How To Convince Seniors To Stay Off Ladders
In the US, falls are the number one cause for injuries and deaths every year for seniors. The most commonly reported injuries are from falling off a ladder. Falls can result in fractured hips, skulls, legs, arms and ribs.
Not only can falls cause serious injury, but it can take a long time for an elderly person to recover from it mentally.
Falls can cause an older adult to lose their sense of confidence as they go about their daily life. Fortunately, there are now smart devices with in-built fall detection that can raise and alert for help.
Read : Tips on How to Improve the Quality of Life for Older Adults
Why Are Seniors More Prone To Falls?
Once we hit the age of 65, our muscle strength and flexibility start to deteriorate, which can make climbing a ladder quite a dangerous task. There are other contributing factors that can make seniors more likely to fall including:
- Poor eyesight
- Poor hearing
- High blood pressure
- Chronic conditions
- Cognitive impairment
- Some medication
- Recent surgery
A combination of any of these factors can make an older person more likely to fall.
Also See: Senior Home Safety: 15 Tips to Make Home Safe for the Elderly
How To Tell Your Parents That They Shouldn’t Climb Ladders
No one enjoys getting old, but it’s something that is inevitable for everyone. Telling your older parents that they shouldn’t be climbing ladders, might not always go down so well.
Some seniors are unwilling to give up their independence and they don’t want to be lectured by their adult children.
If your senior parent is unwilling to listen, you might have to try a few different tactics. This could include:
- Telling them how important they are to you and that losing them would be awful not only to you but everyone else in your family
- Read up on fall-related statistics in older adults
- Find statistics on people who fall off ladders (it’s not only seniors)
- Getting someone else to talk to them if they won’t listen to you such as a sibling or one of their close friends
- Convince them to do a balance assessment with a doctor to see if they pass
Must Read: 5 Signs Of Elder Abuse You Should Be Watching Out For
Tips For Preventing Falls In Seniors
Proper use of ladders isn’t really something people are shown unless they work in an environment where ladders are frequently used.
A lot of people just grab their ladder and climb onto their roof without a second thought, but before you climb up a ladder you should make sure it’s completely safe.
If your senior parent wants to climb a ladder, offer to do the job for them. If they still insist that they do it themselves then put some measures into place that will make it as safe as possible including:
- Get them to see a doctor to assess their balance before climbing a ladder. If a medical professional recommends that they don’t climb a ladder, then hopefully that will deter them
- Check all the medication that they’re taking to see if there are any side effects including dizziness or becoming unbalanced
- Wear proper shoes
- Make sure the ground is clear around the ladder and that there are no cords or anything running along the ground
- Make sure they get regular exercise to strengthen muscles for walking and lifting
Check Out: What Does Respite Care for Elderly and Senior Citizens Entail?
Devices That Can Help Seniors Who Fall Off A Ladder
Technology is making it safer for seniors to live independently at home. If an emergency was to arise such as a fall off a ladder, there are certain devices that can detect when a fall has occurred.
The MePACS Solo Watch is a smart personal alarm with in-built fall detection. This personal alarm on a watch has two-way communication with the MePACS Response Team so if a person is in need of help, the MePACS team will be in contact with them within two minutes.
The response team decide who to call for help depending on how serious the situation is. If the person needs medical help, MePACS will call emergency services. The device also has GPS tracking so if the person cannot speak, the response team will know where they are.
Author Bio: Karen Smith has been working for MePACS as the Head of Sales and Marketing for the last four years and has over 20 years’ experience in health, technology, digital and finance industries.
