At Visiting Angels of Northern Shenandoah Valley, our Safe and Steady® fall prevention program is designed to help reduce your senior loved one’s risk of slips, falls, and other accidents in the home and thus help them avoid hospitalization, loss of independence, cognitive impairment, permanent disability, and other serious effects caused by falling. With the help of our fall prevention caregivers, your loved one can avoid the need to move into an assisted living facility or senior living community and continue to age in place and enjoy the comforts of home for as long as possible.

"I can't say enough about the quick and knowledgeable response to our needs relating to my elderly mother. I would not hesitate to recommend the agency!"

Why Is Fall Prevention Important?

Falls are a serious hazard for seniors. Current data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 14 million seniors report suffering a fall every year, which makes it the most common cause of injuries for adults over the age of 65. There are many reasons why falling is more common in seniors, and such factors include:

• Decreased strength
• Poor coordination
• Limited mobility
• Reduced eyesight
• Hearing loss
• Stiff or painful joints
• Health complications
• Cognitive disorders
• Medication interactions

In addition to the added risks of falling, seniors also typically face more serious injuries when they suffer falls. These consequences can include things like hip fractures, traumatic brain injuries, or even death. Even when falls aren’t fatal, the ensuing medical interventions and recovery period can come with life-threatening complications. Most seniors who suffer a hip fracture without life-threatening complications still never regain full mobility.

Reducing the Risk of Falls at Home 

Though falls are dangerous and more than 75% of serious falls occur in or around the home, there are steps you can take to keep your loved one safe. Our Safe and Steady® Fall Prevention Resource Guide is a great place to start and can help you assess your loved one’s potential fall risks. This helpful guide has information regarding:

• Physical, social, and emotional health impacts of falls on older adults
• Environmental risk factors that increase the likelihood of falls at home
• Precautions you can take to reduce fall risks at home
• Design changes that can reduce your senior’s risk of an at-home fall
• Lifestyle changes that can further reduce fall risks for your senior
• Simple home modifications you can make to your loved one’s home to help them avoid injury

 However, if you want to be as prepared as possible, it’s a good idea to reach out to our team about our in-home fall prevention services. With this program, an Angel will come to your home to provide your loved one with a full assessment of their fall risks and create a plan to help them avoid accidents while also providing them with mobility assistance.

In-Home Senior Care Services

In addition to our Safe and Steady Fall Prevention Program, we also offer several other older adult care services that can help your loved one avoid falls. Our personal care services can help your loved one with balance-intensive tasks that may give them trouble, such as bathing, grooming, and dressing. We can also help your loved one with light housekeeping so that they don’t run the risk of slipping on clutter. We also offer other home care services that can assist with fall prevention, including Alzheimer’s care, dementia care, post-hospital care, and more. Our respite care providers are also happy to temporarily assist your loved one and monitor their safety while you rest or take care of other responsibilities. 

Getting Started With Visiting Angels NSV

If you would like to learn more about the senior fall prevention services we offer in Clear Brook, White Post, Boyce, Berryville, Stephens City, Hayfield, Winchester, and Stephenson, we make it simple! Just give us a call at 540-409-4401 or use our online contact form to get in touch. From there, we can send a caregiver to your home to answer any questions you may have about our in-home care options and show you a potential blueprint for your loved one’s care. Get in contact with us today!