07/11/2022
Falls have always been the biggest threat to the elderly and disabled. When children or young people fall, they just get up and pat themselves down as if nothing had happened. Whereas, when an elderly or disabled person fall, it is likely that they will not be able to get up again on their own.
When these two groups of people fall, they have a greater chance of choking, fractures, concussions and other dangerous conditions that may occur caused by their own bodies or external stress. Once they are bedridden for a long time due to fractures, they may also suffer from pressure sores from long-term local skin pressure, which may even lead to further decline in all body functions, muscle atrophy, deep vein thrombosis, hypoproteinemia, septic infection and other risks, all of these would seriously threaten the health of the elderly.
In our daily lives, the most likely place for the elderly to have accidents such as falls and fractures is in the home, so we and caregivers need to check out the home environment to reduce hidden dangers.
Here are some suggestions for everyone.
1. Don't put carpets and plants in the hallway
Uneven carpets and rolled up vines can easily trip the elderly. In addition, we should regularly check whether there are obstacles such as loose wires in the places where the elderly often walk, so as to remove hidden dangers in time and ensure that the interior is in order.
2. Try not to set up thresholds
For the elderly who need to use wheelchairs, poor eyesight and weak knees, door thresholds can bring inconvenience to their lives and even become the culprit of tripping over the elderly.
If there are stairs in the house, it is best to install a non-slip plate.
3. Install handrails in aisles and bathrooms
Appropriate handrails can be installed in the aisle to facilitate the movement of the elderly in the room, and install handrails in the shower and toilet next to prevent falls caused by slippery floors.
4. Switch to wool or cotton, or other non-slip material bedding
The elderly should not use satin or other smooth materials for bedding, so as to avoid falling when getting on and off the bed because of stepping on this smooth surface. It is recommended to choose non-slip wool or cotton bedding to prevent slipping.
