Keeping our Beloved Grandparents Safe with Fall Prevention

Between Grandparents Day on September 13 and Fall Prevention Awareness Week September 21-25, it’s been an important month for seniors. While these two milestones could seem pretty disparate, the truth is, they couldn’t be more connected. With one in four Americans aged 65+ _[1] experiencing a fall each year, we must look at the factors that contribute to these falls, and take steps to prevent them, in order to keep our beloved grandparents and other seniors in our lives safe and healthy.

Grandparents Day

To honor the seniors in our lives this Grandparents Day, we spoke to our colleagues about the impact a senior has had on them. Here are just a few of the heartwarming, personal stories we heard:

“My grandmother was a walking encyclopedia. When strolling with her she would recite the botanical names of the trees and plants on her property, the biological names of the mollusks on the shore in front of her house, and related the prehistoric tale of the horseshoe crab we found on the beach.” - Charles W.

“My grandpa was a farmer and a carpenter and taught me how to tend to animals and build things just like he did all his grandsons. To this day, every time I pick up a tool and know how to use it properly, I thank him for my education, expecting me to be able to care for myself and giving me the skill set to do it.” - Jennifer T.

“Grandpa came from Cork, Ireland, and Grandma from Naples, Italy, their names written in the Ellis Island registry. Every meal my grandma made that wasn’t Italian was served with potatoes. Every Christmas was celebrated by a table full of lasagna, smelt, meatballs, and other things a kid stayed away from.” - Leonard R.

Fall Prevention

The reality is, all of these grandparents, and countless other seniors could be at risk for a dangerous fall. Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries and hospital admissions for trauma. Furthermore, falls can take a serious toll on older adults’ quality of life and independence. It’s time to proactively talk to the seniors in your life about preventing falls because falling is not an inevitable result of aging. Through practical lifestyle adjustments, evidence-based falls prevention programs, and clinical-community partnerships, the number of falls among seniors can be substantially reduced. And it starts with you.

Here are some Mayo clinic-approved tips _[2] on avoiding falls:

• Keep moving. Physical activity and fitness can go a long way toward fall prevention
• Wear sensible shoes, avoiding flimsy or slippery footwear that could make you stumble or fall.
• Light up your living space, using nightlights in hallways, stairways, and the bathroom, keep a lamp within reach of your bed, and maintain clear paths to light switches.
• Use assistive devices like a PERS, stairway and bathroom handrails, non-slip treads for slippery floors or steps.

How We Can Help

While fall prevention is largely between a senior, their health provider, and family, we’re here to help wherever we can, whether it’s spreading awareness about falls or providing solutions that enhance seniors’ quality of life while offering their loved ones peace of mind. We’re pleased to offer the following PERS products that are worn as a sleek pendant or wristband, which can be upgraded with a fall detection feature.

• Medical Alert Plus: An extended in-home range grants independence to those who love to garden or relax in the yard. No landline required, also offers home temperature monitoring and comes in a sleek pendant or wristband for flexible wear and use.
• ADT Health On-The-Go: This mobile base unit provides freedom and peace of mind for seniors and their family, whether in the home or far away. GPS location capabilities are enabled in case of an emergency for added safety while on the move.

Wishing you and your loved ones health and happiness, this month and always. If you want to know more about how we can help, visit ADT.com/health.

Sources:

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

[2] https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/fall-prevention/art-20047358

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