How Caregivers Can Help Prevent Falls with the Elderly this Winter

While an elderly patient is in the hospital or a facility, use alarms to alert the staff members’ attention if the patient tries to get out of bed, says Julianna Harmer, RN, charge nurse at the Harrogate Health Care Center in Lakewood, New Jersey. “Keep bells within reach [of the patient],” she says, so that they can get help if and when they need it.
 
Sometimes preventing falls can be as simple as “Keeping a confused patient oriented to their surroundings, and keeping the bed low, paths cleared, and things within reach,” says Durham. “For others, it can require constant supervision, and that person may need a hired sitter or a family member to be with them at all times.”
 
When discharging a patient or if working with patients at their homes, be sure to give them tips that can help them keep from falling. “I suggest preventing falls by minimizing clutter in the home and ensuring there is a clear path for walking. Using rug pads to secure throw rugs on the floor, providing proper lighting on stairs and common rooms, and using night lights or stick-on lights for darker areas also decreases the chance of slipping,” explains Alicia Schwartz, RN MSN, PCC, CMM, RN, a registered nurse for VNSNY CHOICE Health Plans in New York, New York. “Make sure hand rails and bathroom grab bars are installed and are secure. Proper shoes are also important—avoid heeled shoes, slippers, and sandals without straps.”
 
Exercise is also important for fall prevention, says Schwartz. “Exercises can be performed while sitting, standing, and/or lying down. Mobilizing our joints helps to increase overall body function, which will directly reduce the risk of falls,” she says.
 
Some other tips Schwartz suggests are to clearly mark edges of steps and use non-slip treads on wooden ones. In addition, store food, dishes, and cooking equipment at the waist or counter level. If patients have to reach up or down too far, they may be more prone to falls.
 
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Source: https://dailynurse.com/strategies-reduce-patient-falls/
 
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