2 Benefits Of Hiring A Home Care Service For Your Elderly Parent Who Is At High Risk For Falls

If you have an elderly parent at home, their doctor may have assessed them and found that they are a fall risk. Whether your parent has severe arthritis, dizzy spells when getting up, or a history of previous falls, they are at a greater risk of falling in the future and will need extra care.

While you may wish you could be with them at all times, you may have other obligations and worry about your loved one when you are not home. Besides having someone there when you cannot be, there are a couple of benefits of hiring a home care service to help take care of your elderly parent who is at high risk for falls.

1. Initial Assessment During the First Visit Helps to Pinpoint Areas in Your Home That Increase Your Parent's Fall Risk

One benefit of having an at-home care service take care of your parent is that they will perform an initial assessment of your house during the first visit. During this assessment, they will look at areas of the house and pinpoint potential problems that could lead to an increased risk of falls.

For example, they will look at carpets that may slide when your parent steps on them or make note of the slippery tile and tub in the bathroom. After pinpointing these areas, they can then make suggestions and implement fixes, such as applying double tape under the carpets or ordering bathing and toileting equipment that you and the caregiver can use for your parent.

2. Home Caregiver Can Devise a Personalized Plan to Help Your Parent with Mobility to Help Decrease Their Fall Risk

Another benefit of hiring a service to help your parent who is at risk of falling is that they can devise and implement a personalized plan to help with mobility. Depending on what is causing your parent's increased risk for falls, they will develop a care plan to help decrease that risk.

For example, if your parent is weak on one side of their body because of a previous stroke, the caregiver may rearrange items and furniture so that they get out of bed on their strong side. They can then use equipment or special lifting techniques to help your parent get up safely.

When you have an elderly parent living at home who is at high risk for falls and you cannot be with them at all times, hiring a professional at-home caregiver can help alleviate some of your concerns. During the first visit, they can assess your house to find areas that could increase your loved one's risk and suggest ways to fix them. They can also devise a personalized plan so that the caregivers can help your parent with their mobility in a way that decreases their risk. For more information, contact a home care service in your area to speak with someone who can help you.