7 Ways to Help Prevent Falls in Your Home

 

No one likes to take a tumble. For seniors especially, falls are much more serious. Not only can they cause physical injury and bleeding, but they can also affect mental health and confidence or even cause post-traumatic stress and anxiety. Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do to significantly lower the risk of falls and make your home safer for your senior loved ones.

Our team of in-home caregivers in NJ has determined the 7 best ways to help prevent seniors from falling at home. 

#1 – Check medications. This is often a fall risk that’s overlooked, but it’s an extremely important one to check. Certain medications or combinations of medications can cause dizziness, fatigue, low blood pressure, and low blood sugar, all of which can increase the risk of a fall. Make a detailed list of your loved one’s medications (including over-the-counter drugs) and go over them with their doctor to make sure they’re the safest options. Also, make sure they’re being taken at the right time of day, in the right combination in order to avoid negative side effects. 

#2 – Remove area rugs where possible. Area rugs are beautiful, cozy additions to any home – but they’re also a potential fall risk. They create a change in the surface traction of the floor (for example, if you have a wool rug on a wooden floor) and can easily curl up to become a tripping hazard. If your loved one shuffles while they walk, has poor eyesight, uses a walking aid, or is unsteady on their feet, area rugs should be lifted up and packed away. 

#3 – Modify everyday activities. A few easy enhancements to the home can help keep your loved one both independent and safe from falls. Modifications like grab bars in the bathroom (for the bath, shower, and toilet), secure handrails on stairs, night lights by the stairs, and rearranging the kitchen for easy access to pantry essentials (rather than using a grab handle or step ladder), make all the difference.

#4 – Temperature precautions. Too much or too little heat affects how our bodies function and can make seniors dizzy and more likely to fall. In the summertime, make sure your loved one keeps hydrated (there should always be a full glass of water on the nightstand) and stays out of the sun between noon and 4pm when possible. You should also make sure your loved one’s air conditioning is at a cool but comfortable temperature. On the other hand, the thermostat shouldn’t be set any lower than 68 degrees Fahrenheit or higher come wintertime. 

#5 – Get rid of the clutter! A home that’s difficult to move around in is a home where a fall can easily happen. With that said, there’s no time like the present to help your loved one clear-out some unnecessary clutter. Having clear, wide pathways, no items on stairs or in passageways, space between furniture, and clear floors is essential. Beware that an unfamiliar layout can be a fall hazard too, so it’s important not to change the layout of their furniture too much unless it’s really in the way. If your loved one doesn’t want to sell or donate excess items, you can turn a spare room into a storage space that can be closed off from the rest of the house. 

#6 – Time to visit the tailor. Clothing can be a tripping hazard, whether it’s pants that are too long or shoes that have worn down. We recommend that every senior has comfortable shoes that have good grip and are easy to slip onto the foot or fasten with Velcro rather than laces. Existing clothes can be taken to a tailor to be hemmed and modified (especially if your loved one has lost weight). Or better yet, you can treat your loved one to a little shopping spree for new, better-fitting clothes! 

#7 – Get extra help at home. Having in-home caregivers is perhaps the best senior fall prevention tip. Ensuring that someone responsible is with your loved one and able to assist and monitor their movements throughout the day is invaluable. That’s where United Methodist HomeWorks comes in. Our in-home care agency provides seniors with expert care and companionship in New Jersey. 

The services provided by HomeWorks caregivers are customizable and follow the latest COVID-19 guidelines to ensure the health and safety of our clients at all times. Our experienced home health aides in NJ have a passion for working with seniors and keep up to date with the latest methods in caregiving. 

To find out more about our home-based care services or how to hire a home health aide in NJ, please visit our website. 

Originally posted: https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/7-ways-to-help-prevent-falls-in-your-home/

What is Senior Isolation and How We Can Help?

“Senior isolation” is a blanket term meaning feelings of loneliness, depression and isolation commonly found among the elderly. While these issues may seem less concerning than illness, the truth is that they lead to serious health and quality of life problems. Here are some insights from our in-home respite care team:

Senior Isolation is On the Rise 

Although the USA has a growing elderly population, that doesn’t mean seniors are feeling less isolated — in fact, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that 28% of seniors lived alone at the time of the study. This lack of in-home support from a spouse or loved one is further exacerbated by demographics: fewer adults have children, so there are less people available to assist with companionship and care.

Risks to Health and Lifespan 

The sad reality is that loneliness, even perceived loneliness, damages our health and wellbeing. It’s associated with a higher risk of mortality in people over age 52, and increases the risks of poor physical and mental health. Social isolation can affect cognitive abilities, too, leading to poor cognitive performance, increased cognitive decline and higher risk of dementia.

Long-term illnesses strongly associated with social isolation include arthritis, chronic lung disease, high blood pressure, depression, and mobility problems. Many seniors who experience social isolation often recover from illness and surgery much slower and don’t regain the same strength and mobility as those with healthy social connections.

Therefore, these seniors often require more intensive care and may require it at an earlier stage in their lifetimes, too.

How Can We Help Fight Social Isolation? 

