The percentage of elderly in the country’s population is growing every year; hence, there will be more seniors who will need health care and other hospitalization services in the coming years.
Although numerous programs and wellness measures are sponsored by governmental and non-governmental organizations regarding the advocacy to help seniors maintain their health and keep them safe, thousands of senior citizens are still brought to emergency rooms of health facilities due to many varying reasons.
Since Comfort Care Home Health Care supports this advocacy, we find it timely to share some helpful tips and information regarding the causes and prevention of injury-causing situations.
- Overdose on Medication
Drug overdose, especially on prescription drugs, has been a continuing problem in the field of medicine inside the country. Since decades ago, medication overdose has already been one among the top causes of death and injury among the citizens.
It is a given- majority of our senior citizens are taking medications regularly for particular health problems and it is uncommon that there are instances when they will forget to take them once in a while. Consequently, it is not surprising to find out that some seniors also tend to take their medicines more than once, whether on purpose or not. Thus, it makes senior citizens at greater risk of getting accidental overdose on prescription drugs.
At present, the government together with the medical community has already crafted more stringent rules regarding refilling of prescription drugs and other regulations to lessen these untoward incidents. Moreover, most pharmaceutical companies today has already started to discover new technologies and strategies to make medicine administration safer and easier.
Prevention: If you have an elderly loved one at home who is currently taking medication, it would be advantageous to get them a companion who would be capable of reminding them and helping them take their medicine strictly as prescribed by the doctors. However, if this will not be possible, you can always find other methods, like using pill boxes or gadget applications to remind seniors about their medication.
- Vehicle Collisions
Car accident is a leading cause of death among Americans, not just among senior citizens residing in the country. In fact, at least 500 senior citizens meet vehicular accidents daily.
Some surveys have recorded that these car collisions involving the elderly aging 65 years old and above, are often due to sudden strokes or heart attacks, vision decline, physical changes and cognitive or memory loss.
For the bodies of the elderly are not as strong as the younger generations, the injuries they get from these accidents heal longer and may result to complications and even eventual death.
Prevention: The most effective preventive method to this common cause of injuries is to not allow your senior loved ones to drive, especially if they are suffering from any medical condition.
- Falls
One out of three seniors is at great risk of falls; and one’s risk of falls increases as one ages. In every 30 minutes, an adult dies due to injuries related to a fall and these injuries could range from trauma, non-fatal injuries to fatal and deadly ones.
Prevention: To get rid of falls in the elderly, make sure that your home is elderly-friendly. You should eliminate objects at home which could cause seniors to fall. It would also be beneficial to have a care provider from a Comfort Care Home Health Care in Stony Island Chicago Illinois to be with them whenever such accident befalls.
Do not let your senior loved ones to suffer because of your failure to prevent these incidents. Know the prevention tips and apply them at home or wherever your loved one is located.
