Home safe home––Reducing the risk of falling at home
Courtesy Texoma Medical Center, Texoma LIVING WELL Magazine
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about half of all falls happen at home. Taking a tumble indoors can cause minor injuries––cuts, bumps and bruises––or result in a life-changing injury––head trauma or a broken hip––that threatens one’s independence. In fact, falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries in older adults.
Falls are costly in terms of independence
Unfortunately, the risk for falling only increases with each decade of life. For instance, people age 75 and older who fall are four to five times more likely than those age 65 to 74 to be admitted to a long-term care facility for a year or longer.*
TMC Home Health understands the importance of being able to stay at home. Its team of providers––available 24/7––brings healthcare and customized care to the patient’s home. From providing post-operative cardiac care to wound care and IV infusion therapy, TMC Home Health offers a wide range of services, all according to the treatment plan created by the patient’s physician.
Tips to help make the home safer
TMC Home Health also recognizes there are simple precautions to take that can help make the home safer. Consider the following checklist from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Remove things you can trip over (papers, books, clothes and shoes) from stairs and places where you walk.
- Install handrails and lights on all staircases.
- Remove small throw rugs or use double-sided tape to keep the rugs from slipping.
- Keep items you use often in cabinets you can reach easily without using a step stool.
- Put grab-bars inside and next to the tub or shower and next to your toilet.
- Use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors.
- Improve the lighting in your home; install night-lights between the bedroom and bathroom.
- Wear shoes both inside and outside the house. Avoid going barefoot or wearing slippers.
We bring healthcare home to you
TMC Home Health is one of only two regional agencies that have passed a rigorous evaluation and is accredited by The Joint Commission, certified by Medicare and Medicaid as well as being licensed by the state of Texas.
Resource: *www.cdc.gov
For more information, call 903-416-6500 or Toll-free at 1-800-436-7577. www.texomamedicalcenter.net.
