Studies are showing an increase in senior falls from medications, making it imperative to know what to do to reduce fall risk.

We’ve known for a while that there are certain medications that raise the likelihood of falls for seniors. Twenty years ago, a little over half of seniors were impacted by that risk; yet today, that number has increased dramatically – to a staggering 94% of older adults who are now in danger of senior falls from medications. Additionally, deaths from such falls are happening at more than twice the earlier rate.

Researchers who observed this growing concern also discovered that between 1999 and 2017, senior prescriptions for medications that escalate fall risk were filled more than 7.8 billion times. This consists of a spike from 12 million antidepressants in 1999 to greater than 52 million in … Read More »

Discover how to help seniors after a fall to regain the confidence they need to stay active while preventing a second fall.

While comedians and circus clowns may stir audiences to laughter over such stunts as slipping on a banana peel, there’s nothing funny about falling when it comes to seniors, who are at an elevated risk for serious injuries which could lead to a long rehabilitation process. Not just that, but there’s a lesser known complication that typically comes from a senior’s fall: a fear of falling again which is extreme enough to impact quality of life and health. Knowing how to help seniors after a fall to feel safe and secure again is crucial.

As the saying goes, “Once bitten, twice shy.” It is natural – and sensible – for a loved one who has fallen … Read More »

Senior falls can have serious consequences, but with a plan, the risk for falls can be greatly reduced.

Senior falls are all too frequent and may have serious outcomes. Taking preventative measures is key, such as examining the house for fall risks like area rugs and various tripping hazards, inadequate lighting, and a lack of appropriate grab bars and railings. But there is also a new strategy being advised now: creating a fall plan of care, which, when utilized correctly, has been shown to reduce fall-related emergency room visits up to 40%.

So while we absolutely don’t want to plan for a loved one to fall, we are able to be better equipped by helping the person take the following steps:

Stay vigilant – Avoid letting your mind wander and instead maintain your full focus on your surroundings.
Check vision … Read More »

Evaluate the risks of polypharmacy in older adults and keep seniors safer.

More than one out of every three 60-year-olds is currently taking five or more prescription medications, so it’s no wonder that problems occur from overmedication. Polypharmacy in older adults is defined as “…when an adverse drug effect is misinterpreted as a new medical problem – leading to the prescribing of more medication to treat the initial drug-induced symptom,” and can cause a number of additional health risks or worsen existing health conditions. 

It’s a good idea for older adults and their caregivers to work together on a plan of de-prescribing. These tips can help:

Compile a list of all medications the senior is taking, including prescription meds, over-the-counter meds, and vitamins/herbal supplements, and share with the senior’s physician and pharmacist.
Request an evaluation of the medications themselves as … Read More »

Hired Hands Homecare offers tips to prevent senior falls.

Falling is never fun, but for an older adult, a fall can result in devastating effects, like a fractured hip, which can escalate to a full range of additional health problems. A full 25% of seniors who fracture a hip end up dying within six months of the injury; a shocking, yet preventable statistic.

Taking time to make some simple modifications to the home can help create a safer environment for your senior loved ones and help prevent dangerous senior falls. Below are some easy home modification ideas from the home care Marin CA services team at Hired Hands Homecare that can be implemented to help lower the risk of falls for the elderly.

Lighting:

Replace light bulbs routinely to ensure there is sufficient illumination in … Read More »

Hired Hands Homecare shares details on how to keep seniors safe from falls.

You may have at one time been by a senior loved one’s side at the hospital or doctor’s office and noticed the medical worker attaching a colorful “FALL RISK” band to his or her wrist. Notifying those providing care to this possibility allows additional measures to keep seniors safe during medical treatments. However, did you realize that ongoing, everyday life can pose a fall risk danger to those diagnosed with the following conditions?

Arthritis

Osteoporosis, a bone density disorder that can also increase a person’s chances of fracturing a hip

Vertigo

Cerebrovascular insufficiency

Neurologic disability (stroke)

Postural hypotension (sudden decrease in blood pressure)

Diabetes

Read More »

Presently, lowering readmissions for high-risk patients is an essential process for hospitals. Healthcare Financial Management Association’s article “Two Ways Hospitals Can Reduce Avoidable Readmissions” records that successful initiatives from 4 hospitals with reduced 30-day rehospitalization rates are to a certain extent due to collaborating with inpatient and outpatient care providers such as Hired Hands Homecare, a top home care company in Santa Rosa, CA to supply a continuum of care.

The medical providers mentioned in the article present the following suggestions to cut down on hospital readmissions:

Begin preparing for a patient’s discharge on the admission day. When an older adult is admitted to the hospital, contact a home care agency, like Hired Hands Homecare, to arrange for in-home care when the patient is discharged. Outcomes are better when services are made available as soon as possible.
Make note of senior patients who are … Read More »

All family caregivers need to know the early signs of mobility problems in older adults in order to prevent falls or other serious injuries.

Benjamin Franklin certainly had it right: An ounce of prevention is really worth a pound of cure. When it comes to noticing and addressing the early signs of mobility problems in older adults, prevention is a must. Falls in seniors lead to 3 million emergency room visits, 300,000 hip fractures, and 32,000 deaths every year, according to research by the CDC.

Preempt a tragedy by keeping an eye out for these warning signs of increasing mobility issues in older loved ones:

Experiencing dizziness. Dizziness and issues with balance can develop from a variety of contributing factors that ultimately cause problems with mobility. It’s important to discover why these issues are taking place and address them … Read More »

Clutter and dementia may seem like an unhealthy combination, but research is showing some surprising benefits between the two.

Decluttering is a vital component to safety for individuals with dementia, particularly in ensuring walking paths are clear to prevent falls. However, there may be some surprising benefits to controlled clutter, according to a study by the University of East Anglia that explored the link between clutter and dementia.

“Worrying is using your imagination to create something you don’t want.” – Abraham Hicks

Discover how to ease caregiver stress in three simple steps.

Worrying can quickly become a way of life for family caregivers. Between age-related concerns, chronic health conditions, and trying to balance a plethora of other commitments, it’s no wonder that anxious thoughts tend to overtake positive, peace-inducing ones, making it difficult to know just how to ease caregiver stress.

How Can You Alleviate Caregiver Worries?

It is possible, however, to take the energy you’re exerting for worry and changing it into productivity. These three simple steps are a great place to start:

To start, write it all down. Worrisome, anxious thoughts have a tendency to swirl haphazardly through our minds. If you write down your thoughts, it corrals them into manageable chunks, while giving … Read More »