Don’t Let Falls Get in the Way of Your Care

homecaresupport@stryker.com — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 09:01:00 -0600

November is National Family Caregivers Month, and we’d like to recognize the hard work you do every day taking care of your loved one. Did you know that one-third of adults over the age of 65 fall each year? ¹ There are around 2.1 million cases each year of adults 65 and older being treated in the emergency room due to fall-related injuries.¹

Injuries in or near the shower or bathtub accounted for more than two-thirds of all emergency room visits in 2011. ²

One of the easiest ways to avoid bathroom falls is to eliminate the need to move to the shower or bathtub. Sage offers a variety of rinse-free personal hygiene products that are simple and easy to use—all without running water.

With
Comfort Bath® Cleansing Washcloths and Comfort Rinse-Free Shampoo Cap, there’s no need to get to the shower for a bath. Both Comfort Bath and our Shampoo Cap can be warmed in the microwave to provide a warm, soothing bath and leave skin and hair feeling clean.

But preventing falls goes beyond just reducing fall risk in the shower. Other simple steps you can take to help prevent falls for your loved one are: ¹

Be proactive.
Talk to your doctor about fall risk due to medication and make a fall prevention plan.

Make your home fall safe.
Keep the floor clear of tripping risks and keep the walking path wide.

Stay physically active.
Certain exercises can help improve strength, balance, and coordination.

Be shoe smart.
Help reduce fall risk by using shoes that are lace-up with ankle support, low heels, and rubber soles.

Kathleen M. Vollman

MSN, RN, CCNS, FCCM, FAAN

At shopsageproducts.com, you’ll find educational tools including videos from Kathleen Vollman, an advance practice clinical nurse specialist with over 32 years of nursing experience.

Reference: 1. Preventing Falls in the Elderly. AARP Health tools http://healthtools.aarp.org/health/senior-health-risks. Published Sep 21, 2010. Accessed October 9, 2014. 2. Bakalar, N. Watch Your Step While Washing Up. The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/health/research/16stats.html. Published August 15, 2011. Accessed October 14 , 2014.

Caregiver Blog

Don’t Let Falls Get in the Way of Your Care