Many people of all age groups are at daily risk of falls and head trauma.
- This can create a lot of unnecessary anxiety, dangerous fall injuries, and reduced quality of life.
In this blog post, I would like to give you some free tips on how to best prevent fall accidents.
The frequent falls can be caused by many different reasons, including old age, dizziness, acute drop in blood pressure, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, autism, Parkinson's, and other neurological diseases. If one is also taking blood-thinning medication, the risk of brain hemorrhage and massive injuries is even higher if one falls and hits their head.
Once one has experienced a severe fall, it affects many people, especially if we also hit our head.
A large proportion, especially the elderly, choose to stay at home more often for safety reasons, and thus quickly become lonely and isolated. Others choose to stay home for other reasons, such as the fact that normal protective helmets on the market are very large, visible, and disfiguring.
As a nurse, I have found that many young adults feel stigmatized if they have to move around in society with traditional protective helmets. This can have serious personal and social consequences for the individual.
FACTS AND FREE GUIDE - Reduce the risk of falls
FACTS:
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) reports that 1 in 4 American adults aged 65+ fall each year, every 11 seconds an older adult is treated in an emergency room, and every 19 minutes an older adult dies from a fall.
Falls annually result in more than 2.8 million emergency room injuries, including 27,000 deaths.
Health conditions that widely affect older adults, such as Parkinson's disease, dementia, plus weaker joints & reduced muscle tone due to aging, can lead to unforeseen falls.
Regardless of the cause of the fall, it is important to focus on prevention strategies before dangerous fall accidents occur.
Prevention strategies to reduce the chances of a fall
Stay physically active, even if it's only for a short time. rhythmic gymnastics, chair gymnastics, yoga, walks with a good outdoor rollator or possibly a pedal exerciser (also called a "sofa bike") if you cannot go outdoors.
See our wide selection of training equipment for an active life. Click here!
Wear practical and non-slip footwear
The importance of proper footwear is often overlooked when trying to focus on fall prevention. Nevertheless, a good pair of shoes can help the person avoid stumbling and slipping, which can quickly happen in loose slippers and sandals, etc. Another suggestion is to buy a good pair of non-slip socks, yoga socks, or good indoor shoes for indoor use, so you always have a good and secure footing.
See our wide selection of non-slip socks and indoor footwear. Click here!
Remove dangerous elements in your home - focus on interior design
For people at high risk of falling, it may be necessary to change the interior design of the person's home to make it less dangerous.
Removing large coffee tables, boxes, waste bins, and ensuring that electrical cords are not loose so that one can trip over them.
It is important that all kitchen utensils and tools are ergonomic and safe, and that they are placed within reach, so they are easily accessible at the right height.
See our wide selection of ergonomic kitchen equipment. Click here!
Ensure that loose rugs, carpets, or floorboards are not loose or above normal level, and that door frames, thresholds, and stairs are secured. For this, various smart door rails, rubber ramps, and threshold solutions are available.
See our wide selection of threshold solutions. Click here!
For the bathroom, you can add non-slip mats, raised toilet seats with foldable armrests, bath chairs, and non-slip gel seat cushions.
See our wide selection of aids for the bathroom. Click here!
Ensure good lighting - avoid dark rooms
Many people wake up early in the morning or get up several times during the night to go to the toilet. In these situations, it can quickly become dangerous, as our vision and other senses do not always function optimally, and when it is also dark or there is poor lighting, it increases the risk of falls.
A couple of good preventive measures can, for example, be to install good LED lamps with sensors, such as strong ceiling lighting in the central rooms, hallways, and bathrooms. Make sure to have charged flashlights lying in a drawer near the bed for emergencies.
Prevent severe head injuries - use head protection
As a nurse, I would recommend that you get a good cane or lightweight rollator of good quality, as these aids can give you better support and prevent many fall accidents. Especially a good rollator can be particularly useful if it has a good seat to rest on.
See our wide selection of lightweight rollators. Click here!
For people who often experience falls, have epilepsy, Parkinson's, are on blood-thinning medication, or live alone, head protection can be a very good idea. It can create a greater sense and experience of security - both for the individual and for the rest of the family. Especially if one is unable to be nearby in case of a fall.
Smart and discreet head protection - RIBCAP
RIBCAP is a series of discreet, fashionable, and protective soft helmet-hats that offer comfortable and optimal protection for your entire head.
See our many different RIBCAP models. Click here!
They are uniquely & discreetly designed, airy, breathable, and look like a regular hat/cap. They are soft and conform to your head, and they immediately absorb the vibrations and shocks that will occur in your brain if you fall and hit your head.
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All these many tips above are general recommendations. We are all unique, and therefore it is always an individual matter how best to fall-proof ourselves and our homes.
Do you need health professional advice?
As a nurse at Seniorpleje, I can advise you both regarding your current situation and which aids might be relevant for you.
- If you want help and advice on fall prevention, you can contact us at kontakt@seniorpleje.dk or our customer service at 40563841.
Best regards from
Ditte Alici,
Nurse & owner of
Seniorpleje ApS
