Recently, I have two of my friends' parent fell at home or right in front of them.
It was traumatic at least for one of them. He felt guilty and wished he could have caught his father who just fell in front of him.
My mother used to fall every 6 months. In 2017, she had such a major fall that she broke her lower jaw and lost all her lower teeth. It was so traumatic and she had to be admitted to hospital.
She had been falling since 2017 with a frequency of one fall in every six months.
Chronology of Events
Incidence of fall:
November 2017: Major fall
June 2018: fell at home (sudden and hurried movement)
November 2018: fell on the way to my auntie's house (walking on uneven roads)
Nil fall since 2019
Dental clearance : 2020 to April 2021
On Medications that prevent bone loss : April 2021
Early Interventions:
2018 Physiotherapy in Public Hospital Institution (PHI) : 2-3 times a month
2019 Started day care and 2 times a week rehabiliation at day care
2021 Reduced rehabiliation to once a week (maintenance)
How to prevent falls?
Reduce risk in the environment: Home Modification
Declutter the house
Look out for any loose rugs that may cause your loved ones to trip and fall
Engage EASE to install non slip flooring and grab bars for her to hold onto in the bathroom.
Put a bell in her room just in case she has emergency and needs to call for our help.
Encourage use of assistive devices
She uses a walker to assist her as she makes her morning trip to the coffee shop. Some elderly neighbours use unsafe and modified umbrellas to assist them as they think that using a walking stick is a sign of "weak" or "ugly" and thus are not willing to use them.
Ensure use of Proper footwear
Wear non slip shoes. Bought her new pair of sports shoes as her old shoe has worn off.
Throw away shoes or slippers that are poorly fitted or has poor grip.
Promote healthy and active lifestyle
Not only is my mother on bone strengthening medications, my family ensures that she has a balance diet and good nutrition. Some elderly staying alone or those in the lower income group may have poor nutrition. Some living with dementia may have forgotten that they have not eaten or make poor food choices, thus resulting in malnutrition and poor bone health.
Her rehabiliation exercises also help to build grip strength, balance and ambulatory capabilities.
Speak to your doctor on possible bone protecting medications
If your loved one is at risk of falls, do speak to your doctor on possible bone protecting medications. Depending on the medical condition of your loved ones, whether he has good kidney function or whether he is willing to be assessed by the dentist for suitability of such medications, your doctor will advise accordingly.
Be mindful of medications and side effects
Some medications used for cough, pain, flu may cause drowsiness and may increase risk of falls. Please always consult your pharmacist or doctor for more information and also on the duration of action.
It would preferable to have one family doctor whom your loved ones can be followed up with and to discuss his health goals and plan. You may also consult your friendly pharmacist if you have any concerns on the medications your loved ones are taking.
Sufficient sleep and good emotional health
My mother used to have poor sleep at night due to excessive day time napping. That was especially during 2017 and 2018 before she started attending day care activities. Poor sleep resulted in her being less alert to her surroundings, her lack of safety awareness and her slower reaction time predispose her to fall easily.
She has been living with us for the last five years and has improved in her emotional health. Though she occasionally still feel frustrated with her own decline in function and memory, she has a family to share her day with. She also is able to tell us her frustration and thus have better sleep.
I hope these few tips will be helpful to you as you take steps to prevent falls for your loved ones. Let us be Thriving Caregivers. Take on Preventive Health.
References:
1. Fall Prevention Tips for seniors and caregivers (Healthhub)
2. Healthier SG
Copyright LHN. This blog expresses the personal thoughts of the writer and do not replace professional advice in your caregiving journey.
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