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How To Avoid Elderly People From Falling?

Posted on Sat, 15 Nov 2014

Question: I work with elderly people, so they are often wobbly. How can I prevent them from falling, assuming I'm close enough to them? Also, how do I help get them up if they have fallen? It's amazing how heavy even small people are when they're deadweight.

Answered by Dr. Mukesh Chugh (39 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Simple measures will be of big help

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for posting
I really appreciate your concern for elderly members of our society. My suggestions are-
1.Floor should be dry all the time and with antiskid tiles.
2.Light should be adequate and on at night time in the corridors and toilet area.
3.Side railing should be there in toilet and corridor.
4.Adequate number's of walking aid like walker and stick be there to help them walking.
5.Regular medical check up especially eye check up.
6.Proper clothing
Regarding lifting a patient you should have stretchers and try to lift them with spine in as much straight position as possible.Bending of spine is not allowed.
Hope this answers your query.
Take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Mukesh Chugh (16 hours later)

I need to know how to keep the person from falling. If I'm helping them out of the shower and they start to lose their balance, how can I keep them from going down? Also, if a person is already on the floor and is unable to get up, how can I lift them? Is there a special position for one or both of us?

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Mukesh Chugh (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
As follows

Detailed Answer:
Hello
You are welcome.
My suggestion for you is-
1. Give them walker to stand and walk, along with regular muscle strengthening exercises.
2. You need to have at least two healthy muscular people to lift an overweight elderly patient.
3. If a person is lying on floor you need at least three people to shift him safely to a nearby stretcher. One person hooks his hands in patient axilla, second person (in sitting position at floor) holding his spine in straight position and the third person holds the legs.
Shifting should be smooth and in one go, like 1, 2, 3.....and shift.
Hope this helps.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Mukesh Chugh (15 hours later)

So a small person can't put themselves in a particular position to lift a deadweight person?

Answered by Dr. Mukesh Chugh (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
As follows

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Yes it's true.If he/she tries it will be unsafe for him/her.
Take care

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D