Basic Safety Practices to Do When a Senior Loved One Falls Down

Falls are common among seniors, and many family caregivers know how terrifying they can be. However, the occurrence of a fall frequently leaves family members wondering how to assist a senior loved one to get back on their feet safely. Unfortunately, a startled family caregiver is very likely to worsen a situation when attempting to lift a senior after a fall immediately.

Depending on the accident’s severity, this can have long-term effects on your loved one’s physical health. Taking matters into your own hands while panicking can put their lives in danger, especially if you mishandle the situation.

What To Do When a Senior Loved One Falls Down

If a senior falls down while you’re around, it’s critical to remain calm and urge them to do so as well. Take note that panicking won’t help alleviate the situation.

Here are some basic safety tips to keep in mind:

● Before attempting to move them, wait until the shock has faded away. It’s also crucial to immediately figure out what caused the fall so you can eliminate other risk factors. You don’t want to injure yourself as well, so make sure that the accident area is safe before moving further to help.

● If you’re worried about a potential dislocation, fracture, or sprain, or if they’re complaining about head, neck, or back pain, it would be best to keep them in position and call an ambulance right away. You should only move them if you are sure it is safe to do so since you do not want to worsen any life-threatening injuries.

● If they aren’t seriously injured and want to get up, support the lift carefully. If they get stuck, feel discomfort, or become too exhausted to continue, then stop at any moment. Pay close attention to your loved one’s effort to get back up. Your job is to assist them in getting back up to keep them stable, not to lift their entire weight. If they are unable to do so, call for emergency assistance.

Post-Fall Interventions You Can Do

Seniors generally perceive falls as unpleasant signs of their approaching dependency on others for support. However, according to studies, falling twice increases a senior’s risk of falling again. When happening regularly, falls can signify an underlying condition that requires medical care and should not be disregarded. Frequent falls raise the likelihood of sustaining a fall-related injury, such as a fractured hip or a concussion, and sometimes cause seniors to restrict their daily activities out of fear.

RELATED: Balance Exercises for Seniors: Prevent Falls and Injuries

Furthermore, you can strengthen home safety precautions if you are aware of this issue. If falls are becoming more common, that is a critical factor to take seriously. Small changes, including decluttering, installing grab bars, utilising mobility assistance, changing prescription drugs, participating in physical therapy, and acquiring an emergency alarm for elderly care, can make a big impact.

Are you thinking of utilising assistive care devices to support your senior loved ones while maintaining their independence? Get in touch with Tunstall Healthcare today to learn your options.

Source from: https://tunstallhealthcare.wordpress.com/2022/03/31/basic-safety-practices-to-do-when-a-senior-loved-one-falls-down/

How To Deal With Seniors’ Resistance To Care

 

When caring for the elderly, one of the most challenging things you may confront is resistance to care. How can you assist a senior loved one who refuses to accept help? In this article, let’s understand why resistance is an issue and how we can encourage our senior loved ones to cooperate with us to provide the type of care they need.

Understanding seniors’ resistance to care

Whether the subject circles around assisted living (e.g. moving to a care facility, utilising personal alarm systems for seniors, wearing pendant alarms, hiring in-home caregivers, etc.), it’s pretty common for seniors to display resistance to these interventions.

So what causes this behaviour anyway?

If your senior loved one requires assistance, they are most likely in a challenging phase. They are dealing with life-altering problems such as physical, mental, or emotional loss, including losing independence. Accepting assistance may imply giving up their privacy and changing their routine. As a result, your senior loved one may feel fearful, vulnerable, or furious that he or she requires assistance, which may also spark feelings of guilt about being a burden to family and friends.

In certain circumstances, your loved one may be stubborn, have mental health issues, or believe that accepting help is a sign of weakness. They may also be concerned about the expense of some types of care. If they have a medical condition that affects their mental health, memory loss could also make it difficult for your loved one to comprehend why they require assistance.

ALSO READ: 5 Stimulating and Helpful Home Activities for People With Dementia

How can you effectively respond to your senior loved one’s resistance to care?

Take a deep breath and try not to get overpowered by your emotions. While you may be offended or upset, try to put yourself in the position of your loved one. Respond to them with patience and understanding if they begin to resist. Always address them directly in the eyes and talk clearly, but never in a harsh or annoyed tone.

Physical difficulties, slow movements, carelessness, feelings of inadequacy, and indifference are some of the behaviours you may face. So it goes without saying that patience and compassion are really required during these moments. While it’s easy to lose patience and feel frustrated at times, showing your senior loved ones that you’re thinking about their welfare can be open doors toward full cooperation.

If all else fails, you can always employ the help of a professional if your loved one continues to reject care and is already harming themselves. Your loved one may be more amenable to a doctor’s recommendations about the significance of receiving care. It’s also essential to keep a senior loved one involved in choices regarding their care and discuss the benefits of the support.

What can assistive care technology contribute?

There are many ways to care for a senior loved one, and one of the most effective ways is providing them with the independence they want. With the help of assistive care technologies, such as personal alarm systems for seniors, you can intervene with your loved ones’ resistance to care without making them feel vulnerable. They know they can’t do everything on their own, but they don’t want to rely on anyone to do everything for them. This is why assistive care technology can be extensively beneficial.

Learn more about these care devices for seniors at Tunstall Healthcare. Get in touch with us today.

