 100 low income seniors in the county. She attends Blessed Sacrament Church, Seminole where she is an Ascribed Member of the Rosminian Order. When not busy Doing Good in the community, Becky is at home with her husband David & their 4 children, tending to their beehives and digging in the garden.
