Archive for the ‘Fall Prevention’ Category

High Tech Home Care Options

Posted on: January 9th, 2012 by aagingbetter

One of the biggest benefits of aging in place in this day and age is that technology can make nearly anything possible!  There are numerous high-tech tools to make the home safer for aging seniors, which, in turn, brings peace of mind to their friends and family.  The following are a few devices to consider for loved ones receiving in-home care:

  • Webcams: Installing webcams throughout the home allows both family members and caregivers the ability to virtually check in on the senior at any time.  Webcams also allow family members who live far way to video chat with their loved ones.  While the issue of privacy is of concern, this technology has proven to be a life-saver in some instances where the loved one has fallen and been unable to get up.  Where webcams have  been installed in instances like this, families have been very happy with the results.

  • Sensor Monitors: In conjunction with webcams, sensors can be placed throughout the home to track movement.  These are particularly handy for seniors with ambulation or wandering issues, such as someone with mild Alzheimers or dementia that is not advanced enough to require institutionalization.   Most sensor systems connect to a TV or computer monitor and an internet connection so that the company monitoring the sensors can detect anything out of the ordinary and contact family members or a response team quickly.

  • Medical Alert Pendants: These handy devices are becoming increasingly popular with seniors and disabled individuals as this technology continues to be updated to increase their effectiveness.  They are worn by the subscriber and a button is pressed in the event of a fall or other emergency, connecting the senior to 911 or another emergency response service.  The cost is usually around $25-$30 per month for subscribers.  Kootenai Medical offers this technology via its Lifeline Program in Coeur d’Alene.  A call to this office can get an appointment for a technician to come out to the subscriber’s home and set up the call pendant.  It does require a land line (phone), however.   Currently, this technology does not work with cell phones.

  • Automatic Pill Reminders/Dispensers: These are perfect for patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.  An alarm in the pill dispenser goes off, alerting the senior to take his or her medication by voice message, and dispenses the correct dosage.  If the senior misses a dose, an alert is sent to the caregiver after 90 minutes.

Technology is increasing the level of independence that seniors can experience in their homes.  For more information on these home care options, contact AAging Better In-Home Care online or call us at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas, or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.

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Balancing Act: How Good Balance can Keep Your Loved One Safe

Posted on: July 25th, 2011 by aagingbetter

Balance is one of the functions that declines as we age, and with the loss of balance, we become more susceptible to falls.  There are a number of exercises that can help with improving balance, but before beginning an exercise program one should first have a complete physical, including a review of medications, a musculoskeletal check for any abnormalities and blood tests to determine cholesterol and glucose levels.  Additionally, any exercise program should build gradually to avoid burnout, boredom, or injuries.

Balance Improvement Exercises

Knee Lifts: Attempt to lift the knee as high as the hip using a secure object to assist in maintaining balance in the beginning.  As you grow stronger, decrease the tendency to lean on a support, and try holding the leg up for 5 seconds or longer.

Point and Flex: While sitting, point your toes and then flex them.  Repeat with both feet.  Hold the flex for a count of 25 unless it becomes uncomfortable.  Build up to a maximum count of 25 per “flex.”

Toe Tapping: While sitting, tap your toes. Repeat with both feet.  Do this for about five minutes each foot.

Sit-to-Stand: When necessary, use a chair for support when standing and again when returning to a sitting position.  However, gradually stop pushing yourself up with your arms as the legs get stronger.  Do this consciously several times a day and work the habit into your daily routine of getting in and out of our easy chair or any other chair.

Calf Muscle Strengthener: While holding onto a wall, chair or the kitchen sink, repeatedly raise yourself up and down on tiptoes.  As your strength improves, go higher up on your toes and eventually try it on one foot at a time.

Shin Muscle Strengthener: Lean your back against a wall with your heels placed seven to eight inches away from the wall.  Lift the toes of both feet off the ground as high as possible.  Hold this to the count of 15 or work up to a count of 15.

One-legged Stand: Hold onto a secure object during balance training, such as a sturdy chair.  Lift one leg off the ground (in front of you) and try to maintain balance on the standing leg.  Do this for a count of 10 or build up gradually to a count of 10 over a month or two month period, depending on your general level of strength when first starting.

