Even if your elderly family member has just had a minor fall, it’s really important to let her doctor know. Your senior might not want to do that, for a variety of reasons. But having that peace of mind that you know there’s nothing more serious that is happening because of a fall is vital.
It’s Always Important to Verify She’s Not Injured
The first reason to let your senior’s doctor know about a fall is to ensure that she’s not actually injured. That may be something that her doctor can determine over the phone, but it’s more likely that your senior will need to go into the office. There are some good reasons for that, even though it might feel like no big deal.
You Also Need to Rule out New Health Issues
There are a lot of reasons for a fall, including the possibility that your elderly family member may have a new health issue that contributed to her fall. Dehydration, low blood pressure, and other health issues can all play a part in causing a fall for your senior. And if she doesn’t know she’s dealing with those issues, she may not be doing anything about them.
Her Doctor Can Assess Future Fall Risk
Statistically speaking, older adults who fall once are twice as likely to fall again. Understanding your senior’s personal fall risk can help you to do more to reduce that fall risk. Treating underlying health issues and adjusting medications, if necessary, can be part of the plan to help reduce fall risk. If your elderly family member needs mobility help, it may be a good idea to hire senior care providers to assist her.
Get Advice about Fall Prevention
Once you get your senior home again, you need to look seriously at fall prevention. What presents a safety hazard for your elderly family member? Are there tripping hazards, like clutter or damaged flooring? If necessary, get advice about fall prevention from your senior’s doctor. Using assistive devices may be recommended, as well as doing things like adding grab bars to strategic areas of your senior’s home.
A fall is a serious matter and it’s important to get all of the information you can about what caused it and what this means for your senior going forward. Ignoring a fall can lead to bigger problems that she definitely wants to avoid dealing with down the road.
If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Senior Care in Pinellas Park, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.
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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.