There are many ways that we can all help keep seniors more socially connected and cared for. Here are some effective strategies for helping family members, loved ones and the elderly in your community:

• Living situation. If your loved one lives far away or by themselves, they are at risk of senior isolation. Moving into a vibrant assisted living community, a home closer to friends and family (or a senior-friendly town), or investing in senior independent home care can help ensure their access to companionship and social connections.
• Pets. Beside wonderful sources of companionship, pets give your loved one a sense of purpose and plenty of love. Your local animal shelter may be able to provide an equally-lonely and gentle cat or dog; some assisted living facilities even allow animals.
• Transport. If your loved one can no longer drive, then lack of transport may be holding them back from an otherwise active life. Look in your local directory for transport services for the elderly, volunteer your own time, or speak to home healthcare professionals about providing a transport service for your loved one.

Companionship, Medical Care and More from NJ In-Home Respite Care Specialists 

United Methodist Communities strives to offer the very best quality senior independent home care options, from assisted living to in-home care through HomeWorks. This program assists the elderly in the comfort of their own homes and provides them, their families and caregivers personalized, compassionate care that prioritizes health, happiness and independence. In addition to medical and daily home care, we also offer pastoral care for spiritual and emotional support in the home.

For more information on our senior home care services and in-home respite care, please contact us today or visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/home-respite-care-services-nj/

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/senior-isolation-can-help/

In-Home Chronic Disease Management for Independent Senior Care

As we age, so our healthcare needs change — and the ability to react quickly to these changes and implement a medical and wellness solution is essential for maintaining a high quality of life.Chronic disease management can help seniors living at home to achieve this and live healthier, more active and enjoyable lives. Here are some insights from our senior home healthcare services.

Remote patient monitoring for healthier, happier living 

Through telemedicine service centers software and monitoring devices, healthcare teams are able to track your health data unobtrusively and quickly identify when a patient needs increased care. In addition to early detection of potentially serious health problems and reduced chance of hospitalization, these systems also help healthcare teams introduce lifestyle changes, counselling and therapies to help manage conditions from the start.

In addition to increasing the ability to recognize the onset of chronic diseases like diabetes, congestive heart failure, hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, these systems are also able to increase safety in the home by reducing the risk of falls. This is a significant step, as one in every three seniors fall in their home each year, often leading to hospitalization and a lengthy recovery. Among seniors who are suffering from chronic conditions reporting more falls that require medical intervention, it is vital that remote patient monitoring systems can assist with chronic disease management to reduce these incidents.

For patients concerned with rising medical costs, these systems are also a great choice because reduced doctor’s visits and hospitalizations directly impact on healthcare bills.

Expert healthcare monitoring and specialist senior home healthcare services in New Jersey 

At United Methodist Communities, we strive to offer the very best quality in home senior care options. through our HomeWorks program. This program is about assisting the elderly in the comfort of their own homes and providing them, their families and caregivers with personalized, compassionate care that prioritizes health, happiness and independence.

For more information on our home help services for older adults, please contact us today.

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/home-chronic-disease-management-independent-senior-care/

This New Year, take a fun senior care social class to remember!

It’s the beginning of 2017, a perfect time to commit to resolutions that make your life more enjoyable, healthy and fun. So why not join our SeniorFITness wellness program? These classes are specifically designed for seniors, making them safe and enjoyable as well as highly beneficial. Here are some more reasons to join in this New Year from our specialists in New Jersey on home help services for the elderly.

• Improve strength, balance and mobility: As we get older, it becomes more and more difficult to lead a physically active life – but, at the same time, we all want to maintain our independence. Whether your goals are to move easily and without getting out of breath while walking, to get out and join a local walking club or to get back to old hobbies you once loved like dancing, a senior wellness program will help you achieve it.
• Essential fall prevention: Falls are one of the greatest  concerns for seniors, their families and caregivers alike. Not only are we more likely to fall as we get older, the consequences of falls can be far more serious – resulting in trips to the emergency room and long recovery periods rather than the usual bumps and bruises that fade away. One of the best ways to prevent falls is to help ensure that you are steady on your feet, and this means working on core strength, keeping fit and staying as active as possible. Joining a wellness program specifically for seniors is a great idea, as trainers are skilled exercise physiologists who know exactly how to work with you to bring gentle but rewarding results.
• Recover after hospitalization, operations or illness: After a fall, an illness or a stay in hospital, many seniors feel far weaker than they did before and struggle to recover quickly. SeniorFITness is managed by rehabilitation specialists who understand the specific needs of seniors and will work with you to help speed up your recovery.
• It’s fun and social: This aspect is often overlooked, but having a healthy social life is just as important as caring for your body and mind. Senior wellness programs are a great way to meet new people, and the atmosphere of teamwork, support and encouragement is a wonderful motivator for helping you achieve your goals.

Affordable and compassionate help for seniors at home

At United Methodist Communities, we strive to offer the very best quality senior care options, from assisted living to in home senior care through our HomeWorks program. This program is about assisting the elderly in the comfort of their own homes and providing them, their families and caregivers with personalized, compassionate care that prioritizes health, happiness and independence.

For more information on our at home care for the elderly, please contact us today.

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/new-year-take-fun-senior-care-social-class-remember/