Consult with your doctor or physical therapist if you have any questions about these exercises that can help a senior improve his or her balance.  Or if you have any questions about in-home care in general, contact us online or call us at (208) 777-0308 in the Hayden, Coeur d’Alene or Post Falls areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Priest River, Sandpoint or Bonners Ferry areas or (208) 784-1505 in the Wallace, Kellogg, or Pinehurst areas.

Is Your Loved One Susceptible to Falls?

Posted on: July 18th, 2011 by aagingbetter


While we tend to be most concerned about frail seniors and falling, seniors who appear strong and healthy can also be susceptible to falls in the home as well.  Normal changes that occur as people age—changes in eyesight, decreased muscle strength, etc. —can make older adults more prone to falling.  One of the most common experiences of those over age 50 is the tendency to miss the last step as if it weren’t there–especially when walking down a set of stairs.  What used to be a natural and unconscious ability during younger years, walking up or down a set of steps without missing one becomes more and more of a challenge as individuals get older.

Aside from the general deconditioning that occurs with aging (loss of muscle and muscle tone), there are many other factors that can make your loved ones more susceptible to falls.  These include:

  • Arthritis–both osteoarthritis (old age arthritis) and Rheumatoid Arthritis, an auto-immune disease that attacks the joints.
  • Osteoporosis–this bone density issue can affect both women and men, and weak bones can make even minor falls dangerous.  In addition, individuals with severe osteoporosis can experience spontaneous fractures with no obvious injury that may only manifest as a tendency to fall or to cause unsteadiness in the elderly individual.
  • Vertigo–this type of dizziness where the room appears to spin around frequently causes individuals to fall when episodes strike.  Very brief episodes of dizziness and/or vertigo are frequently seen in older individuals.
  • Cerebrovascular insufficiency–this lack of oxygen to the brain has many causes and can result in episodes of falling when the individuals gets up suddenly or moves too quickly.  in some severe cases, individuals may simply “black out.”
  • Neurologic disability (stroke)–when this occurs, victims are frequently left with a deficit on one side of the body or the other resulting in weakness, loss of use of that side of the body or a lack of coordination in the affected arm and leg.  Individuals with mild strokes that remain able to walk are particularly prone to falling, depending on their general health before the stroke and the severity of their loss.
  • Postural hypotension (sudden decrease in blood pressure)–this is the classic case of becoming dizzy when trying to sit up or stand too suddenly.
  • Illness–many illnesses cause weakness and, particularly in the elderly, can put them at risk of falling both during the illness and immediately afterward.
  • Diabetes—depending on the severity and length of the disease, maintaining balance may be a continuing challenge for some diabetics and this may lead to falling easily.
  • Thyroid disease–weakness may be seen with either high or low thyroid issues and may result in frequent falls due to stumbling or “stubbing a toe.”
  • Medication that causes dizziness

While falls are a serious issue among the elderly, fear of falling should not keep seniors from being active.  Make sure you or your loved one has a bone mineral density test to assess the strength of  bones in the body and take all the measures recommended by the doctor to improve strength if osteoporosis is discovered to be significant or worrisome.  If you have any questions about how to help prevent falls in the home or about any of the above causes of falling,  contact us online or call us at (208) 777-0308 in the Hayden, Coeur d’Alene or Post Falls areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Priest River, Sandpoint or Bonners Ferry areas,  or (208) 784-1505 in the Wallace, Kellogg or Pinehurst areas.

Safety Items for Your Home that May Help Prevent Falls

Posted on: July 11th, 2011 by aagingbetter

Because falls are so prevalent among the elderly and often result in serious injuries, there are a number of products on the market that have been developed to help prevent them.  Here are some of the products you might want to consider for yourself or your loved ones that will help control or prevent falls of all types:

  • Door Alarms: If you have a loved one who tends to wander, particularly at night, door alarms can help alert you or a caregiver that your loved one is moving about and may be at risk of falling.

  • Monitoring Systems: Monitoring systems are becoming popular as a means of tracking an elderly individual’s movements throughout the home. Sensors can be placed throughout the home to monitor movements and some even come with call functions for the senior to alert a caregiver in the event of a fall.  Tracking bracelets (either for the ankle or wrist) can be worn by the frail elderly when they  want to go outside for a brief walk or to sit outside.  This allows for monitoring inside as well as outdoors and gives seniors and their families more peace of mind knowing someone will be alerted if something goes wrong or the person falls.

