Battling the Fear of Falling: Empowerment Strategies for Seniors

An older man who has overcome his fear of falling smiles confidently as he leans on his cane.

Try these tips to help someone you love overcome a fear of falling.

As we grow older, it’s natural to become more apprehensive about the possibility of falling. For many people, however, the fear of falling can be paralyzing, causing a decrease in physical activity, social engagement, and overall quality of life. It is important to address this fear head-on and empower older adults to live confidently and fearlessly. Here are some useful strategies to help those you love overcome anxiety about falling:

  • Gain Education: Understanding the factors that contribute to falls and the steps which can be taken to prevent them is crucial. By educating themselves about balance, strength, and mobility exercises, older adults can feel more equipped to take control of their physical health. Learning about proper nutrition, hydration, and medication management can also play an important role in fall prevention and overall well-being.
  • Establish a Support Network: Social isolation can exacerbate the fear of falling. Encourage older loved ones to remain connected with friends, family, and community groups. Having a strong support network can offer emotional support, encouragement, and assistance when needed. Consider organizing regular activities or social outings to help combat loneliness and foster a sense of belonging.
  • Modify the Home: Making simple modifications to the home environment can significantly decrease the risk of falls. Installing grab bars in the bathroom, securing rugs, improving lighting, and eliminating clutter are just a few examples of changes that can enhance safety and provide peace of mind. Consider conducting a home safety assessment to identify potential hazards and implement appropriate modifications.
  • Stay Active: Regular physical activity improves strength and balance while boosting confidence and decreasing the risk of falling. Encourage older loved ones to take part in activities they enjoy, whether it’s walking, swimming, yoga, or tai chi. It is never too late to begin reaping the advantages of an active lifestyle. Group exercise classes specifically designed for older adults can provide social interaction and motivation to remain active.
  • Use Assistive Devices: For people with mobility issues, assistive devices such as canes, walkers, or stairlifts can offer added stability and confidence. Encourage older adults to use these devices as needed to maintain their independence and safety. Proper training on how to use assistive devices is essential to ensure their effectiveness.
  • Practice Mindfulness: Mindfulness techniques which can include deep breathing, meditation, and visualization can help people manage anxiety and fear. By focusing on the present moment and cultivating a sense of calm, older adults can decrease stress and approach life with greater self-assurance. Encourage loved ones to incorporate mindfulness practices into their daily routine for improved emotional well-being.
  • Seek Professional Help: If the fear of falling is significantly impacting a loved one’s day-to-day life, encourage them to seek support from a healthcare professional. A physical therapist, occupational therapist, or psychologist can offer personalized guidance and strategies for overcoming fear and improving confidence. These professionals can also address any underlying physical or mental health issues contributing to the fear of falling.

Responsive Home Care can help too! Contact us at (954) 486-6440 for details on fall prevention and other senior services in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Lighthouse Point, and the surrounding areas. Our team of experienced professionals is dedicated to promoting the health, safety, and independence of older adults. From tips for home modifications to personalized support, we provide comprehensive solutions to meet the unique needs of each individual. Don’t allow the fear of falling to hold back someone you love—take proactive steps now to help them live life to the fullest.

Watch for These Signs That Could Point to Mobility Issues in Seniors

Senior man walking up stairs using a hand railing

Learn the signs of mobility issues in seniors.

Benjamin Franklin was definitely right: An ounce of prevention is really worth a pound of cure. When it comes to detecting and addressing mobility issues in seniors, prevention is a must. Falls in seniors lead to 3 million emergency room visits, 300,000 hip fractures, and 32,000 deaths each year, according to the CDC.

Avoid a tragedy in the future by looking out for these warning signs of increasing mobility issues in seniors:

  1. Experiencing dizziness. Dizziness and problems with balance can arise from a plethora of factors that ultimately cause difficulty with mobility. It’s important to learn why these issues are taking place and address them right away.
  2. Struggling to sit or stand. Notice whether the senior finds it hard to either stand up from a seated position or to sit back down. Do they require something to hold onto for support?
  3. Skipping physical activity. Another warning sign is a senior loved one who previously participated in some degree of exercise but now is choosing a more sedentary lifestyle. Exhaustion or weakness can result in problems with mobility.
  4. Steering clear of stairs. An older adult who seems to be getting around just fine but is avoiding going up or down stairs may be fearful of falling because of mobility changes.

