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Serving Philadelphia, Delaware County, Montgomery County, Bucks County and Chester County since 1996.
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Issue 5, August, 2007
FEATURE ARTICLE - Family Care Agreements, A Golden Opportunity
HEALTHLINE - Preventing Falls In The Elderly
LEGALLINE - Veterans Benefits - What You Might Not Know (Part 2)
CAREGIVER HELPLINE - Caring For Someone With Dementia (Part 3)
Preventing Falls In The Elderly
The risk of falling increases with age and is greater for women than men. Falls are one of the main disabling conditions of the elderly,
however, with some common sense most falls can be prevented. The causes of falls are known risk factors. Although no single risk factor causes all falls, the greater the number of
risk factors to which an individual is exposed, the greater the probability of a fall and the more likely the results of the fall will threaten the person's independence.
Falls are often due to hazards that are easy to overlook but are also easy to fix. There are a number of things you can do to prevent falls. These include:
Have your health care provider review your medicines. All medicines, including over the counter ones should be checked. As you get older, the way medicines work in your body
can change. Some medicines, or combinations of medicines can make you sleepy or dizzy and can cause you to fall.
Have your health care provider evaluate a regular exercise program for you. Exercise makes you stronger, helps you feel better and certain ones can improve
balance and coordination (such as Tai Chi - see our May newsletter).
Have your vision checked. Poor vision can increase chances of falling. An eye care specialist can make certain you are wearing the right glasses and determine if you
have a condition like glaucoma or cataracts that limit your vision.<.li>
Make your home safer.Since about half of all falls happen at home, reducing hazards there is very important. Improve the lighting in your home. As you get older, you need brighter
lights to see well. Hang lightweight curtains or shades to reduce glare.
Additional "lifestyle" measures which are important are:
Limiting your intake of alchohol.
Use caution when getting up from eating or sleeping
Use a cane or walker that has been properly provided to you to help maintain your balance.
Wear supportive, non-slip shoes, and avoid going barefoot.
Keep emergency numbers in large print near each phone.
Think about wearing an alarm device that will summon help in case you fall and can't get up.
The following is a checklist developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in conjunction with the Metlife Foundation. It asks about hazards
found in each room of your home and for each hazard tells you how to fix the problem.
FLOORS: Look at the floor in each room.
Q: When you walk through a room, do you have to walk around furniture?
Ask someone to move the furniture so your path is clear
Q: Do you have throw rugs on the floor?
Remove the rugs or use double-sided tape or a non-slip backing so the rugs won't slip.
Q: Are there papers, books, towels, shoes, magazines, boxes, blankets, or other objects on the floor?
Pick up things that are on the floor. Always keep objects off the floor.
Q: Do you have to walk over or around wires or cords (like lamp, telephone or extension cords)?
Coil or tape cords and wires next to the wall so you can't trip over them. If needed, have an electrician put in another outlet.
STAIRS AND STEPS: Look at the stairs you use both inside and outside your home.
Q: Are there papers, shoes, books or other objects on the stairs?
Pick up things on the stairs. Always keep objects off stairs.
Q: Are some steps broken or uneven?
Fix loose or uneven steps.
Q: Are you missing a light over the stairway?
Have an electrician put in an overhead light at the top and bottom of the stairs.
Q: Do you have only one light switch for your stairs (only at the top or at the bottom of the stairs)?
Have an electrician put in a light switch at the top and bottom of the stairs. You can get light switches that glow.
Q: Has the stairway bulb burned out?
Have a freind or family member change the light bulb.
Q: Is the carpet on the steps loose or torn?
Make sure the carpet is firmly attached to every step, or remove the carpet and attach non-slip rubber treads to the stairs.
Q: Are the handrails loose or broken? Is there a handrail on only one side of the stairs?
Fix loose handrails or put in new ones. Make sure handrails are on both sides of the stairs and are as long as the stairs.
KITCHEN: Look at your kitchen and eating area.
Q: Are the things you often use on high shelves?
Move items in your cabinets. Keep things you use often on the lower shelves (about waist level).
Q: Is your step stool unsteady?
If you must use a step stool, get one with a bar to hold on to. Never use a chair as a step stool.
BATHROOMS: Look at all your bathrooms.
Q: Is the tub or shower floor slippery?
Put a non-slip rubber mat or self-stick strips on the floor of the tub or shower.
Q: Do you need some support when you get in and out of the tub or up from the toilet?
Have a carpenter put grab bars inside the tub and next to the toilet.
BEDROOMS: Look at all your bedrooms.
Q: Is the light near the bed hard to reach?
Place a lamp close to the bed where it's easy to reach.
Q: Is the path from your bed to the bathroom dark?
Put in a night-light so you can see where you're walking. Some night-lights go on by themselves after dark.
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