Fall Prevention for Seniors
As older adults enter a new stage of life, they may face difficulties handling what used to be simple day-to-day tasks. When this happens, some find it hard to ask for help when they need it, often due to a fear of losing their independence. However, the truth is that when someone is struggling in silence the chances of experiencing a fall increases significantly.
At Visiting Angels Grand Junction, CO, we understand the range of challenges that you or your senior loved one may face. Our Safe and Steady Fall Prevention Program is designed to address these challenges and provide solutions that promote safety and independence. Through this program and a broad variety of services, we can help empower your senior loved one to live their golden years to the fullest while remaining in the comfort of their home. We believe that seeking assistance when needed is not a sign of weakness but a smart and responsible choice that has helped countless seniors enjoy a higher quality of life.
Read our tips for a more accessible home.
Are You at Higher Risk of Falling as You Age?
Whether you are considering in-home care for yourself or a friend or family member, it is important for all of us to be aware of fall prevention as we get older. Falls are the number one cause of injuries among people 65 and older, leading to an estimated 3 million visits to the ER each year, according to the CDC.
At Visiting Angels of Grand Junction, we encourage senior communities and their families to be aware of the many signs that an individual may be at heightened risk of a fall. While trips and slips occur among people of all ages, any combination of the risk factors below points to an increasingly higher likelihood of an older person experiencing a fall.
The most common risk factors to look for:
- Worsening eyesight
- Muscle weakness
- Destabilization from a past injury
- Recent struggles with balance
- Increased incidents of tripping, slipping or falling
- Signs of cognitive decline
Want to know how our elderly care services help prevent falls? Find out in this short article.
How Our Non-Medical In-Home Care Services Keep Seniors Safe
One of the first things we do is examine the client’s home for ways to implement fall prevention measures. The people we serve are often surprised by the number of things they can do to create a safer living environment where they live. Even the placement of common household items can determine whether you are putting yourself or someone else at risk of falls or safety hazards.
We Recommend Safety Measures To Create A Safer Environment
With that in mind, our team provides home safety assessments. This entails a thorough evaluation of the individual’s home to look for anything that could potentially lead to falls, trips, or slips, after which we provide suggestions for appropriate solutions. Our clients discover that many simple safety measures can be made throughout their homes, from lighting adjustments to decluttering pathways. Specific recommendations may depend on the placement of furnishings and other potential hazards based on the individual’s day-to-day habits.
Be sure to review our Safe and Steady Resource Guide for a list of easy home modifications to reduce your loved one's risk of falling at home. It also contains a comprehensive home safety checklist. You can open the guide in your internet browser and save, download, or print it from there. This is a free resource for families so you can be as informed about fall prevention as possible.
We Provide In-Home Care Services to Prevent Fall Risks
The caregiver a client has been matched with will be ready to assist with light housekeeping, medication reminders, meal preparation, diet monitoring and more. The companionship they provide is equally important to our clientele. Visits from a highly qualified and compassionate professional can make all the difference – through fall prevention tactics as well as other services that help instill confidence so seniors can age in place more safely and comfortably.
With our companion care services, our caregivers provide valuable companionship and assistance with daily tasks such as light housekeeping, medication reminders, meal preparation, and diet monitoring. These services along with the additional services that we provide work together to empower seniors to age in place with confidence and independence.
Daily activities such as grooming, toileting, showering, and bathing can be a particular challenge for seniors who struggle with mobility, and a fall risk when they move throughout their home unassisted. Personal care services from a professional Visiting Angels caregiver can help your loved one continue maintaining a clean and dignified appearance despite mobility challenges.
Comprehensive protection against such risks is just one benefit of the diverse, non-medical home care services at Visiting Angels that are available to Grand Junction's aging community.
Our Caregivers Offer Safe & Steady Hands & Expert Assistance
Each client at Visiting Angels in Grand Junction is assigned an experienced and thoroughly screened caregiver. The Safe and Steady Fall Prevention Program in Grand Junction was created to help lower the risk of slips, trips, and falls for the elderly at home. Any caregiver who works with your loved one has been trained to make suggestions that can help reduce the risk of falls – and the likelihood of serious injuries, hospitalization, loss of independence, permanent disability, or even mortality.
Read more about our staff and hiring standards.
Local Caregivers Offer Local Perks to Grand Junction Seniors
One of the biggest benefits of working with Visiting Angels in Grand Junction is that we take a comprehensive approach to prevention. Caregivers not only assess the home for obstacles that can lead to falls, but they also encourage activities that improve strength, balance, flexibility and endurance.
Located in the heart of Colorado's beautiful wine country, our Grand Junction offerings do more than support in-home care. We can accompany your loved one outside of the home so they can continue enjoying activities and beauty this area has to offer.
Additionally, we can safely transport your loved one to doctor appointments, physical therapy, or any other local resource they may need to address a fall-related injury or just to maintain regular care.
Here’s a small list of local Grand Junction resources you can bookmark should you ever need to contact them. The list includes a few local hospitals, Meals on Wheels, and Hospice of Western Colorado.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fall Prevention
The team at Visiting Angels of Grand Junction is fully committed to providing you, your spouse, or another loved one with the tools they need for increased physical safety and to maintain a sense of personal independence. As many folks who contact us have similar concerns, you can get answers to some of our most commonly-asked questions below:
Can your caregiver assist with mobility?
Your Visiting Angels caregiver will be happy to assist with mobility in a number of ways. They can help your loved one move around their home, getting into and out of the bed, enter and exit the shower, and use a walker or cane if necessary, for a few examples.
Is fall prevention an aspect of other Visiting Angels programs in Grand Junction?
Yes! Our Safe and Steady Program (described above) was designed for those receiving a variety of home care services. Fall prevention is also an important part of several other Visiting Angels programs, including:
What should I do if my loved one has already experienced a fall?
If you are concerned about a fall, immediately contact the appropriate medical professional. You can also reach out to us to set up an assessment and create a plan tailored to prevent future falls.
What nearby areas do you serve?
Visiting Angels home care serves Grand Junction, CO as well as Mesa County, CO. See below for a more complete list.
Get Started With Fall Prevention in Grand Junction, CO
If you would like to learn more about our fall prevention program and services, do not hesitate to contact us or call at (970) 254-8888.
Fall Prevention & Safety Program Available For:
Grand Junction, CO; Palisade, CO; Clifton, CO; Fruita, CO; Collbran, CO; De Beque, CO; Mesa County, CO; Montrose County, CO; Delta County, CO.
Serving Grand Junction and Surrounding Areas
Visiting Angels GRAND JUNCTION, CO
2454 Hwy 6 & 50 #113Grand Junction, CO 81505
Phone: 970-254-8888
Fax: 970-241-3021