Fall Prevention for Seniors
At Visiting Angels in Matawan, NJ, we are thoroughly committed to your senior loved one’s safety and well-being. A part of this commitment is providing senior communities ways to prevent falls that can lead to serious and even life-threatening injury. A sudden slip could end up affecting your loved one’s quality of life, mental health, emotional wellbeing, and independence.
The silver lining is that most falls are preventable, and falling is not an inevitable part of aging. Through the Visiting Angels Safe and Steady Fall Prevention Program, we help ensure that the chances of slips, trips and falls are reduced. Our compassionate, well-trained caregivers are here to establish your older loved one’s safety as they age at home, and that includes taking the necessary steps to protect against injuries.
Find a few tips and products you can use right now to be safer at home.
The Importance of Fall Prevention in Senior Care
With the proper care and attention, seniors have a chance to enjoy long, active lives. That’s why the need to protect older friends and family members becomes all the more vital as they age and enter a new phase of life. Educating oneself about fall prevention is an important first step that families can take in preventing one of the top causes of senior injuries.
Seniors are living longer than ever. When they are able to, many older people thrive in retirement by traveling, visiting friends, and pursuing hobbies and passions they didn’t have time for when they were younger. While a fall may not result in an injury, repeated slips or a persistent loss of balance can have implications that diminish a person’s quality of life. Ensuring your parent or spouse is taking measures to protect themselves doesn’t just help with their mobility – it also increases their level of confidence and happiness in life in general.
6 Signs Your Loved One May Be at Risk for Falling
No matter where your loved one resides, certain health-related factors may indicate a heightened risk of falling, particularly where a combination of risk factors are present. Some signs the National Council on Aging (NCO) says to look for include:
- Recent incidents of falling or losing balance
- A persistent feeling of unsteadiness
- Difficulty standing up from a seated position
- A reliance on the use of a cane or walker
- A loss of feeling in one or both feet
- Other difficulties with mobility
The NCO also provides resources you can explore with more information about how to prevent falls. If you are concerned about a loved one who may be at risk, contact a doctor to determine if there are any medical issues that need attention.
Do you know when it’s time for home care? Here are tips for deciding when you need it.
How Our CHHA Caregivers Help Prevent Falls at Home
When a caregiver shows up at your door, he or she is prepared to examine the home to determine whether any adjustments need to be made. They will be able to provide effective fall-prevention measures throughout the home. Steps may include securing rugs in place, making trouble areas more accessible, and organizing items in cabinets to create a safer environment.
Home Safety Assessments at Visiting Angels
The Visiting Angels Matawan care team will begin by conducting an initial assessment of the home to determine if there is anything that can lead to a person falling, slipping, or tripping. Our goal is to help the person continue living at home independently, as well as to make adjustments that will alleviate your loved one from unnecessary anxiety. The assessment will take a variety of measures:
- Identify potential safety hazards
- Check for common home risks
- Ensure that homes can accommodate the unique needs for aging in place
- Discuss our findings with the family
- Make recommendations for helpful adjustments
Find out more about what to expect when you begin services at Visiting Angels.
Non-Medical, In-Home Care Services
As we age, most of us will experience common changes that could increase the likelihood of a fall:
- Reduced vision
- Loss of strength
- Physical imbalance
- Cognitive changes
Things we may not think about – such as changes in lifestyle or a new medication – can also lead to a gradual loss of balance over time. But falls have a stronger likelihood of being avoided when an aging person is in the care of someone at Visiting Angels.
With our various non-medical home care services, our licensed certified home health aid (CHHA) caregivers provide valuable companionship and assistance with daily tasks such as light housekeeping, medication reminders, meal preparation, and diet monitoring. They also offer personal assistance to avoid fall risks for seniors with mobility challenges. This aid covers many activities of daily living such as grooming, toileting, bathing, and other hygiene support. These and additional services that we offer work together to instill confidence in seniors to age in place more safely.