  • Fall Management Socks and Slippers: These special items are available with rubber grips on the bottom to help prevent slips and are perfect for patients who are high-risk for falls.  There are even slip resistant socks that can be worn in the shower!

  • Ramps & Strollers: There are various types of ramps that can be easily installed over front porch steps or along the side of an entrance that allows for easy access by wheelchairs or strollers.  Many elderly now use walking strollers to get around both inside and outdoors and ramps with very gradual inclines have been shown to be the safest method to go from one environment to the other when using a stroller.
  • Bedrails: Many falls occur during the night as older adults move in their sleep or get up during the night.  Bedrails can keep loved ones from falling out of bed and give them something to grip when standing to get out of bed.

This is just a sampling of some of the fall-prevention products and ideas available.  For more information on some of these suggestions and products or for any questions about in-home care in general, contact us online or call at (208) 777-0308 in the Hayden, Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls areas,  (208) 263-7889 in Priest Lake, Sandpoint or Bonners Ferry areas, or (208) 784-1505 in the Wallace, Kellogg, and Pinehurst areas.

 

 

60% of Falls Occur at Home–Learning How to Prevent Them.

Posted on: July 4th, 2011 by aagingbetter

Falls in the home are a leading cause of hospitalizations for older adults, so it is important to know what can be done around the house to help prevent or reduce the risk of falls.  Home modifications can be a huge help in fall prevention, particularly for frail seniors or those with mobility issues.

Home modification involves adapting a home so that an aging loved one can perform the activities of daily living as safely and comfortably as possible.  The modification can be simple, like removing rugs to prevent slips, or more involved changes, such as installing a stair lift or elevator to improve accessibility.  The type of modification required will depend on the nature of the individual’s limitations and the physical set-up of the home, but an investment in home modification can help create a safer environment and allow the individual to remain independent for as long as possible.

If you think that home modifications are in order for your loved one, the following are some simple modifications that can be made to reduce the risk of falls and enhance mobility.

Floors:

  • Install low pile carpet or skid-proof tile
  • Remove rugs, or secure them with non-skid tape
  • Use a contrast in color with paint, carpet and furniture to denote changes in surface types or levels
  • Avoid using floor polish

Lighting:

  • Replace bulbs regularly to make sure there is adequate illumination in the home
  • Use nightlights or motion sensor lights for better visibility at night
  • Reduce the amount of electrical cords running across large areas

Throughout the Home:

  • Arrange furniture so that it is easy to navigate around
  • Remove wheels from furniture for more stability in case the senior needs to grip it for balance
  • Make sure everyday appliances are within reach
  • Use non-skid mats or strips in the bathtub and on bathroom floors

For more information about preventing falls, information on those in our area who can make modifications to your home, or for general information on in-home care needs of all types for seniors, contact us online or call us at (208) 777-0308 in the Hayden, Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Priest River, Sandpoint or Bonners Ferry areas, or (208) 784-1505 in the Wallace, Kellogg, Pinehurst areas.

How a simple fall can create complex problems for seniors

Posted on: December 7th, 2010 by admin

Many in the geriatric population suffer from a fear of falls, and for good reason. According to the International Fall Prevention Institution, falls are the leading cause of injury-related visits to emergency centers in the United States and the primary cause of accidents in persons over the age of 65. Although common, falls are not a normal part of aging. Though falls are usually preventable, few people are educated on preventing the risks before becoming a victim.

To reduce risks of falls, it is imperative to know contributing factors and combat them effectively. Factors include osteoporosis, lack of physical activity, impaired vision, medications, and environmental hazards.

Some ways caregivers can reduce the risk of falls:

  • Encourage regular exercise (i.e., every other day for about 15 minutes daily) designed to increase muscle and bone strength, and to improve balance and flexibility
  • Regularly help to conduct weight-bearing exercises where the feet and legs are bearing weight
  • Understand the common side effects of all medications taken

People of all ages, particularly those in geriatric populations, can take preventative measures to reduce falls which will eventually result in a safer and better quality of life. Additionally, Aaging Better, serving Coeur d’Alene and the rest of northern Idaho, offers home care for seniors who have suffered from a fall as well as advice and guidance for friends and family who serve as caregivers. Contact us today at 866.464.2344 to learn more.

 
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