Do these 5 things to protect the elderly people in your home

Do these 5 things to protect the elderly people in your home

One of the major health related problems in older population is fall. With aging the eyesight deteriorates, reaction time (ability to quickly respond) gets affected and the muscle strength reduces making the elderly prone to fall.

Anybody can fall. Why fall of the elderly is a special concern?

With old age (WHO defines old age as 65 +) the bones get considerably weaker; they break easily and take a longer time to heal. A slower reaction time also means that while falling the ability to protect important body parts like the face or head is low. As many people with old age already suffer from conditions like diabetes, high BP and heart diseases, etc their illness gets complicated and treatment options like surgery become riskier.

How common is the fall?

30 to 40% of elderly Americans fall every year. In India, the numbers are likely to be higher. 70% of the accidental death in the 75 plus population happens because of falls. Even if fatality can be avoided serious fractures often rob the victim of their quality of life. Most of us are witnesses of such situations in the homes of our friends, relatives & neighbors where an elderly person had fallen and fractured the hip. If not fixed by surgery most of these people spend the rest of their life on the bed.

How to prevent fall? 5 steps

1. Install non-skid tiles in the bathroom. Most elderly people slip and fall while in the bathroom. If you are getting a new bathroom made make sure to install anti-skid tiles. You can also modify almost any bathroom floor by installing anti slip stickers/mat to prevent skidding.

2. Install grab bars. When a person is on the verge of falling if he /she can clutch on to something the fall can be prevented or at least the impact can be minimized. Grab bars perform these functions wonderfully. They are a must-have in the bathroom of the elderly and are also a very useful addition in the rest of the house if the installation is possible.

3. Let there be light! Eyesight is one of the major reasons for fall, the house of the elderly should be well lit with easily accessible switches. Make sure all the areas of the house have enough illumination. Spaces like the landing of the stairs, end of the passageway, etc where there is a change of level are common areas of Fall. If needed warm colored strip can be easily installed to aid the awareness of These potentially risky areas.

4. The footwear: The footwear elderly use should have an anti-skid outsole, a short nose (so that it does not get stuck while climbing up the stairs), and a comfortable fit that prevents falling off from the feet. Again, special care needs to be taken using the bathroom slippers. The footwears need to be inspected and replaced at regular intervals.

5. Mobile and the pre-set SOS protocol.

In case of a fall, early intervention is essential. In case the elderly person is alone while falling, his/her ability to call for help is going to make a huge difference. There are specialized mobile handsets available for the elderly which have a dedicated SOS button. However, these feature phones may not be sufficient for the tech-savvy elderly person. Any mobile phone the owner is comfortable with and that has a flashlight should be appropriate. The speed dial (or the SOS button) should be set with the numbers of the people who will be able to offer help in case of an emergency. This routine should be discussed and practiced for preparedness.

Have you seen any elderly person suffer from fall? How did s/he cope? Do you have any other strategy to prevent fall? Let us know in the comments below.

About the author

Dr Subhanjan Das (PT)

BPT, MPT (MSk & Sports), CMP(NZ), Diploma in football medicine (FIFA)

Consultant Physiotherapist of Apollo & Reliva Clinic, HSR Layout, Bangalore

Contact: +91 8967549104

Dr Subhanjan Das (PT) has over 14 years of clinical and 12 years of academic experience.  A friendly professional with lots of patience and skilful hands, Dr Subhanjan has worked with thousands of his patients for instant relief of pain and rapid return to activities.  He has treated elite athletes for recovery, injury prevention and performance enhancement.

Dr Das is specialized in Orthopaedic and sports physiotherapy and has keeps himself updated with the latest advancements in the field of physiotherapy. He has undergone training on advanced orthopaedic techniques such as Dry Needling, Mulligan Concept, McKenzie method, Pilates, Cupping therapy, McConnel and kinesio  taping from the best faculties around the world.

Dr Das has taught in 5 universities across India and has trained physiotherapists in 50+ workshops within and outside India.