Daylight savings is coming to an end, and fall is approaching us quickly.

This time of year is full of beautiful autumn colors. The weather starts to cool down, and the days become shorter and nights, longer. But with all things in life, it’s important to take note of ways we can keep our loved ones safe through environmental changes. Here are a few of our tips to keep the seniors in your life safe this new season.

 

Prevent Falls and Accidents

Each year about 3 million older adults are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It’s safe to say that some of these falls may be in autumn.

The autumn leaves decorating your driveway might be mesmerizing to look at, but it is important to rake them up regularly as they are a slip hazard for seniors. Keep all pathways and driveways clear of any debris so that your loved ones are able to walk safely to and from their home.

As the days get shorter, there won’t be as much natural light in and around the house. Make sure all the lightbulbs are changed to ensure there’s plenty of light, so your loved ones can get around easily. Also, make sure there are extra batteries and flashlights for emergency situations to help your seniors prepare for any kind of event. 

It is important to take preventative measures to protect the senior in your life from falling or having an accident. Slip free shoes, handrails, plenty of lighting, are all simple ways to ensure the safety of seniors indoors and out.

 If the senior in your life already has a hard time getting around due to a back or knee injury, physical therapy is a great option for them to gain back their strength and be able to navigate through their homes and outside of their homes safely. Here at Liberty, we provide physical therapy for our homecare patients, and will make sure to provide your seniors with the tools necessary to be able to safely get in and around their home.

Fire and Carbon Monoxide Monitors

According to John Hopkins Medicine, space heaters increase the chances of carbon monoxide poisoning. By hiring a professional to check all furnaces and heaters, you can ensure they are working properly for the cooler days and would keep your seniors safer throughout fall and winter. 

As daylight savings time is ending, it would also be a good idea to change out the batteries in the fire alarm systems, along with the carbon monoxide detector. Check them again in March when daylight savings starts back up. This schedule will make it easier for everyone to remember when the last update was.

 

Stay Healthy and Active

Unfortunately, with the beautiful autumn leaves and crisp weather comes… flu season. It is important to remind your seniors and everyone that comes in contact with them to wash their hands with soap and water regularly. Keeping germs at bay will help decrease the chances of catching the flu and spreading it to others. Also, make sure your senior speaks with their doctor on whether or not they should get a flu shot. 

Having a healthy diet along with regular exercise are also great ways to stay healthy during the fall. Whether it’s taking a walk outside in the newly crisp air or participating in a community yoga class, it’s important for senior citizens to move their bodies and get their blood flowing. Regular exercise helps strengthen the body and promotes healthy joints, which in return, helps prevent falls. If your senior feels like their body is not able to perform daily exercise due to pain, injury or a chronic condition, physical therapy exercises can help restore their body function and get them back to exercising as close to pain free as possible.

While we can take many preventative measures to ensure the safety of our seniors, if the senior in your life is suffering from chronic back, knee or joint pain, these symptoms increase their risk of taking a fall. Contact Liberty Homecare and Hospice Services to learn more about our physical therapy services. Through these services, we support seniors to be able to perform their daily activities with confidence  and reduce costly trips back and forth to the hospital.

Ask your medical doctor to fill out a referral for our Physical Therapy services on our website. Let Liberty help you receive the expert care you deserve.