02 July 2020
If you’re taking care of a family member who is likely to experience a fall at home, you may want to consider which daily living aids and telecare systems are available to help reduce their risk of falling.
Your family member may be living with mobility issues that affects their balance, have a health condition which causes weakness in their lower limbs or be at increased risk of falls due to a memory condition such as dementia. Whatever your situation, we’ve put together some top suggestions to help you keep the person you care for as safe and independent as possible at home.
If you are caring for, or supporting, someone who is mainly independent in their toileting and bathing routines, it is important to consider their safety in the bathroom. The bathroom is one of the most common places to fall at home and can cause people to worry about their stability as surfaces have the potential to become slippery. There are a wide range of bathroom accessories, bathing and toileting aids that are designed to improve someone’s safety and confidence in the bathroom, as well as helping them to maintain their independence.
Bathing and showering can be a major hazard for someone with balance or mobility issues as excess water can make surfaces slippery underfoot. If someone wants to continue their bathing routine independently, but needs additional support getting into and out of the bath, you may consider the benefits of bath lifts. With waterproof controls, the person can safely lower and lift themselves into the bath. Please note that in order to use a bath lift safely, the person will need the ability to lift their legs over the side of the bath tub.
Investing in a shower chair can promote safety during personal care routines and reduce the risk of overexertion when someone is showering. A shower stool or chair can provide a place to rest and reduce the risk of overbalancing when washing areas such as the feet or legs.
Monitors, sensors and alarms are often used in care settings to notify carers if a person they are supporting has left a chair, bed or even a room. They are most commonly used if a person is prone to wandering, as they risk putting themselves in danger of falling or walking somewhere on their own and becoming lost or unsafe.
Some monitors work in conjunction with a sensor mat and will send a signal to a pager when movement from a chair or seat is detected. This allows the carer to be notified if someone they care for is moving from their position and will help them to provide assistance quickly, if it is required.
There are times when falls do occur, and it’s good to be prepared if any accidents like this do happen at home. There are a wide range of panic or fall alarms that can be worn by people who are perhaps more independent at home but want peace of mind that they can contact someone for help if they do experience a fall. The Auto Dial Panic Alarm features a pendant with an alarm button and a main unit that connects to a person’s home telephone. This alarm is ideal for someone who is living alone, as well as someone in a care environment, as they can wear the pendant around their neck and press the button to call for help if they are unable to lift themselves off the floor after a fall.
Although there are lots of things we can do to help prevent the risk of falls, they can occur at any time, so it’s beneficial for you and the person you are supporting to be prepared.
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