Local assisted living center tries to minimize falls in elderly
Falls are one of the leading causes of injuries for people age 65 and older. From January to August 2018, Idaho Falls Fire Department received a 1,066 fall calls. Averaging about 120 calls a month in 2018.
“For the older population there’s a huge risk of injuries to the hip, which could be a long-term recovery process or rehabilitation,” says Austin Cummins a paramedic and firefighter for IFFD.
There is also the risk of a head strike and internal bleeding.
Prestige Parkwood Meadows Assisted Living Community is trying to prevent those dangers.
“We’re doing a falls risk campaign,” says David Newsome, the communications relations director for Parkwood Meadows. “Make it so that we’re in engaging the older adults in our community in Idaho Falls and surrounding areas. To be able to engage themselves and take action towards the possibility at being at fall risk.”
The assisted living center is offering free fall-reduction evaluations now through September 30.
Evaluations will go through a series of questions to assess strength, flexibility and balance. Questions also include medical history, what medications you may be on if they have fallen recently.
“To be able to see what it is, how high of risk of a fall they are and what are some of the steps they can do with their primary physician to be able to make it so they aren’t a fall risk,” Newsome said.
Scott Holmes with the senior care service, Visiting Angels of Eastern Idaho, says these evaluations really do help. However, senior citizens also need to evaluate their environmental factors too.
“Those are factors around the home,” said Holmes. “That can be anything from safety hazards such as loose mats or carpeting or uneven floors.”
Holmes says it is very important that a home assessment is done.
“When we start with a new client, we go through the home and do a formal safety assessment and the improvements are normally very quick and very easy,” Holmes said. “They can be as easy as a raised toilet seat or grasp bars in the shower or tub because that’s a slippery place where they can fall.”
Even if you never thought that you or a loved could be a fall risk, it can’t hurt to try and get evaluated anyway.
“Do they grasp for furniture when they’re walking? Do they shuffle? It might be a minor fall risk, but it still could be a fall risk which could lead to more harm later on,” said Newsome
To schedule your free fall-reduction evaluation at Parkwood Meadows Assisted Living Community, please call (208) 516-1620.
