Preventing falls for seniors in Stourbridge, Hagley, Halesowen, Belbroughton and Clent
The NHS has shown that half of people over the age of 80 have a fall each year. Here we explain how being at home with quality home care can significantly reduce this risk.
Safer at home with Home Instead (Stourbridge, Hagley, Halesowen, Belbroughton and Clent)
Home Instead Care Professionals keeping seniors safe
At Home Instead (Stourbridge, Hagley, Halesowen, Belbroughton and Clent), we recognise that one of the major concerns for our clients and their families is the increased risk of falls as they get older. NHS records show that 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 and half of people over the age of 80 experience a fall each year. Whilst many falls are minor, for some people a fall can cause serious injury and may have significant effects on overall quality of life. The National Institute for Health and Care Research and The Care Inspectorate in Scotland have both reported that the risk of falls can increase 3 times for people living in care homes, which is why we place a great emphasis on safety and training for our Care Professionals to keep seniors safe and active, with one to one support in the familiar surroundings of their own home.
Helping people to avoid the risks
Caring at home and minimising the risks
The environment that seniors live in can cause risks which is why we always carry out a detailed risk assessment of the home and offer advice on reducing those risks for example by removing obstacles and clutter or working in partnership with occupational therapists to introduce hand rails tailored for the individual and their home.
Health conditions and general fitness can also increase the risk of falls. At Home Instead (Stourbridge, Hagley, Halesowen, Belbroughton and Clent) our Care Professionals know what signs to look out for because for some health conditions such as UTIs, an early diagnosis and treatment can make a huge difference to preventing falls. At Home Instead we work hard to ensure continuity which means that Care Professionals get to know their clients really well so they are able to detect small changes in health, behaviour or mood.
For anyone who does have reduced mobility, there is a great advantage to having one to one time with a carer who promotes independence through encouragement and motivation. We are great believers in helping people to stay as active as possible and sometimes this means signposting for advice on mobility aids as it is better to walk with a frame than to remain seated all day.
Care Professionals from Home Instead helping to manage health conditions
Deteriorating eyesight can also be a problem for some people as they may not be aware of hazards on the floor, and eyesight is also an important factor in maintaining good balance. Living in familiar surroundings makes a big difference in this respect, knowing where everything is placed in the home. Our team is also happy to assist clients with opticians’ appointments and to make sure their glasses are nearby (and clean!) whilst encouraging people to keep their home well lit. Lights with motion sensors can be a real help to avoid fumbling in the dark to find the switch!
Our client consultant, is very experienced at writing care plans and will look at everything you want and need to live your best life at home, including your enjoyment of your garden as well as any activities that you want to do or jobs which are needed, then together we can create a plan to make sure all of these can be carried out in the safest way possible.
Home Instead (Stourbridge, Hagley and Halesowen) working with other health care professionals
Our Care Pros are able to help with any exercises that have been recommended by your GP or physio. For some people this is seated chair exercises while for others, it could be going for a walk, and our Care Pros love to have a dance too – it’s a great way to maintain mobility!
Slips as well as trips can be reduced with our thorough risk assessment, removing slippery surfaces and making sure seniors have suitable footwear available. Our Care Professionals are very happy to help with placing of non-slip mats and making sure that surfaces are free from spills.
Home Instead (Stourbridge, Hagley and Halesowen) Care Promise
At Home Instead we will create a care plan which is unique to you and your home, following a detailed risk assessment, and listening to how you want to live your best life in your own environment surrounded by the things which you treasure.
Our office team will visit you to conduct service reviews and quality assurance visits every 6 months (4 per year in total) to make sure that our risk assessments and care plans are up to date, taking account of any changes.
All of our Care Professionals are trained in moving and assisting, completing specific training for individual clients when required as well as a thorough initial training programme.
