Aging gracefully doesn’t simply mean adding more years to your life. It means maintaining your quality of life for as long as possible. The best way to ensure this is by prioritizing injury prevention.
While the risk of injury naturally increases as you age, there are steps you can take to prevent them from occurring.
As Dr. Daniel Sanchez Pellecer from the Mayo Clinic emphasizes, “Stay active both physically and mentally. Maintain your social activities… and make your annual physical a priority.” These habits help prevent injury and contribute to a healthier, more fulfilling aging process.
Managing Your Risk Factors
According to the National Institute on Aging, roughly 85% of older adults have at least one chronic health condition. (Around 60% have at least two.)
These conditions can increase the risk of injuries, especially falls, but many of their contributing factors can be managed. Lifestyle choices (like maintaining a healthy weight and staying active) play a large role in preventing chronic illnesses and the injuries associated with them.
Another aspect of injury prevention is regular health screenings. For instance, vision tests can catch early signs of cataracts or glaucoma, and bone density tests are important for monitoring osteoporosis risk.
Physical Changes and Risk of Injury
As we age, our bodies naturally experience physical changes. Tasks that once felt routine, like driving, may become more challenging and even dangerous.
Impairments in vision, like cataracts, can affect depth perception and reaction time, making it harder to drive safely. Along the same vein, reduced flexibility and stiffness in the joints can also hinder quick responses.
When it comes to things like driving, being proactive is key:
- Take refresher courses tailored to older adults.
- Try to limit driving during rough weather conditions and at nighttime.
- Adjust the roads you take to avoid high-traffic, stressful areas.
Fall Prevention Starts at Home
According to the CDC, over 14 million falls are reported each year in the U.S. alone. Fortunately, many falls can be prevented with a few proactive measures at home.
Here are some actionable steps for reducing fall risks in your living space:
- Remove tripping hazards like loose rugs.
- Install grab bars near toilets and in showers in the restroom.
- Place nonslip mats around the home to prevent slipping on wet surfaces.
- Make sure to wear shoes with good traction and support in the home.
By taking these simple steps, you can create a safer environment that supports healthy aging.
Building a Prevention Team
Injury prevention isn’t something that your aging loved one can handle alone. It’s smart to put together a “prevention team” of professionals to help them with the support they need to stay healthy.
But what does a prevention team include? Here are some examples:
- Fitness Professionals: Develop customized exercise routines that improve strength and mobility.
- Wellness Coaches: Offer guidance on lifestyle choices and stress management.
- Nurses: Aid in monitoring health conditions and offering advice on managing chronic illnesses or medications.
- Nutritional Counselors: Provide insight into proper diets that support bone and muscle health.
While you might not have direct access to these professionals at home, there are retirement communities that luckily have these valuable resources at their disposal.
Additional Injury Prevention Strategies
The sheer number of prevention strategies for seniors is exhaustive. Here are a few more rapid-fire tips to help you prevent your senior from getting injured:
- Keep up with vaccinations, such as the flu shot and pneumococcal vaccine.
- Review your medications with your doctor regularly to discuss potential risks and side effects.
- Incorporate daily exercises (like yoga or swimming) to focus on maintaining strength and balance.
Taking Action
Injury prevention is all about taking early, preventive action. It doesn’t have to be a mountain of change, either. In fact, you can just start by taking on risk factors one at a time within the home. These small steps can look like securing a loose rug, or finally scheduling the vision test you’ve been putting off.
When you prioritize injury prevention, it doesn’t just help you to maintain a high quality of life; it also helps ensure you remain independent for as long as possible. This isn’t an easy journey, so if you’re ready to take the next steps with a strong support system, contact Charter House.
Contact Us
We’re here to help you navigate the road to healthy aging and provide the support you need to thrive in your retirement. Reach out to us today to learn more about how we can support your retirement needs.