Dementia is a health condition that generates a wide range of symptoms, such as confusion and memory loss. While seniors with dementia are at a greater risk of falling than those without the condition, any senior can potentially fall. You can use this guide to understand the link between frequent falls and dementia so you can determine the best course of action to protect your senior loved one’s health and safety.
Dementia Symptoms that Increase the Risk of Falling
The reason people tend to associate dementia with falling is because many of the symptoms that accompany the condition contribute to the risk of falls. For instance, seniors with dementia tend to wander and walk when they’re agitated. Walking in unfamiliar areas while in a state of agitation or confusion makes it more likely for seniors to trip over curbs or other objects in their paths. Seniors with dementia may also forget to take their medications or eat, which could cause them to get dizzy or fall. A slower reaction time is also common for people with dementia, and it’s possible a senior with this condition might not be able to respond to a slip in time to prevent a fall.
Other Common Risk Factors for Falls
You should also understand the reasons seniors without dementia fall. Vision impairment can make it difficult for seniors to see when something is in their walking paths. For instance, a senior might not see a dog running in front of him or her until it’s already too late. Poor mobility, medication side effects, and a lack of proper rest are other causes of falls every senior needs to be aware of when walking around.
Certain age-related conditions can make it more challenging for seniors to age in place safely and comfortably, but Roseville live-in care experts are available around the clock to help seniors manage their health. Whether your loved one is living with dementia or is recovering from a stroke, you can trust the professional live-in caregivers from Home Care Assistance to enhance his or her quality of life.
Tips to Prevent Fall-Related Injuries
Whether your loved one has dementia or not, there are things you can do to prevent him or her from falling. Make sure your loved one keeps up with physical checkups to identify issues such as vision loss as soon as possible. Your loved one may also need to check the side effects of medications to determine if he or she might benefit from using a mobility device in case he or she gets dizzy when walking. Make sure your loved one knows there are people he or she can count on to help with tasks around the house, such as mopping floors or changing light bulbs.
If your loved one does sustain an injury, a professional caregiver can help him or her recover safely and comfortably at home. Although it may be challenging to find reliable, highly rated elder care Roseville, CA, families can turn to Home Care Assistance. Our respite and live-in caregivers are expertly trained to assist seniors with a wide array of important tasks, including cooking, bathing, light housekeeping, and exercise.
When to Take Further Action
Since frequent falls or a single severe one can indicate something is wrong, you need to take steps to find out what’s really going on. If your loved one also has other symptoms of dementia, such as confusion or getting lost during walks, make sure to mention this to his or her physician. Naturally, seniors with dementia will need help around the house to prevent them from having more falls. Seniors without dementia may still benefit from having professional assistance, especially if they’re having difficulty with parts of their daily routine.
If your loved one is experiencing frequent falls, no matter what their cause, having a trained professional caregiver close by can provide you and your family with much-needed peace of mind. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care. Roseville families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia. Schedule a free in-home consultation by giving us a call today at (916) 226-3737.