Older adults are prone to accidents and injuries—including falls. One in three seniors aged 65 and older falls each year. Falls can lead to severe injury, especially if the elderly individual hits their head. Caregivers must respond quickly and appropriately when falls happen.
How do falls occur?
An elderly person’s home can be filled with fall risks. Without handrails fitted on stairs, an aging adult can trip over the steps. The bathroom, with slick floors, is a perilous place for seniors; upon exiting the bathtub or rising from the toilet seat, they may easily take a tumble.
Outdoors, seniors are just as vulnerable to falls. In winter, icy sidewalks and snow-covered driveways can lead to slips and falls. Summertime bike rides can end with a fall when older bicyclists take a spill. Any type of fall can result in a senior hitting their head and becoming injured.
Why are the elderly prone to falls?
Seniors have a high risk for falls due to a number of age-related reasons. Aging bicyclists, for instance, may no longer move or react as quickly or have the ability to circumvent obstacles on the road. If they bike without a helmet, a head injury can occur after a fall.
Other common risk factors for falls in the aging population include poor vision, which can make walking the hallways at night to reach the bathroom a treacherous endeavor. Immobility, lower body weakness, problems with balance, and medications that cause dizziness are also responsible for falls.
What should caregivers do when a senior hits their head?
After a senior falls and hits their head, caregivers should respond quickly. Determine the severity of the situation. A minor injury, such as a bump or bruise on the arm, can be effectively treated at home. A head injury, on the other hand, requires swift medical attention.
1. Assess the severity of the head injury
Assess the senior’s condition after they fall and hit their head. If the senior is not badly hurt after falling, help them find a comfortable position. Consult the senior’s doctor, who can provide professional guidance on next steps. Even mild traumatic head injuries can lead to long-term health consequences.
After a serious head injury, ask the senior not to move. Reassure their safety and call 911. Be sure to keep them warm until help arrives. Perform CPR if the elderly individual stops breathing. If bleeding occurs, transport the senior right away to an emergency medical facility.
Only experienced healthcare professionals are sufficiently trained to determine the severity of head injuries after a fall, which can be difficult for others to properly assess. Caregivers are urged to err on the side of caution and always call for medical help.
2. Monitor the senior
If the physician determines that it is unnecessary to bring the senior in to the office immediately, they may instead advise the caregiver to monitor their condition over the next 24 to 48 hours. Watch for signs of a concussion and inform the doctor of any concerning symptoms.
Be vigilant for loss of consciousness, the emergence of unusual behavior, and any difficulty the senior has in concentrating. The senior may vomit, complain of headaches or communicate with slurred speech. Blurred vision, memory problems, nausea, and confusion are additional worrisome symptoms.
Uncontrolled bleeding, dysfunctional eye movement, and lightheadedness that occur after a fall warrant prompt medical attention. Temporary ringing of the ears, also known as tinnitus, can also accompany a head injury and should receive care from a medical professional as soon as possible.
3. Seek medical attention
If any of the abovementioned symptoms appear, visit the doctor or the emergency room (ER). Similarly, if the senior begins to have seizures, demonstrates difficulty with balance, or experiences numbness in the extremities after hitting their head, consult a physician right away.
Caregivers may notice the worrisome symptoms—or they may only suspect the senior is experiencing them. In either case, it is in the best interests of the senior’s health to talk to the doctor, even when the symptoms and head injury itself appear mild.
Immediate medical attention for a head injury, regardless of how mild or severe, can prevent health complications and potential side effects later on. It can also help the senior recover sooner. Remember that it is difficult to predict how an older person responds to an untreated head injury.
How do caregivers prevent a fall?
The aging process contributes to an increase in the likelihood of falls. However, caregivers can take steps to minimize accidents by modifying the senior’s home. Install bars in the bathroom to give older adults extra support. Add extra lighting to hallways leading up to the bathroom.
If the budget allows, build a walk-in tub to replace the traditional bathtub. Remove clutter and other trip hazards. Seniors who wear non-slip shoes around the home are less likely to fall than those who go barefoot or wear socks. All rugs should have non-slip pads underneath them.
Falls and head injuries are serious events and require immediate attention from caregivers. Families can further protect their aging loved ones from falls by utilizing elder care from Assisting Hands Home Care. Our professional caregivers perform fall-risk assessments and provide physical support to seniors.
Caregivers are tasked with several responsibilities that keep elderly care recipients safe. We remove clutter from walkways, provide transfer assistance, and accompany seniors on walks and other outings. Help with hygiene tasks, meal preparation, light housekeeping, and transportation are also provided.
Care options include respite care, overnight care, 24-hour care, and live-in care. We offer compassionate Alzheimer’s and dementia care as well as post-surgical care. All our care services are provided in the comfort of the senior’s home. Caregivers are also trained to handle emergencies.
When your aging loved one would benefit from extra supervision, choose Assisting Hands Home Care. We serve the elderly living in and around Aurora, Illinois. Call today at (630) 948-8193 to set up a complimentary in-home consultation and learn how senior home care enhances both safety and quality of life.
