The elderly have a lot of obstacles to navigate through in everyday life. Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlighted how much more susceptible the elderly are to falls. For older adults, one out of every five falls results in a serious injury, such as a head injury or a broken bone.
Individuals in nursing homes need extra help to ensure they do not fall while in care. The staff needs to take precautions to ensure residents are able to get around comfortably without fear of falling. That means it is critical for staff members and the family members of residents to watch out for common causes of falls.
Uneven Flooring
The people maintaining the nursing home need to make sure the flooring is always safe for people to walk across. Over time, carpet can begin to unravel. Any liquids that spill onto the floor require immediate clean-up. In the event a nursing home has stairs, then those stairs need to be properly maintained at all times and have rails for people to hang onto.
Medical Conditions
Many residents go to nursing homes with certain medical conditions that make them more susceptible to falling. The staff needs to be aware of whether someone is more prone to falling and offer assistance when appropriate. Staff members also need to ensure the person has a walker or another transportation device to get around safely.
Medications
Some people can get around fine normally, but they may lose some of their balance after taking medication. Staff members need to ensure residents take an appropriate number of pills every day. The staff needs to monitor a resident’s intake because substantial problems can develop if a resident takes too much or too little. Nursing homes can avoid bad falls by closely monitoring everyone’s surroundings and rectifying problems before they exacerbate.