One simple and effective option to determine mobility and fall risk in older adults is the TUG (Timed Up and Go) test. The test should be performed on a regular basis. Here is all it will require:

  • Place a stable chair against the wall.
  • Mark a distance of 10’ from the wall.
  • Have the senior sit in the chair.
  • When you tell them to go, start a timer, and have the person stand, walk towards the ten foot mark, turn around, come back and sit down again.

Be sure to stand close by the senior as they perform the test in case they need extra support. Track the outcome over a period of time and share with the person’s doctor for guidance. Find more information about the test as well as a downloadable one-page evaluation sheet here.

If you note any signs of mobility issues in seniors, it is time to start the appropriate conversation with the senior about getting help. Let the person know you’re concerned, and schedule an appointment for a check-up with the physician. The implementation of some simple mobility aids might make an enormous amount of difference in maintaining safety and independence.

Reach out to Responsive Home Care for additional fall prevention strategies for older adults, and also to learn about the countless ways our respite care in Weston, FL and the nearby areas can improve quality of life for a senior you love.

Senior Safety Tips: The Assistive Devices Many Seniors Aren’t Utilizing

Happy senior safety leaning on cane

Think about the various tools you utilize each day – your phone, hairbrush, toothbrush – simple items, but ones you can’t imagine living without. For many seniors, there are basic adaptive devices available that could mean the difference between living at home and facing a move to assisted living. However nearly 50% of older adults living at home are not utilizing these handy tools – despite the fact that prices are minimal.

A newly released National Health and Aging Trends Study estimated the ability of seniors to accomplish tasks such as rising unassisted from a sitting position and walking, and found that a large number of the participants could benefit from assistive devices.

Not only that, but the danger of senior falls from the lack of simple assistive devices is increased, resulting in hospitalizations, serious injury, and disability that could easily have been prevented. In fact, once these devices were made available to older adults, based on research, disability rates for older adults dropped by 50 percent, along with a decrease in pain levels and an increase in the ability to independently perform activities of daily living.

Dr. Kenneth Lam, author of the study, explained, “It’s a technical problem which, unlike so much of aging, is actually solvable. In the hospital, I can order an M.R.I. and charge the system thousands of dollars. But down the road, that won’t help patients not fall. What happens when they get home?”

Johns Hopkins in Baltimore has recently launched a program looking to change this by introducing inexpensive assistive tools to seniors. Through several in-home visits with an occupational therapist, nurse, and repair specialist, needs are identified and resolved. That may mean installing grab bars in the bathroom, removing fall hazards, or adding a shower chair or raised toilet seat. Small changes such as these can make a substantial difference in an older adult’s capacity to safely and independently manage activities of daily living.

At Responsive Home Care, we are pleased to offer in-home evaluations to recommend modifications to the home environment that enhance safety and help seniors remain independent and in control. We can also help improve senior’s comfort, safety, and independence through services such as:

  • Preparing nutritious meals and ensuring adequate hydration for seniors
  • Providing assistance as necessary with personal care needs for safe showering/bathing, getting dressed, etc.
  • Maintaining a clean and organized home
  • And more

Contact us at 954-486-6440 to schedule your assessment today!

Medications That Increase Fall Risk for Seniors: Startling New Stats

woman speaking with a female medical professional via video chat

Medications that increase fall risk for seniors should be closely monitored by a physician in order to keep older adults safe from side effects that put them at risk.

We’ve long known that there are certain medications that increase the fall risk for seniors. Twenty years ago, just a little over half of older adults were impacted by that risk; yet today, that number has risen dramatically – to a full 94% of seniors who are now in danger of falling as a result of medication side effects. Not only that, but deaths from such falls are occurring at more than double the previous rate.

