La Jolla Senior Care News

What to Do When Your Parent Suffers a Fall

Elder Care in Coronado CA

Elder Care in Coronado CA

Elder Care in Coronado CAAs a family caregiver you never want to think about your parent facing an accident or incident that could negatively impact their health, safety, and wellbeing. For millions of senior adults each year, however, a fall could result in serious injuries that could diminish their ability to live a high quality of life as they age in place. You put great effort into helping your parent avoid such falls, but it is important that you also know what to do should your parent suffer such an incident. This will enable you to respond properly, helping your parent to get through the incident as comfortably, safely, and healthily as possible.

Use these tips to react confidently after your aging loved one suffers a fall:

  • Tell them not to move. Even if the fall seems minor, discourage them from moving immediately. Their body will need a few moments to process the fall and if they move too quickly they could worsen injuries that they do not realize that they have. Have them remain in place for a few minutes before determining if they think that they can move.
  • Get up carefully. If they do not feel that they have suffered a serious injury, encourage your parent to get up slowly and carefully. They should take their time moving through the process of standing up, moving toward a chair or other stable object, rolling to their knees, and then carefully getting to their feet. If possible, they should sit first and then stand up. This will allow them to really evaluate how they are feeling and prevent the dizzy spells that can come from standing too quickly after a fall.
  • Call for emergency services. If you suspect there is a serious injury, call for emergency services. It is better to have your parent evaluated to determine the need for further care than to attempt to bring them yourself and possibly worsen injuries that you might not notice exist. This is especially important if your parent hit their head on the floor or any other surface. Traumatic brain injuries can seem very minor and have no symptoms at first and then become very serious quickly.
  • Visit the doctor. Even if you do not think that your parent was seriously injured, make an appointment for them to visit their doctor. Describe the fall and how your parent reacted, including where they hit the floor, any pain that they have experienced, and any changes in their mobility or function after the fall.

If your parent has recently suffered a fall and has been coping with an injury, consider hiring an elderly care provider. The recovery period can be challenging for your loved one and if they push themselves too hard their body may not heal properly, putting them at risk of further injury and consequences. An elderly home care services provider can create a customized approach to their care designed to address your parent’s needs while also supporting recovery, independence, and safe, healthy activity. This care provider can also help your parent overcome feelings of fear or anxiety associated with suffering a fall.

For more information about how the caregivers at La Jolla Nurses Homecare can help your aging parents remain in their own homes, call 858-454-9339. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable elder care in Coronado CA, and the surrounding communities.

Brittnei Salerno

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