Read about our home care services and how they can support a safer life at home.
Benefits of Our Safe and Steady Fall Prevention Program
Keeping clients safe and comfortable is our top priority at Visiting Angels. With that goal in mind, our Safe and Steady fall prevention program was designed to benefit all of our clients, regardless of their care plan. This means that the caregiver you work with has been trained to help seniors prevent falls in their homes that could result in hospitalizations or injuries and potentially impact their lifestyle and wellbeing. Below are some of the additional benefits of working with Visiting Angels of Matawan.
Comprehensive Care with Visiting Angels Concierge Service
Visiting Angels Concierge Service (VACS) is ready to assist you or a loved one with a broad array of essential tasks. From registered nurse on-call visits to setting up medication pill-boxes to podiatry house calls, this program can fulfill most senior needs that aren’t covered under our traditional care services. We like to consider it the ultimate “daughter for hire” experience. Our care is comprehensive. We do everything we can to make sure seniors in the Matawan area feel safe and secure in our care.
Learn more about the VACS offered by Visiting Angels of Matawan.
Mobility Assistance
Caregivers are available to provide assistance to people with limited mobility who may need help navigating stairs, bathing and getting out of bed, as well as transportation to activities outside of the home. They can also assist when using assistive devices like wheelchairs, walkers, and canes.
Helping Seniors Stay Active in Matawan
The town of Matawan has been dubbed one of the “best places” to live in all of New Jersey. In this close-knit borough within Monmouth County, a caregiver can help seniors take advantage of the natural beauty, enjoy the quaint architecture, and take in activities in neighboring towns. Just like Matawan, our agency has that “special something”.
Find out more about our local agency and what gives it that differentiating factor.
More About Fall Prevention with Visiting Angels Matawan
Find some of our most commonly-asked questions below. Whether you are looking for assistance for yourself or a loved one, we find many people have the same concerns.
Is it too late to get fall prevention services after a fall?
Fall prevention is great if it can be put in place before ever experiencing a fall, but for many, they don’t consider it until after already falling. Doing so once can actually increase the chance of a fall happening again, so consider a fall as a warning sign that you need prevention services now.
Are Visiting Angels’ caregivers trained for preventing falls?
All our caregivers are licensed as Certified Home Health Aides (CHHAs) by the NJ Board of Nursing. They also receive specialized training on fall prevention strategies and tactics and are fully experienced and able to offer safe, capable in-home care.
Read more about our experience.
What can I expect in regard to costs?
People may shy away from the idea of living assistance services due to the cost. However, it is important to note that investing in fall prevention programs could potentially save lives and money in the long run, not to mention prevent injuries, unnecessary suffering, and even death. Visiting Angels in Matawan offers affordable options to make our safety program accessible to all. Whether your goal is to avoid falls or simply educate yourself on the subject through the Safe and Steady Fall Prevention Program, you and your family could also be avoiding costly medical bills or extended hospital stays. All costs will be discussed and fully disclosed during your free initial consultation.
We also invite you to learn more on our FAQ page, and of course, we’d love to talk to you in person or on the phone. We can always be called at 732-671-2899.
Contact us to see how we can help with fall prevention and more.
Fall Prevention & Safety Program Available For Other New Jersey Locations:
Cliffwood, NJ, Englishtown, NJ, Hazlet, NJ, Holmdel, NJ, Keyport, NJ, Marlboro, NJ, Middletown, NJ, Morganville, NJ, Monroe Township, NJ, Old Bridge, NJ, Parlin, NJ, Sayreville, NJ, South Amboy, NJ, and Manalapan Township, NJ
Serving Southern Middlesex to Northern Monmouth Counties from Woodbridge to Middletown
Visiting Angels MATAWAN, NJ
5 Ravine Dr #2AMatawan, NJ 07747
Phone: 732-671-2899
Fax: 732-671-3394