According to the Canada Safety Council, falls are the number one safety issue for Canadian seniors. They account for almost two-thirds of injuries for which those over age 65 are hospitalized, and 40 percent of admissions to nursing homes. There are several risk factors that contribute to accidental falls, including the use of certain medications, slowed reflexes, poor eyesight and problems with balance. Hazards around the home can also contribute to accidental falls. Therefore, when caring for a loved one with dementia, it is particularly important to reduce these risk factors as much as possible. For a list of prevention and safety ideas, see the Public Health Agency of Canada's Safe Living Guide.
If you or the one you care for have had frequent falls, a prevention and safety assessment might be necessary.
Calgary Falls Prevention Clinic
Based at Carewest Cross Bow, the Calgary Falls Prevention Clinic provides in-home assessment and management for individuals who have had frequent falls. The interdisciplinary team reviews all possible risk factors contributing to the client's falls and then reviews each client's circumstances with a geriatric medicine specialist. Specific fall risks and recommendations to reduce the risk of falls are documented in a report, which is provided to the client's family physician and Home Care Coordinator (if involved). The recommendations may include a referral to the Balance Training Program offered by this clinic or to a member of the interdisciplinary team for short-term intervention and follow-up.
Home Safety
If we have lived in one place for some time, we become used to the layout of the furniture and are aware of potential hazards, such as a step between one room and another. Because of the changes occurring within the brain, a person with dementia may not see the home as familiar and may no longer recognize the potential dangers associated with items and situations encountered every day. Time spent organizing the home to avoid common safety problems is time well spent.
As the caregiver, you should check around the home for any hazards. The following tips and Home Safety Checklist will give you ideas. You will probably think of more that are specific to your own home;
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Look at the home from the perspective of the person with dementia.
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Use the worksheets in the Home Safety Checklist as you move from room to room to alert you to potential hazards in the home.
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Ask a friend or visiting family member to help you. Their fresh viewpoint can be really helpful.
There may be other hazards that are not identified in the worksheets. The Home Safety Checklist is intended as a guide to get you started.
Download the Home Safety Checklist.
You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print the checklist.
For more information please contact our Family Support Coordinator at (403) 290-0110.