Blog posts tagged with 'elderly care'

Stay Safe this winter – Think Fall Prevention

 

 

 

 

 

Anyone can have a fall, but older people are more vulnerable and likely to fall, especially if they have a long-term health condition.

Falls are a common, but often overlooked, cause of injury. Around 1 in 3 adults over 65 who live at home will have at least one fall a year, and about half of these will have more frequent falls.

Most falls do not result in serious injury. But there's always a risk that a fall could lead to broken bones, and it can cause the person to lose confidence, become withdrawn, and feel as if they have lost their independence.

We are also heading towards the cold winter months and difficult weather conditions – slippery paths and icy conditions. So, you need to consider a fall prevention strategy for the months ahead and stay safe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are Repton Medical's Top 7 suggestions for preventing falls in the elderly during the Winter months and staying safe.

 

 

1.     Plan ahead. When possible, plan trips around the weather. If you do not need to go out, don’t go out. Wait for the weather and travel conditions to          become clear.
2.     Allow enough time to get where you are going. The chances of falling increase when you rush and use less caution.
3.      Exercise caution when getting into and out of vehicles and your home. Always hold securely to a door or another person.
        Take the path of least resistance. Look for the safest route to your location, including the paths into buildings. Choose alternate routes when necessary.
4.      Ask for help. Ask someone to help you navigate slippery or unsafe paths.
5.     Wear the right clothes - warm and dry . Wear gloves if necessary , to keep hands free for stabilization and balance.
6.    Wear appropriate footwear inside and outside. Consider slipper’s and sock’s thread and gripper protection. Extra protection can be worn.  Wear shoes      or boots with rough-textured soles that provide good grip in all kinds of weather conditions. 
7. Keep Warm and dry at all times. Look after yourself and help protect your heat.

 

 

Repton Medical have an amazing range of products to help and prevent falls in the home.

 

Visit our website today.

https://www.reptonmedical.co.uk/fall-protection-prevention-…

 

Did you know?? Hip Fractures are a major public health issue due to an ever increasing ageing population. Now 1 in 3 babies are expected to celebrate their 100th birthday which is causing pressures on healthcare and social services. As a result of an ageing population, falls are becoming more apparent in elderly care. Victims of falls over the age of 65 occupy hospital beds for more than 4 million days a year in England costing in excess of £26 billion annually. Annual health care costs for treating falls in England and Wales are in excess of £15 million per year and rising.

Dementia is a global health issue, affecting 44 million people worldwide. In the next 20 years, dementia is expected to increase due to a lack of research, treatment and investment. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia and is one of the biggest global public health challenges facing our generation.

Dementia currently affects an estimated 800,000 people in the UK and the number of cases is increasing significantly each year. By 2040 this figure is expected to have doubled. The symptoms of dementia may include memory loss and even difficulties with thinking, talking and problem-solving. According to the Dementia Services Development Centre, the main four problems in Dementia are...

Are you over 65 or do you have a long-term condition? As the winter months approach, it’s time we gain knowledge and prepare for the impact these cold and potentially life threatening months hold in store. Age UK estimates that as many as 25,000 over 65’s could die unnecessarily because of the cold weather, amounting to 206 deaths a day or one death every seven minutes. The charity also found that 35% of elderly people were worrying about being able to keep warm at home during winter due to the high energy costs.

Living with dementia can be difficult especially if you want to stay living in your own home for as long as possible because you would need help and support from others.

There has been a new study linking the benefits of dancing with the treating of dementia in east London, according to the BBC. Dementia is becoming more and more widespread in the elderly population throughout the UK and scientists have started to look at alternative ways to treat the condition without resorting to any kind of drug therapy. Music and dancing is just one area of study and they appear to be having a protective effect. Researchers from the University of Canterbury have started to work together with a dance company in order to analyse the benefits of music and dance in correlation with the treating of dementia.

Strokes can cause damage to a part of the brain that controls personal movement. This can cause weakness or paralysis on one side of the body and problems with moving and carrying out every day activities. The affected side of the body may feel different or heavy because the weakness make them difficult to move, or they may feel numb. Some people have more unusual sensations such as pins and needles, hot and cold sensations or feel as though water in running their limb.

Living with dementia can be both challenging and scary. However, there are many things that you can do to carry on living life as well as possible. You need to keep a positive outlook! Your plans for the future may change, but dementia doesn’t change who you are as a person. This diagnosis doesn’t mean that you need to stop doing the things that you enjoy, but you may have to start doing them in a different way.

Having dementia can make accidents at home more likely. Also, living alone might seem frightening if you know you have dementia. There are several things you can do to make yourself feel more secure and safe...