Bedroom Design Ideas That Reduce the Risk of a Fall
In 2016, the number of Americans over the age of 64 reached 49.2 million. Now, think about the fact that 25% of older Americans fall at least once a year. That means around 12.3 million older adults fell last year. If you look at the entire population of the state of Ohio, more older adults fell than there are residents in that state.
Not every fall is serious, but around 2.8 million of them lead to emergency room visits. Prevention is the best way to keep your parents safe. The right bedroom design can help lower the risk of a fall during the night and when your parent gets up in the morning.
Top Bedroom Design Tips for Fall Prevention
Elder Care Philadelphia, PA: Bedroom Design Ideas
Clear pathways that lead to the critical points in your parents’ bedroom. The bed is the most important piece of furniture. The bathroom is the room they’ll likely head to when they leave their bedroom. The path to those areas needs to be free of clutter and hazards like loose rugs or carpeting.
At night, your parent may wake up and need to go to the bathroom. Where is the bathroom in consideration to the bed? If your mom or dad has to go downstairs to the main floor, you may need to come up with a better plan. A bedside toilet may be better than navigating stairs in the dark. You could also look into moving your parents’ bedroom to the main level. If there’s a den, you could turn that into the master bedroom.
Check for furniture that is at the right height to hit your head. If your mom is walking out of the bedroom and misjudges her location, she could walk into an armoire and hit her head. That armoire may need to be moved to an out-of-the-way location.
Get rid of other trip hazards like dust ruffles, curtains that reach the floor, and bedspreads that spill onto the ground. Satin sheets and bedding are often too slick and can slide right off a bed.
Install voice-activated lighting in bedroom light fixtures, hallways, and bathrooms. Your parents may not want bright lighting waking them up, but voice-activated LED lighting adjusts to your command. If you say, “turn on the bathroom lights in pink,” the light responds by turning the lights on in a muted pink shade.
It Could Be Time for Home Care Aides
A fall could indicate that it’s time to hire daily or weekly home care services. Your parents don’t have to lose independence while receiving help. Some services that ensure they stay in their home without risking their safety.
Elder care services can also help your parent avoid a fall. Caregivers visit each week to help with chores like laundry. They offer support while your parent works on muscle and joint strengthening exercises. They’re also available after your parent takes medications that cause dizziness. Call an elder care specialist to make arrangements for home care visits.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Elder Care in Philadelphia, PA please contact the caring staff at True Direct Home Health Care today.
Sources:
https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/Aging%20and%20Disability%20in%20America/2017OlderAmericansProfile.pdf
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/us-states-by-population.html
https://www.ncoa.org/news/resources-for-reporters/get-the-facts/falls-prevention-facts/
Doc, as he is called by everyone - staff, patients and clients - first experienced home health care and hospice care while as a colleg student at King's College as he cared for his mother every day while she first battled COPD and then lung cancer. It was during this time that he came to understand that caring for a patient was more than just clinical expertise.
"Admittedly, my strongest attribute is my communication skills and the simple fact that I love to help people. Even the smallest thing you can do for someone really can mean so much to them long term. In fact, it could change them forever. That's what providing quality personal home health care should be all about."
In his spare time, he cooks for homeless shelters and children's music and arts events. He also is highly involved in his local youth sports soccer academy as a coach and Board member.
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