After a dangerous fall, a senior may be rushed to the hospital to treat injuries, which commonly include head trauma and bone fractures. These injuries can have a long recovery time and even life-long effects. Following their hospital stay, seniors may also go to a rehabilitation facility to help them recover depending on the severity of their injuries.
The time to return home can be a crucial period for seniors. During this time, they may still be unsteady and experience some of the lasting effects from their fall. That’s why it’s so important to have good support and assistance during this transition. However, it’s difficult for many family members to support their loved ones — especially in the current environment. Here are some tips for seniors to make the transition back to their routine at home.
Arrange Transportation
Seniors who have experienced a dangerous fall will need assistance getting from the hospital or live-in facility back to their home. While you can arrange transportation for them through Uber or another ride share app, the employees at these companies are not equipped to help a senior get into and out of a car safely. a fall, a senior may be more susceptible to fall again, and getting into and out of a car can be a high-risk activity. Additionally, some cars may pose more of a risk than others because of the seat height in relation to the height of the senior.
Consider a company with staff who can assist your aging loved one, like Caring Senior Service. Our caregivers can provide transportation services and can help your loved one get into and out of the car safely. Trained professionals can help seniors who have fallen maintain their balance and stability as they move at their own pace. And our caregivers go through extensive background checks and must have a valid driver’s license in order to provide transportation services.
Clean the Environment
Whether a senior fell at home or not, it’s also important to clean the home environment to remove potential hazards. Even things like clothes on the floor or area rugs can turn into tripping hazards and cause a senior to fall again. Arrange for a service to clean the home, placing special attention on commonly used areas, like the hallways, bedroom, bathroom, living room, and kitchen. Seniors will use these areas of the home the most.
You may also ask a friend or a family member to perform this service. We offer a free 43-point Home Safety Assessment that your local Caring office can perform. By preparing the home in advance, you can help ensure that your loved one can get around their own home safely.
Once a senior is home, the home must remain clean as well. Seniors who are recovering from injuries may not be able to maintain the environment or perform some regular tasks, like laundry. In these cases, you may want a housekeeping service to visit regularly to help remove hazards, tidy up, and help with any other daily chores.
Purchase Mobility Devices
Some seniors may require mobility devices, like canes, walkers, or crutches. If your loved one requires this equipment, make sure you order it and arrange for it to get to your loved one or be waiting at their home when it’s time for them to return. These types of equipment can help seniors maintain their balance and stability on their own, allowing them to be more independent at home and giving you more peace of mind.
Keep Them Busy
As a senior recovers at home, they may get lonely or bored. You can help them pass the time with virtual calls or games. You can also order books, recommend television shows, or arrange other activities to keep them busy. These efforts can help them feel loved from a distance.
You can also hire in-home caregivers to provide companionship throughout the day. They can help keep seniors engaged and social, which can help lead to better spirits during their recovery. Caregivers can also assist with tasks of daily living so that all of a senior’s needs are met.
Manage Medications
Seniors often have their regular medications, but they might receive additional prescriptions from their doctor as a result of their fall. It’s crucial that a senior takes their medication in the proper dosage and at the right time. For best results transitioning home, you should create a medication management system. This could be as simple as ordering a pill organizer for your loved one, or it could be more involved, like video chats when it’s time to take a medication. A caregiver can help by providing medication reminders so that seniors stay on track throughout their recovery.
Fill the Fridge
When a senior returns home, they might not have food in their fridge. Groceries they bought before their fall may have spoiled, and the pantry might not be stocked properly. However, a good diet corresponds to a healthy recovery. You can help an aging loved one by ordering groceries online for them to be delivered to their home. Or you could get assistance from friend, loved one, or even a professional service to stock the fridge and pantry with healthy food items that your aging senior will enjoy.
And if seniors aren’t able to work in the kitchen, our caregivers can help there too. Our caregivers can prepare whatever a senior requests — even breakfast in bed — to ensure that those groceries don’t go to waste.
We hope that these tips can help you feel prepared to care for a loved one from afar. Being away from family members, especially those who have recently sustained an injury and need help, is never easy. But when family can’t be there, we can be! Our highly skilled staff is happy to step in and assist in any way we can. We are specially trained on assisting seniors who have fallen and helping them prevent future falls.
