Reducing Fall Risk with the Right Footwear

By Andy Niska | March 8, 2018 |

Elderly Care in Spokane WA: Preventing Falls with the Right Footwear

One of the most important things that you can do as a family caregiver is take steps to reduce the risk of your loved one suffering a fall. Each year throughout the United States there are approximately 29 million falls suffered by adults over the age of 65 with a large percentage of these suffering potentially serious injuries. Those who suffer falls are at greatly increased risk for suffering another fall within the next six months. For most elderly adults, the most pressing and severe consequence of suffering such a fall is the diminishment of functioning and quality of life. Fortunately there are many ways that you can help your parent to avoid these falls and to reduce the risk of them suffering such serious consequences. One simple and accessible way is by making sure that your parent has the proper footwear.

Use these tips to help you choose the right footwear for your parent to reduce the risk that they will suffer a fall:

Ensure that their shoes fit properly. Shoes that are too loose can lead to slipping or tripping, while shoes that are too tight can compromise gait and increase the risk that your parent will stumble or trip.
Look for shoes that surround the foot rather than having the toes or heels exposed. This reduces slipping and movement of the foot that prevents effective gait.
Choose shoes that provide proper support to the arch and the ankles. This keeps the foot stable and helps to reduce the risk of losing their balance and stumbling.
Make sure that their shoes do not provide excessive pressure or friction on any areas of the foot which can lead to pain that may cause your parent to change the way that they are walking in an effort to relieve the pain.
Ensure that the shoes have adequate traction and grip on the bottoms to reduce slipping and help to promote better balance.
Discourage your parent from wearing open back slippers.

Starting elderly care can be a fantastic way to help your parent maintain their quality of life, manage their needs and challenges, and find meaning and fulfillment in their later years. This elderly home care services provider can be with your parent on a customized schedule to ensure that they are with your senior when it is right for them according not just to their needs and challenges, but also to the amount of care that you are already able to provide. This means that your parent will always have access to the care, support, and assistance that will help them to stay happy, healthy, safe, and comfortable. These highly personalized services can also help your parent to pursue a greater level of independence, engagement, and fulfillment throughout their later years.

If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Spokane, WA, please contact the friendly staff at Love at Home Senior Care, today. Call (509) 204-4088

Sources

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/p0922-older-adult-falls.html

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

https://www.shellpoint.org/blog/10-shocking-statistics-about-elderly-falls/

Author
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Andy Niska

Owner at Love In Home Senior Care

Andy has over 20+ years experience in the medical community and has a true compassion for seniors. With a degree in Health Care Administration, he developed a background in a variety of health care services that only comes from first hand experience. While working as a manager of a large clinic and as an account executive for medical suppliers. Andy has built valuable relationships with the medical community.

His role in Love In Home Senior Care is to educate people on what care choice is the best fit for the senior and their family while attempting to make this decision as stress-free as possible for everyone involved.

This decision making process should be smooth and stress free for everyone, including all family members and their loved ones. Having access to people with experience (like the team at Love In Home Senior Care) to assist you along the way can help this process. With an extensive background in health care, Andy has the experience needed to guide and direct your loved one to the choice that is the best fit.