The new year is the perfect time to evaluate whether your aging loved’s home is safe!
Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for older Americans. Falls can result in injury and even death! Many falls can be prevented by ensuring a senior’s living conditions are equipped for their evolving needs.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- One in four Americans aged 65+ falls each year.
- Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall.
- Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults.
- Falls result in more than 2.8 million injuries treated in emergency departments annually, including over 800,000 hospitalizations and more than 27,000 deaths.
- In 2015, the total cost of fall injuries was $50 billion. Medicare and Medicaid shouldered 75% of these costs.
- The financial toll for older adult falls is expected to increase as the population ages and may reach $67.7 billion by 2020.
Falling reduces a senior’s ability to socialize and stay active. Practical adjustments can prevent injury, give family members peace of mind, and ensure older adults maintain their independence. A proper home safety evaluation considers everything from how a senior moves about the house to their ability to stand and sit without assistance.
Seniors are able to maintain freedom, activity, and confidence when their home is equipped for their needs as they age.
Falls can dramatically influence a senior’s sense of self. It is critical to ensure safety not only to reduce the risk of injury but to prevent seniors from sinking into depression and isolation. Emotional distress can be as harmful and physical ailments.
Whether you are visiting an older family member during the holidays or live nearby, consider doing a home safety evaluation to prepare your aging loved-one for the new year!
Keep in mind, if your loved one has fallen one or more times in the last year it may be time for home care. Home care allows your loved one to stay in their home while receiving the practical and medical support they need.
