Thanksgiving and the holiday season can be a busy time in the house, with lots of people coming over and celebrating the holidays together. With all the hustle and bustle, it’s important to ensure that trip hazards and injuries are avoided for those who might not be agile. In fact, the most common injury for seniors is taking a spill at home. Considering how busy this day is and how common it is for these injuries to occur, taking a few preventative steps can ensure your holiday is injury-free for your loved one.
How You Can Prevent Senior Falls During the Holidays
Thanksgiving may not seem like the most obvious time to worry about slip and falls for senior loved ones. However, it’s more than the busyness and crowds. When organizing a large group gathering, furniture might be moved around to create more space for guests. Things like electrical cords or extension cords can become trip hazards if left out or not properly secured. You may also need to move standing light fixtures around to make room for seating, thus making it a bit darker. If a senior has become accustomed to where the lights and furniture are, it may be disorienting.
If you’ve moved your home furnishings around a bit to make room for company, it’s best to create a special space for your loved one in the home where they don’t have to move around too much. Ensuring they have someone to walk them to the dinner table is likely a good idea.
Other ways to protect your loved ones include:
- Ensure there are clear walkways and paths around the rooms.
- Tape down all electrical wires and cords to avoid tripping hazards.
- Keep the area and surrounding entrances well-lit.
- Keep an eye on rugs that might pose a tripping hazard.
Slip Prevention at Home
As for anyone aging in place, it is important to know how to avoid slips and trips both during the busy holiday season and any other day. Even non-serious falls can impact overall health. More general tips to prevent falls as a senior include:
- Find a balance or exercise program to help practice balance and keep the body strong. Keeping their physical well-being in shape will help seniors stay safe every day and avoid taking a spill.
- Keep up to date on vision and hearing examinations. Both hearing and vision contribute tremendously to the ability to keep balance and prevent falls.
- Fall-proof your loved one’s home with the installation of railings in corridors, benches in the showers, good lighting in all rooms, and keeping the floors tidy.
- Have your loved one speak with their doctor to review any medications that might inhibit their natural ability to balance or walk properly. Create a medication consumption schedule that ensures they only take drowsy medication at night before bed and avoid it during the day.
Staying Safe This Holiday Season and Beyond
Marquette Home Care helps those all around the Marquette, MI area, including the surrounding cities of Negaunee, Ishpeming, Harvey, Skandia, and Gwinn. Our professionals are skilled and seasoned to help you and your loved ones with how to prevent slips and falls during the holiday season and beyond. Get in touch with us today or call us for more information at 906-361-8022.