Source from: https://tunstallhealthcare.wordpress.com/2022/03/21/how-to-deal-with-seniors-resistance-to-care/

Why Use Pendant Alarm for Elderly Care

 

Assume you’re at home and you accidentally slipped and fell, causing you to be severely injured. If you live alone, this could be a terrible situation. A pendant alarm for the elderly is a preventative tool against this possibility. In addition, a portable pendant alarm can save your life in an emergency like a stroke or a seizure. The person’s emergency contacts will be notified and know that something terrible happened with just a press of a button.

Pendant alarms were initially employed in the early 1980s. Back then, users wore a big button around their neck or on a bracelet that, if pressed, summons assistance. They’re also known as piper alarms or lifeline alarms.

Pendant alarms are a great way to help your loved ones become independent and safe at home. If you are unable to pay a visit, a personal pendant alarm is an excellent alternative to consider, as it helps to keep your senior loved ones safe and provides you with the reassurance you need. To help you learn more about what this assistive device has to offer, we’ve gathered the most helpful information below:

What is a pendant alarm?

A personal pendant alarm is an assistive device that allows you to get emergency assistance by pressing a single button. They’re usually worn on a lanyard around your neck or around your wrist like a watch. Thousands of people in Australia use personal alarms on a daily basis to feel safe and secure in their own homes. If you start to feel sick or have an accident, you can call for help conveniently with a pendant alarm.

How does a pendant alarm send help?

Pendant alarms are simple yet powerful life-saving devices. They usually have a push-button that transmits a wireless signal to a close matching base unit. The base unit functions as a phone and dials an emergency number. You can then talk to the person on the other end using the built-in speakerphone to receive the assistance you need in the event of an emergency. When used, other pendant alarms are also designed to contact an immediate family member or guardian.

How can pendant alarms ensure your safety?

Statistics reveal that falls occur every day, whether in or out of the house. Even yet, most individuals cannot reach a loved one if this happens. Personal pendant alarms for the elderly protect them from becoming helpless in the case of a fall. If you have a loved one who is becoming increasingly shaky on their feet, a safety necklace can make a huge difference. They can continue to live independently without having to worry about their safety.

Affordable Pendant Alarms for Elderly Care

Whether your senior loved one is becoming older or has a disability, a pendant alarm for the elderly can make a significant difference in their lives. It’s always best to be proactive and prepared in these instances. Don’t wait until an emergency occurs before you think about their safety. Should you need an affordable pendant alarm for the elderly, you can count on Tunstall Healthcare to provide you with personal alarms that work 24/7.

Source from: https://tunstallhealthcare.wordpress.com/2022/03/08/why-use-pendant-alarm-for-elderly-care/

Three Scenarios Where Personal Alarms Can Be Life-Saving

 

Personal alarms are small electrical devices that are often used by seniors, children, lone workers, and anybody else who may require an additional support system. Most personal alarms in Australia today come in a variety of uses. For example, some versions have flashing LEDs for low-light situations, while others produce loud noises for outdoor use.

Wearable personal alarms can also be used for a variety of purposes. On the other hand, their primary goal is to call for attention or signal a problem to anybody within its range. Here are some scenarios in which a personal alarm can be extremely beneficial and maybe life-saving:

1. Emergency situations

Some emergency situations may be rare, but they’re still possible to occur. One specific scenario is calling for help in the event of a natural disaster. This is a dire circumstance in which a loud noise alert from a personal alarm system can be your only hope. In addition, a personal alarm with a fall detection function can also alert an external receiver that you’ve fallen or been hit, making it easier for them to provide immediate assistance. Personal alarms are extremely useful in an emergency. The idea of possessing one may put some people off, yet they may come in handy when necessarily needed. It’s always a good investment, especially if you want to ensure safety at all times.

2. Assisting people with dementia

Dementia is a collection of symptoms that affect the brain over time rather than a single illness. While each case is unique, the condition usually affects your memory, behaviour, and mental processes, making a daily living at home much more challenging. As a result, as the condition worsens, typical day-to-day chores may become dangerous. Personal alarms with sensors have been created to relieve the load on individuals with dementia and their caregivers, whether it’s a monitored smoke alarm or a prescription reminder. As a result, they can improve the quality of life for people with dementia, allowing them to live independently for extended periods.

RELATED: How To Create A Dementia-Friendly Home

3. Living alone

Having a personal alarm system allows you to be self-sufficient while still living alone at home. Having a personal alarm system can be a possible alternative to entering a care facility. Alarm users can stay in their homes or wherever they feel most comfortable rather than relocating into sheltered accommodation or residential care. Despite the fact that most alarms provide security 24/7, they remain unobtrusive in the home.

Final Thoughts

Even though some scenarios are unavoidable, you can ensure safety by taking preventive measures and doing everything you can to avoid harm. Personal alarms are one of the numerous ways families can keep their senior loved ones secure while they live independently at home. Are you looking for personal alarms in Australia? Tunstall Healthcare is offering the best personal alarms for seniors starting with the Tunstall Gem4 and Tunstall Smartlink Guardian 4G. Our personal alarms offer seniors the care and help they need while also providing them with the opportunity to enjoy their independence to the fullest.

Source from: https://tunstallhealthcare.wordpress.com/2022/03/04/three-scenarios-where-personal-alarms-can-be-life-saving/