Home Care Assistance Helps Seniors With Balance Issues
You may think that older adults naturally lose their balance as they age, but that is not always true. They may not see as well and lose their footing, or their body may change, changing their balance, but they should not be falling all the time. If they are falling regularly, it is time to go through their house and get rid of any potential hazards or take them to the doctor to find out if this falling habit is an underlying issue from some other condition they have. Having home care assistance is a great way to help with prevention and ensure someone is around for them. Here are some things that may cause your loved one to have balance issues.
Dementia Can Cause Falling
If your senior struggles with memory problems and falls, it could be a sign of dementia. Although, this is something a doctor needs to diagnose. Sometimes an older adult may suffer from memory loss and not have dementia. However, if you think it could be a serious problem for your loved one, you should absolutely go to the doctor and check it out.
Your senior may be suffering from dementia and forgetting where they are or what they are doing, leading them to fall more. Your loved one may need more help around their house if they are in the beginning stages of dementia. Home care assistance can help your loved one focus on tasks and even help them keep the floors clean, which may prevent falling. They are caregivers who can help your loved one with overall health and well-being.
An Early Sign of Glaucoma
Sometimes elderly adults don’t think about going to the doctors regularly, especially not an eye doctor. Unfortunately, if your senior is falling a lot, it can be a sign they are developing glaucoma, which an eye doctor must diagnose and help them manage. Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, typically due to increased intraocular pressure (pressure inside the eye).
This can lead to progressive and irreversible vision loss, often starting with peripheral vision and potentially advancing to complete blindness if left untreated. If your senior is not seeing well, it can lead to more falling, leading to broken bones and a hard time living alone.
They May Need a Hip Replacement or Just Had a Replacement
If your senior has bad hips, it can make them unstable and fall more often. When your loved one has a bad hip, it can impact how mobile they are and lead to issues living alone. Home care assistance can help with many things, but a replacement may be necessary to continue aging in place. On the other hand, if your loved one just had a hip replacement, they may be getting used to balancing with their new hip, which can take time. Home care assistance can help prepare the home for when a senior comes back after surgery.
A Senior May Have Spine Issues
Having spine issues can dramatically impact someone’s balance, no matter what age they are. This can be especially true if your loved one has just had surgery on their back. They may fall more, but you should do everything possible to minimize those fall risks.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Home Care Assistance in Lake St. Louis, MO please contact the caring staff at Autumn Home Care, LLC today at 636-448-9347.
- Senior Home Care Tips to Prevent Bed Sores - November 3, 2023
- Understanding Personal Care at Home - October 19, 2023
- Home Care Assistance Tips for Long Distance Caregiving - October 2, 2023