According to new data from the Centers for Disease Control, the US health care system now spends $50 billion a year on one of the most widespread, most dangerous, and most preventable health risks to seniors: falls among the elderly. How Senior Home Care Addresses a $50 Billion Health Crisis
It’s a familiar problem for those of us who work in senior home care. Each year, roughly a third of US seniors suffer a fall of some sort, and falls are the number one reason that seniors lose the ability to live independently. But senior home care providers aren’t just familiar with this issue. We’re also uniquely positioned to help reduce falls among the elderly.
With expanded access to fall prevention programs, the senior home care industry could play a key role in addressing this health crisis, reducing the financial costs of falls and, more importantly, their impact on seniors’ quality of life.

Elderly Fall Prevention & Senior Home Care

In releasing their findings, researchers at the CDC have highlighted the fact that falls among the elderly aren’t inevitable. In fact, falls suffered by US seniors are almost always preventable. The researchers also noted that fall prevention programs have a proven track record of reducing seniors’ risks of falls. Fall prevention programs, which identify and manage fall risks, have been shown to reduce rates of falls among the elderly by nearly 25%.
Fall prevention programs are offered by a range of different providers, including medical organizations and non-profits. However, many of today’s most popular fall prevention programs are offered through senior home care companies. Given the nature of senior home care, providers of these services are uniquely positioned to provide fall prevention assistance.

• Senior home care services are provided in the comfort of home, where 55% of falls among the elderly occur. Many caregivers also accompany seniors away from home, helping elderly adults avoid falls wherever they may be.
• Home caregivers are skilled in monitoring and caring for seniors who are coping with frailty, poor balance, reduced vision, and other health concerns that increase the risk of falls.
• Caregivers are also familiar with the signs of declining physical and cognitive health, increasing the likelihood of early intervention.
• Senior home care workers can make sure that their clients’ homes are free of many common fall risks, like cords blocking walkways, bunched up rugs and mats, and spills in bathrooms and kitchens.
• Caregivers can help seniors make lifestyle changes that reduce the risk and impact of falls, including dietary changes and programs of light or moderate exercise.
• In the event of a fall-related injury, a caregiver can contact emergency services as quickly as possible, greatly increasing the likelihood of survival.
• Many senior home care agencies offer fall prevention resources to seniors and their family members, including detailed information on how your loved one can reduce their risk of falling by modifying their home environment and lifestyle.
• Some senior home care agencies provide detailed fall prevention inspections, in which care professionals inspect seniors’ homes for fall risks and provide families with detailed, personalized recommendations about how best to resolve these risks.

Safe and Steady Fall Prevention Program

At Visiting Angels^®, we’ve long been concerned about the risks that falls pose to American seniors. That’s why we developed ourSafe and Steady fall prevention program. This program was designed to provide elderly adults with the information, resources, and support they need to avoid falls both inside and outside the home.
Visiting Angels takes a multi-faceted approach to fall prevention through senior home care:

• The Safe and Steady program includes in-home assessments by our care directors. These assessments allow us to spot fall hazards in seniors’ homes and recommend corrective action to mitigate these hazards.
• The program also includes caregiver education, so that our senior home care providers can identify and address fall risks to their clients, while encouraging lifestyle choices that reduce the risk of falls.
• Educational resources are likewise provided to our clients and their families, so that they can practice effective fall prevention when our caregivers are not present.

When designing this senior home care program, we focused on practical ways that our clients and their families can prevent falls. This was possible thanks to more than twenty years of senior home care experience. We provide elderly adults with achievable strategies to prevent falls, helping our clients avoid the number one threat to their independence and the leading cause of accidental death among US seniors.
To learn more about our Safe and Steady fall prevention program, call Visiting Angels at 800-365-4189 today or contact your local Visiting Angels senior home care agency.
In addition, take advantage of the excellent products on Senior.com to help prevent falls in a home. Senior.com is an expert in helping you age in place with the right products.

How Senior Home Care Addresses a $50 Billion Health Crisis

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