PREVENT CLIENT FALLS

Probably the single factor that can help your client stay in their own home is to keep them from having a fall. It is the most common reason that necessitates a move to an assisted living or skilled nursing environment. As a caregiver, you can do a great deal to keep your client from falling. Preventing falls will help clients stay healthy, active and able to stay living independently.
  • Don’t encourage talking with your client while walking. They will tend to turn to look at you. Turning the head causes dizziness. Not looking where you are going is a recipe for disaster. It is very dangerous. Teach them to look where they are going. Walking requires full concentration.
  • Encourage your clients to take all possible precautions if they wake up in the middle of the night and have to go to the bathroom. This is when balance is the worst and hazard is highest. Use the walker. Put on good shoes, not slippers or slip ons. Make sure there is enough light. Make sure a path is available from the bed to the bathroom that your client can hold onto. Do not expect your balance to be ok in the middle of the night.
  • Extended sitting is a big problem. Every hour of extended sitting reduces blood flow to the feet by as much as 50%. Walking for 5 minutes each hour of extended sitting eliminates the trouble. Have your client get up once an hour to get a glass of water, go to the bathroom, or simply walk around the room. If walking is difficult, seated exercise can substitute. Foot exercises and leg stretches are great as are lower back releases.
  • Give your client reminders on how to walk properly. Gently correct their posture. Help them to use their walker or cane properly. Give them suggestions on how to lower their fall associated risk.
  • THE most important thing you can do to help your client avoid falls is to exercise regularly, with their doctor’s approval of course. The single action of establishing a consistent movement routine exponentially reduces the risk of falls. Participate in the workout along with your client. Try to keep to consistent scheduling. Help your client make this their most important priority.

Keep in mind that most falls are caused either by something foolish or something unexpected. If your client takes balance classes consistently even foolish things that normally would cause them to fall become less risky. For instance, if your client learns to pick her feet up, she won’t be as likely to trip on sidewalk cracks.

Easy and beneficial balance classes are available to your clients in their own homes. The DVD based series, Building Better Balance helps seniors prevent falls by improving balance simply and effectively using innovative and powerful techniques.