How are falls being prevented in assisted living services? The COVID-19 pandemic has confined elders to homes. Unfortunately, this ‘sheltering in place’ with restricted physical activities is making them prone to falls thereby creating a negative impact on the well-being. Sadly, falls also happen to be a leading cause of unintentional fatality in the older generation. So there is an urgent need to pay attention to this compelling aspect of senior care, right?
One of the right approaches to tackle this dangerous problem is to create spaces with the proper design for aging with sufficient facilities and amenities for the safe movement of elders. It can be quite cumbersome and some cases even impossible to transform individual homes to meet this challenge. Fortunately, assisted living facilities offer a promising alternative to this dilemma by providing senior-friendly abodes which are scrupulously built to be completely safe and fall-proof for seniors. Athulya Assisted Living, a prominent facility for retired communities of India, has illustrated this aspect in its well-crafted homes in Chennai. Everything right from the floor to the ceiling here is scrupulously designed to meet all needs of aging. Skilled Nursing Care by well-trained geriatric staff is also available for elderly patients requiring medical support. Let us now explore more about fall prevention.
Fall Risk Factors • • • • • •
Chronic body conditions that affect mobility or cognitive abilities including osteoporosis, arthritis, diabetes, stroke, dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Due to this, there may be stiff joints, weak muscular strength, poor nervous control, balancing and coordination problems. Inherent fear of falling in the mind lead to restriction of usual physical activities and movement challenges. Visual audio impairments that make elderly persons completely disoriented due to loss of vital senses. That, in turn, causes inhibition in moving around the normal surroundings freely and decreases the mental capabilities of perception for safely interacting with it. Dizziness due to constantly varying blood pressure results in postural instabilities. Side-effects of medications that are used to calm down the central nervous system cause reduced responsiveness and alertness. Environmental hurdles like cluttered spaces, rough surfaces, insufficient lighting, poorly designed furniture and damp grounds.
Tips to Prevent Elderly Falls The following best practices adopted by Assisted Living Homes may be useful in fall prevention for seniors at home• Incorporating physical activities, fitness and exercise programs in the daily routines of seniors for boosting their physical and mental health. Specific exercises for building the strength, endurance, agility, posture, balancing and coordination capabilities of residents not only prevent falls but improve the overall quality of life. It also plays a vital role in preventing cognitive decline and reducing the pace of aging. • Modifying the surrounding environment by appropriate design to promote the safety and mobility of seniors. For achieving this, assisted living spaces ensure that they: ▪ Are spacious and clutter-free ▪ Have well-illuminated areas and ambiance so that there is a clear vision ▪ Give special emphasis to the importance of flooring to eliminate uneven, slippery and moist surfaces. Floors are covered with soft protective materials like rubber and cork to reduce the impact of falls ▪ Avoid placing loose floor rugs and carpets that can cause trips ▪ Install anti-skid mats, handrails and grab bars in bathrooms and common areas like pathways and corridors ▪ Deploy safe, sturdy and round-edged fixtures to prevent injuries ▪ Use prominent signboards to avoid mental confusion ▪ Encourage the use of assistive devices like walkers, wheelchairs and fall indicators ▪ Discourage use of furnishings that can inadvertently increase the risk of falling • Giving special emphasis to regularly monitoring the prevailing health conditions and assisting in medication management. Doing this helps to treat chronic conditions like varying blood pressure and Parkinson’s disease which are potential causes of falls. Medications causing side-effects like dizziness can also be replaced after consulting the physician. Besides, it is crucial that elders must undergo periodic vision and hearing tests to assess whether extra medical interventions are necessary for safety.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) •
Quote some interesting statistics on falls. ▪ Nearly seven lakh people succumb due to falls globally ▪ Senior citizens are more likely to experience fatal falls ▪ Nearly forty million falls call for medical intervention every year
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What is Design for Aging? Design for Aging involves the incorporation of elements to make the home suitable for the safe and independent existence of aging individuals.
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Enunciate some fall prevention strategies for seniors ▪ Gait and functional training ▪ Home modifications ▪ Reduction of psychotic drugs ▪ Vitamin D supplements
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Apart from Fall Prevention, highlight some safety measures at Athulya Assisted Living Emergency alarms, CCTV cameras, 24*7 Security and Medical Assistance, Power Back Up, Emergency Transportation
Certainly, assisted living services leave no stone unturned for the safety and fall prevention of seniors. Please visit Athulya Assisted Living to personally witness this ‘indulging transformation’!