Small Changes Can Improve Safety
Your loved one and many others have experienced illness that result in a decline in their ability to care for themselves. An illness or injury can really change how a loved one can function in their home. It doesn’t take much for the elderly to become weak and debilitated, resulting in them not being able to do the basic things for themselves that they use to do.
A common thing that I’ve seen lately is that many of the elderly patients that I am servicing are not admitted into the hospital for treatment after diagnosed with an illness or who have had an injury in their homes. Lack of medical staff or the unavailability of a room (due to the pandemic) have resulted in them being sent home from the ER sicker and weaker than what we are accustomed to seeing in the home setting.
In-home Occupational and Physical Therapy becomes an important component to their recovery — balance training, strengthening, pain management and endurance training. Surprisingly, temporary help and small changes in the home may also be all that is needed to prevent a bigger problem from occurring. Not all in-home modifications and changes are big, some are quite simple and many people say, “I never would have thought of that.”
Three Small Changes That Can Improve Safety After A Brief Illness:
1. Providing Temporary Help In The Home.
Having someone to provide assistance with everyday tasks is needed until strength is regained. Having someone present to assist with walking, to assist with personal care tasks and household tasks can prevent injury from a fall. When returning home from the hospital after an illness, many elderly loved ones can be weak, unsteady and at risk for falls. Weaning off of help is a gradual process as strength returns.
2. Modifying the Layout of the Home and Using Equipment
Oftentimes, the use of a walker or wheelchair may be temporarily needed. Moving furniture will allow for easier access of the wheelchair in the home and removal of throw rugs can decrease fall risks when using a walker. Use of safety equipment in bathroom and other areas of the home may also be needed
3. Compliance with an exercise program designed by an OT or PT is essential.
Regaining balance, strength and endurance are essential in order to be able to resume the many tasks that were able to be done prior to the illness. Having a sedentary lifestyle will prolong or prevent full recovery. Activity must be a part of daily life.
Reach out for help and support. Visit FindingAFoothold.com to see how.
Bottom line:
Some illnesses or injuries are temporary, setbacks that can be overcome. Allowing your loved one time to recover and providing the right support during their recovery process can set them on course to returning to a good quality of life in their home. Small changes in how things are done and changes in the layout of the home may be all that is needed to keep them safe. Seek the assistance of Occupational and Physical Therapy to determine if your loved one can continue in their home safely.
If you are a new caregiver or a caregiver with questions on how to safely and efficiently assist your loved one, reach out to Finding A Foothold.
Consuela Marshall, Occupational Therapist, Caregiver
Listen to the Caregiver’s Finding A Foothold Episode 23: Small Changes Can Improve Safety . The podcast is available on the FindingAFoothold.com website and on all major podcast streaming sites.
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Disclaimer: The podcast and blog are intended to provide basic information so that you can become a more informed caregiver. The information presented is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not meant to serve as medical advice or replace consultation with any health care providers you regularly engage with. Transmission or receipt of any of this information is not intended to, and does not, create a therapist-patient relationship. This information is not provided in the course of a therapist-patient relationship and is not intended to constitute medical advice or to substitute for obtaining medical advice from a physician or therapist licensed in the state where your family may reside. We encourage everyone to consult with your physician or therapist to see if they are appropriate and safe for you.