Your step-by-step guide to handling a fall
Getting Up From a Fall
Start with Prevention Falls Happen Step-by-Step Fall Guide: Prepare. Rise. Sit.
Residential Nurse Alert
Start with Prevention There are many ways to help prevent falls, like creating a safe and barrier-free environment, by maintaining strength and balance, or by carefully monitoring multiple medications for side effects. For more preventative measures, check out our guide: Home Safety Tips to Minimize Your Risk of Falling.
www.residentialhomehealth.com | Speak with a nurse 24/7. Call (888) 930-WELL (9355)
Falls Happen No matter how prepared you may be, falls can still occur at any age. Whether you are at home or out and about in the community, falls can be incredibly startling and may “shake you up” or upset you. After the surprise of a fall, the best first step is to relax and stay calm. Take several deep breaths to ease your mind and settle your body.
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but rising every time we fall.
– Confucius
www.residentialhomehealth.com | Speak with a nurse 24/7. Call (888) 930-WELL (9355)
Your Step-by-Step Fall Guide This guide includes step-by-step instructions and visual images that can help you be ready should a fall occur. Consider spending some time reviewing these instructions and illustrations on your own or with your health care team, and even try practicing them carefully. If you do, you may find yourself more confident and in a much better position to respond to a challenging situation. Also, with increased confidence you will be less likely to fall at all.
www.residentialhomehealth.com | Speak with a nurse 24/7. Call (888) 930-WELL (9355)
How to Get Up from a Fall: Prepare. Rise. Sit. Prepare: •
Remain still on the floor or ground to get over the shock of falling. If you get up too quickly or in the wrong way, you may worsen a sustained or previous injury. When you begin to move, do so slowly and carefully. If you have an emergency alert system (like Residential Nurse Alert) or a phone within easy reach, call for help.
•
If you think you can safely move, look around for a piece of sturdy furniture or the bottom of a staircase. Don’t try to stand up without the assistance of a reliable support.
•
If you think you can move and get up safely on your own, roll onto your side by turning your head. Move your shoulders, arms and hips over, and finally your leg.
www.residentialhomehealth.com | Speak with a nurse 24/7. Call (888) 930-WELL (9355)
How to Get Up from a Fall: Prepare. Rise. Sit. Rise: •
Push to raise your upper body. After slowly lifting your head, rest again to steady yourself and allow your body and blood pressure to adjust.
•
At this point, slowly get up on your hands and knees. Crawl toward the sturdy chair or support you scouted out earlier.
•
When you are ready, place your hands on the seat of the chair. Slide your strongest foot forward so it’s flat on the floor.
www.residentialhomehealth.com | Speak with a nurse 24/7. Call (888) 930-WELL (9355)
How to Get Up from a Fall: Prepare. Rise. Sit. Sit: •
Keep your second leg bent with your knee on the floor.
•
From this kneeling position, slowly rise and turn your body to sit in the chair.
•
Sit for a few minutes. Take as long as you need to steady yourself before you try to do anything else.
www.residentialhomehealth.com | Speak with a nurse 24/7. Call (888) 930-WELL (9355)
Looking for additional security and peace of mind?
Residential Nurse Alert Residential Nurse Alert is the next generation of personal emergency response systems. This service, offered exclusively by Residential Home Health, utilizes ON-THE-GO technology to allow Residential Nurse Alert to work outside of the home.
www.residentialhomehealth.com | Speak with a nurse 24/7. Call (888) 930-WELL (9355)
Residential Nurse Alert Residential Nurse Alert also provides the ability to connect to a nurse 24/7*** and encourages you to PRESS THE BUTTON for any reason, day or night! • Emergency situations, like falls • Questions regarding hospital discharge instructions or medications • Help with scheduling follow-up physician appointments • Assistance with transportation • Questions for your primary care physician • Health concerns or any other reason Plus, as part of every patient’s care plan, Residential Home Health provides Residential Nurse Alert at NO COST for the first 60 days.** * ANYTIME - ANYWHERE access only works within cellular coverage area. ** There is no obligation to extend beyond the 60-days. *** If the subscriber is a current Residential Home Health patient, he or she can be connected to a Residential Home Health nurse 24/7. If the subscriber is not a current Residential Home Health patient, Residential Nurse Alert will connect to the patient’s primary physician’s office (as long as this information is provided during setup).
www.residentialhomehealth.com | Speak with a nurse 24/7. Call (888) 930-WELL (9355)
Residential Home Health We hope you have found these resources helpful! When you make the decision to prepare for a fall, the world can remain more expansive and less intimidating to navigate - helping you live more fully and safely.
Did You Know? Medicare covers 100% of these services with no co-pays when eligibility requirements are met. In fact, when ordered by the patient's physician, skilled services covered by Medicare include: • Skilled Nursing Care • Physical Therapy • Occupational Therapy • Speech Therapy • Medical Social Worker • Home Health Aide
Talk With a Nurse Discuss your specific situation with one of our professionally licensed nurses for free today.
(888) 930-WELL
www.residentialhomehealth.com | Speak with a nurse 24/7. Call (888) 930-WELL (9355)