Researchers who discovered this increasing concern also found that between 1999 and 2017, senior prescriptions for medications that increase fall risk were filled over 7.8 billion times. This includes a spike from 12 million antidepressants in 1999 to more than 52 million in 2017.

The study doesn’t specifically pinpoint these medications as the cause for fatality in the falls experienced, but indicates the need for further exploration into the dosages being prescribed. Joshua Niznik of the division of geriatric medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine notes, “We’re starting to understand now that the dose of the medication that someone is on is really what we should be looking at probably with the greatest level of scrutiny, and that really has a strong correlation with falls.”

It’s crucial for seniors and their doctors to work together to strike the ideal balance between managing the conditions that require these medications and preventing further complications from a fall.

Amy Shaver, postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions, and lead author of the study, explains, “These drugs are all necessary medications, but there needs to be a conversation about risks and advantages, that pro-con conversation about: For this particular patient at this particular point in time, what can we do?”

Prescriptions that are specifically linked to fall risk include those for depression, blood pressure management, seizures, pain, and psychosis, among others. Women are most often prescribed these types of medications, and those 85 and older are experiencing the highest spike in fall-related deaths.

One step that seniors can take is to have the home assessed for fall risk and to implement any recommended safety measures. Responsive Home Care is pleased to offer an assessment, scheduled at your convenience. We can also help reduce fall risk through:

  • Ensuring medications are taken exactly as prescribed
  • Assisting with safe walking and transfers
  • Encouraging seniors to engage in doctor-approved exercise programs to strengthen balance, flexibility, and strength
  • And more

Email or give our trusted care team a call at (954) 486-6440 to learn more about our senior care in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and the surrounding communities, and to schedule your assessment today!

Fall Safety Tips for Seniors to Regain Confidence And Strength After a Fall

senior woman receiving assistance from caregiver

Try these fall safety tips for seniors to improve safety, confidence, and independence.

While circus clowns and comedians may stir audiences to laughter over such stunts as slipping on a banana peel, there is nothing funny about falling when it comes to aging parents, who are at an elevated risk for serious injuries, which could lead to an extended rehabilitation process. Not only that, but there’s a lesser known complication that typically arises from an older adult’s fall: a fear of falling again which can be significant enough to impact quality of life and health.

As the saying goes, “Once bitten, twice shy.” It’s natural – and sensible – for an older adult who has fallen to want to take precautions to prevent a subsequent fall. Yet for most, the fear of falling prevents essential physical exercise, bringing about weakness and reduced balance confidence, each of which can actually boost the likelihood of falling again.

Instead, it’s essential for senior loved ones to:

  • Strengthen muscles. Ask the doctor and/or physical therapist for appropriate exercises to engage in after a fall. Building strength is an essential component to preventing future falls.
  • Assess the home. Walk through the older adult’s home to check for any cords, clutter, throw rugs, etc. which can cause a tripping hazard. Make sure there is sufficient lighting and install grab bars in the bathroom and anywhere else supplementary support might be helpful.
  • Discuss it. Seniors may feel embarrassed for having fallen; however, it’s important to talk about what happened in order to decide what precautionary measures can be taken to make sure that it doesn’t occur again.

It’s also helpful for older adults to create goals, with the aid of a medical professional, and to start to work towards attaining them. The goals must be reasonable and fairly easily attainable in order to instill confidence, for example being able to walk up and down the stairs independently while holding the handrail over the next two weeks, or walking the total length of the backyard within 4 weeks.

Once an objective has been set, define the steps necessary to attain that goal. What types of training can help strengthen the muscles essential to go up and down the stairs, or to take an extended walk? And if the goal is not achieved, consider what prevented the accomplishment, and what additional steps could be taken to set and reach a brand new goal.

Most importantly, be sure to provide reassurance and support to cheer a senior on towards regaining his or her self-assurance and confidence and to lessen any fear.

For more fall safety tips for seniors, or to arrange for a no cost in-home safety assessment, call our experts in home health care in Plantation and the surrounding areas at Responsive Home Care any time at 954-486-6440.