How Your Clients' Doctors Can Help With Fall Prevention


How Your Clients ' Doctors Can Help With Fall Prevention

As seniors age, falls and injuries become much more likely. In fact, about one-third of seniors older than 65 fall every year, and falls are the leading cause of injuries among the elderly, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you provide at-home senior care, it’s worth a visit to your clients’ doctors to help prevent falls. Ask doctors these questions that could help keep your client safe:

Is my client taking any medication that could cause falls?
There are many medication side effects that could make a fall more likely, including dizziness, shakiness and vision problems. Every time a new medication is prescribed, it’s important to ask what the side effects might be, so you can be prepared as a caregiver. 

Does my client have any health concerns that could cause falls?
Health problems are one of the most common reasons seniors fall. If your clients have eye or ear issues, or diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s or diabetes, they may be more at risk for falling. 

What do you recommend?
Doctors can make any number of recommendations depending on your clients’ risk factors. It’s possible they’ll change medications or lower dosages, and they may even recommend seeing a physical therapist or doing certain activities at home to help prevent falls.