Page 40 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Summer 2019- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS
Fall Prevention
AT HOME Health Therapy
One out of three seniors will fall
this year, but fewer than half of
them will talk with their doctors
about it, according to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention.
Falls are the number one cause of
injuries in seniors, often resulting
in hip fractures, cuts, and even
serious head and brain injuries.
This number will continue to rise
as America’s baby boomers grow
older.
As your physical status and health
conditions change with age, your
risk of falls will increase. Home
health care from skilled nurses and
therapists can help reduce falls by
implementing a few key strategies.
Here’s how to get started: First,
and most importantly, talk to your
doctor about your fall risk. Discuss
your medications that may have
side effects that cause dizziness,
unsteadiness, and drowsiness. Also,
go over any health conditions that
may lead to a fall, such as blurry
vision, ear disorders, joint pain,
shortness of breath, or numbness in
40 Amarillo Senior Link
by Caprock Home
Department
your feet and legs when 7. Poor vision with ineffective
you walk, muscle strength, prescription glasses
balance and walking style.
8. Medication that can possibly be
If your doctor determines you eliminated or consolidated
are a candidate for home health
care, a nurse and/or therapist will 9. Blood pressure that is
come to your home to perform an uncontrolled
evaluation. This will include a
thorough physical eval, including 10. Frequently-used items that
medicine review and a home are placed in difficult-to-reach
assessment. Next, a plan of care will locations
be developed by the home health
clinicians that focuses on your
health goals and on making your Home health care clinicians will
home a safer place for you. The plan identify risks and help you eliminate
of care will prioritize components as many as possible. Most strategies
of your overall health status and to reduce your fall risks are
will be regularly discussed with you relatively inexpensive and may be
throughout your time on service. easily installed.
Some common fall risks identified Please remember that no single test
is an accurate diagnostic tool to
by home health staff include: identify all risks for falls. Given the
1. Clutter in walking pathways complex set of factors contributing
such as newspapers and to falls in older individuals,
magazines combining tests may help predict
and prevent future falls.
2. Extension cords that cross Barbara Brown, a patient with
pathways Caprock Home Health, shared
3. Throw rugs that are not secured some of her experiences:
Q: How do you feel home health has
4. No grab bars in the bathroom helped reduce your risk of falling?
5. Poor lighting inside the home A: “It has educated me on things I
should and should not do.”
6. Improper footwear that may be
too slippery or not supportive Q: What are some things we have
enough educated you not to do?