Five Items Your Mom Will Want After a Fall

Each year, 25 percent of American men and women over the age of 65 falls at least once. Preventative measures will help. You can remove clutter, fix loose flooring, and improve lighting, but it can’t prevent every fall.

If your mom falls on an icy sidewalk, trips on stairs, or falls out of bed, you should not let her get up immediately. If she’s unconscious, an ambulance must be called. If she seems okay, she needs to stay on the ground until she assesses her pain. If necessary, take her to an urgent care clinic or ER to see a doctor and follow the doctor’s instructions during her recovery. She may also want these items handy during her recovery.

Reading Materials and Movies.

It’s likely your mom will need to take it easy. Stock up on movies or sign up for a trial of a streaming channel like Hulu or use a free service like Crackle, the Roku Channel, Tubi, and Vudu. She can get free digital books through sites like Bookbub or through her local library.

Mobility Aids.

Depending on your mom’s injuries, she may need some help with mobility. A broken leg or ankle will require the use of crutches. She’ll need a shower chair while she showers. Doctors can’t do anything for a broken rib, but the pain can be excruciating when she gets into and out of her car, so an additional handle and swiveling pad on the car seat can help.

Pain Relief.

Some doctors will prescribe pain medications, but others will avoid it. Your mom may be using Advil and Tylenol to manage pain for the duration. Over-the-counter lidocaine patches may be recommended for a broken rib where not much else can be done.

Pillows.

Keeping a broken ankle or leg propped up is important. Make sure your mom has pillows to help prop up her leg or support her back while she’s resting.

Limited Preparation Meals.

Standing and cooking a full dinner is not going to be appealing. Fill your mom’s fridge and freezer with meals that don’t need cooking or need minimal preparation. While it’s more expensive, buying vegetables and meats that are already chopped up can be a huge help.

Following a fall, you need to weigh the damage versus your mom’s desire to be alone 24/7. It may be time to look into elderly care services for her. A caregiver can join her for walks, make sure she does what her doctor recommends, and drive her to appointments.

If you or someone you know needs help with elderly care in Hudsonville, MI, contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 258-2300 for more information.

Sources:

https://www.ncoa.org/news/resources-for-reporters/get-the-facts/falls-prevention-facts/

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Gauthier Family Home Care

Owner at Gauthier Family Home Care

Call (616) 258-2300. Gauthier Family Home Care exists to provide options for our clients to retain their independence in their own homes, improve their quality of life and support their extended families. We will accomplish that by providing compassionate, professional caregivers who will nurture, stimulate, and cater to each client’s specific needs without fail.

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