More than 1 in 4 adults fall each year. In many older adults, falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries and account for 3 million emergency room visits each year.
However, many of these falls and hospital visits are preventable. Here are 5 ways Assisted living communities like Collington are helping to prevent some of those hospital visits for their residents.
- Assisted Living Communities are Designed to Prevent Falls. One main reason that older adults fall is from living in a house that is not designed properly for them. Something as simple as a throw rug getting caught under their feet can cause a fall, or having to walk up and down stairs, or a far distance to the kitchen or restroom are all reasons that falls can happen easily at home. Assisted living communities are designed to prevent falls. They are equipped with hand rails in hallways and stairwells, grab bars in bathrooms, barrier-free showers, entrance ramps and other amenities to promote safety for their residents.
- Exercise Classes. Studies show older adults should get at about 150 minutes of aerobic activity each week, but sometimes it can be hard to meet that goal, especially for those who are living alone. Exercise is extremely important in preventing falls because it strengthens the body and promotes balance. Assisted living communities offer exercise classes for adults of all ages which make it fun and interactive while still offering the benefits of strengthening muscles.
- Proper Nutrition. Poor nutrition is another leading cause of falls and E.R. visits. For individuals living alone it can be difficult to make healthy meals for themselves especially if they are suffering from a condition that might make standing or getting up and down frequently a struggle. Assisted living communities provide nutritious meals for their residents that can help to improve their well-being and health which in turn prevents the risk of falls and other illnesses.
- Medication Management. Older adults often have a variety of medications to take daily and it can be easy to take too much of one or forget another which can land them in the hospital. Assisted living communities provide nurses and services to help track dosages and administer daily medications to avoid any mishaps.
- Round the Clock Observation. Assisted living communities can create peace of mind in knowing help is always right around the corner. When living at home alone, it can sometimes take hours to get help in the event of a slip and fall. Once an older adult falls their chances of falling again double and that can cause a lot of stress and worry for the individual and their family. Assisted living communities provide nurses and staff members who check in on residents’ multiple times a day and are immediately available in an emergency.
Even with every precaution taken, there will still be times when hospital visits are necessary, but with the care and closeness of help in assisted living communities it can greatly decrease the risk and frequency of emergency room visits.
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