Calaid Home Healthcare, LLC medical professionals provide fall prevention and caretaker education for elderly and disabled patients and their caregivers.
Techniques For Fall Prevention
To reduce the risk of falls, it’s important to:
- Stay physically active (walking, water workouts, or tai chi to improve strength, coordination, flexibility and balance)
- Wear properly fitting shoes with nonskid soles
- Avoid wearing floppy slippers, high heels, and shoes with slick soles
It’s also important to keep the home safe and remove hazards that could increase fall risk.
- Remove hazards in the home, such as boxes, electrical cords, and newspapers from walkways and hallways
- Move magazine racks, coffee tables, and plant stands away from high-traffic areas
- Use double-faced tape, tacks, or a slip-resistant backing to secure loose rugs or completely remove loose rugs from the home
- Immediately repair loose, wooden floorboards and carpeting
- Keep dishes, food, clothing, and other necessities within easy reach
- Immediately clean spilled liquids, grease, or food
- Place non-slip mats in the bathtub or shower
- Use a bath seat while showering and a hand-held shower nozzle for bathing while sitting down
You can also keep lights on in order to avoid fall hazards in the dark.
- Place night lights in the bathroom, hallways, and bedroom
- Ensure there’s a clear path to light switches
- Consider installing glow-in-the-dark or illuminated switches
- Avoid going up or down stairs in the dark
- Keep flashlights in easy-to-find places in case of a power outage
To help individuals stay steady when moving around, an assistive device could be a big help. These can include:
- Handrails for both sides of stairways
- A raised toilet seat or one with armrests
- Grab bars for the shower or tub
- Non-slip treads for bare-wood steps
Caregiver Education
Family caregivers are often thrust into their roles without proper training or support. One day, they might suddenly find themselves providing assistance with grocery shopping, housework, transportation, meal preparation, bathing, dressing, eating, incontinence, and getting out of bed.
At Calaid Home Healthcare, LLC, we empower caregivers by providing the education they need to look after their loved one in fall prevention and many other areas. Our medical professionals can provide education regarding the following topics and tasks:
- Medication administration and management
- Diabetic care management
- Wound care and treatment
- Pain management
- Hypertensive management
- Medical appointments
- Living arrangements
- End-of-life planning (living will, power of attorney, and Do Not Resuscitate order)
- Self-care and rest
Individuals diagnosed with the following illnesses or conditions may need a caregiver:
- Stroke
- Cancer
- Dementia / Alzheimer’s disease
- Debilitating arthritis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Developmental disabilities
- Traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries
- HIV/AIDS
- Advanced heart disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Advanced diabetes
- Mental health and psychiatric disorders
In the caregiving process, individuals may encounter the following challenges:
- Lack of knowledge and training
- Caregiver guilt
- Difficulty saying “no”
- Busy schedule and scheduling conflicts
- Chronic physical and emotional stress
- Sleep deprivation
- Complex family dynamics
- Financial difficulties
- Lack of privacy
- Lack of assistance
- Strain on other relationships
A caregiver may need education and training if they’re struggling to keep up with responsibilities or haven’t received the necessary tools to provide basic at-home medical care. Give us a call to learn more about caregiver education.