Page 44 - Summer 2019 - Lubbock Senior Link Magazine - Online Magazine
P. 44

HONORING SENIORS




                                           Fall Prevention






                                                                                           by Caprock Home
                                          AT HOME Health Therapy
                                                                                           Department





                                                       your feet and legs when    7.  Poor vision with ineffective
                                                      you walk, muscle strength,     prescription glasses
                                                     balance and walking style.
                                                                                  8.  Medication that can possibly be
                                                  If your doctor determines you      eliminated or consolidated
                                                are a candidate for home health
                                               care, a nurse and/or therapist will   9.  Blood pressure that is
                                              come to your home to perform an        uncontrolled
                                              evaluation.  This will include a
                                              thorough physical eval, including   10.  Frequently-used items that
                                              medicine review and a home             are placed in difficult-to-reach
         One out of three seniors will fall   assessment.  Next, a plan of care will
         this year, but fewer than half of    be developed by the home health        locations
         them will talk with their doctors    clinicians that focuses on your
         about it, according to the Centers   health goals and on making your     Home health care clinicians will
         for Disease Control and Prevention.    home a safer place for you.  The plan   identify risks and help you eliminate
         Falls are the number 1 cause of      of care will prioritize components   as many as possible.  Most strategies
         injuries in seniors, often resulting   of your overall health status and   to reduce your fall risks are
         in hip fractures, cuts, and even     will be regularly discussed with you   relatively inexpensive and may be
         serious head and brain injuries.     throughout your time on service.    easily installed.
         This number will continue to rise
         as America’s baby boomers grow       Some common fall risks identified   Please remember that no single test
         older.                                                                   is an accurate diagnostic tool to
                                              by home health staff include:       identify all risks for falls. Given the
         As your physical status and health   1.  Clutter in walking pathways     complex set of factors contributing
         conditions change with age, your        such as newspapers and           to falls in older individuals,
         risk of falls will increase.  Home      magazines                        combining tests may help predict
         health care from skilled nurses and                                      and prevent future falls.
         therapists can help reduce falls by   2.  Extension cords that cross
         implementing a few key strategies.                                       Barbara Brown, a patient with
                                                 pathways                         Caprock Home Health, shared
         Here’s how to get started:  First,                                       some of her experiences:
         and most importantly, talk to your   3.  Throw rugs that are not secured
         doctor about your fall risk.  Discuss                                    Q: How do you feel home health has
         your medications that may have       4.  No grab bars in the bathroom    helped reduce your risk of falling?
         side effects that cause dizziness,
         unsteadiness, and drowsiness.  Also,   5.  Poor lighting inside the home  A: “It has educated me on things I
         go over any health conditions that                                       should and should not do.”
         may lead to a fall, such as blurry   6.  Improper footwear that may be
         vision, ear disorders, joint pain,      too slippery or not supportive   Q: What are some things we have
         shortness of breath, or numbness in     enough                           educated you not to do?





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