Falls at home can cause a wide range of injuries in seniors. While it might seem like a simple fall at home wouldn’t cause severe injuries seniors often have severe injuries even from simple falls. Seniors often have weaker bones and thinner skin than younger people, which can make their injuries worse. Preventing falls at home is important if your senior parent wants to age in place. One of the best things you can do to help prevent your senior parent from falling at home is to get them fall risk management services. With home care, seniors aren’t alone, and they have someone to help them with activities that can result in falls like housework.
Having fall risk management can lower the risk of your senior parent sustaining one of these injuries in a fall:
Fractures
Broken bones, or fractures, are extremely common injuries that happen to seniors when they fall at home. Hip fractures are the most common type of fracture, but seniors also can fracture their hands or wrists if they try to use them to break their fall. Leg fractures are common too.
Fractures can take months in rehab to fix. Some seniors will end up needing surgery to fix bad fractures caused by a fall. And your senior parent may have limited mobility permanently after a bad break.
Head Injuries or Traumatic Brain Injuries
Falls can lead to head injuries, ranging from mild concussions to more severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Older adults may be more susceptible to brain injuries due to changes in bone density and overall frailty. Traumatic brain injuries can cause a wide range of symptoms and issues. TBIs can also increase a senior’s risk of developing dementia.
Sprains and Strains
Ligaments, tendons, and muscles in the shoulders, back, arms, and legs can be strained or sprained during a fall. This can lead to pain, swelling, and a decrease in mobility. Seniors may find it challenging to recover from these injuries, and rehabilitation may be necessary.
Wrist and Arm Fractures
When trying to break a fall, seniors often instinctively reach out with their hands. This can result in fractures or dislocations in the wrists and arms. These injuries can limit a senior’s ability to perform daily activities.
Dislocations
If seniors twist or fall in a way that wrenches their joints they could end up with dislocated shoulders, hips, or knees. Dislocations can be painful and may require immediate medical attention for relocation. Once a senior has dislocated a joint there is a greater risk that they will dislocate it again.
Soft Tissue Injuries
In addition to fractures, falls can cause various soft tissue injuries, such as contusions, bruises, and hematomas. While these injuries may be less severe than fractures, they can still cause pain and discomfort. And because seniors have skin that is delicate and not very resilient they could develop infections or other problems as a result of severe bruising.
Back Injuries
The impact of a fall can lead to injuries in the spinal cord or the supporting structures of the back. These injuries may result in chronic pain and decreased mobility. Back injuries take a very long time to heal, and seniors may need extensive rehab, therapy, and home care while their backs are healing.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Fall Risk Management Services in St Marys PA please get in touch with the caring staff at Quality Health Services. Call (814) 251-9044
Quality Health Services is a trusted non-medical senior care provider in Punxsutawney, Bellefonte, Jefferson, Brockway, Brookville, Clearfield, St Marys, Emporium, Philipsburg, and Dubois PA areas.
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