One of the foremost concerns for caregivers supporting an older adult's decision to pursue aging in place is proper fall prevention. As mobility decreases, falls can become unpredictable and dangerous, especially for those who forgo around-the-clock supervision. However, one Chicago-based organization, Simply Home Health, has introduced a novel program that has been proven to have helped assisted living facilities reduce falls by more than 50 percent.
According to Senior Housing News, a study performed at the Otago Medical School in Dunedin, New Zealand, found that Simply Home Health's method produced a 54 percent decline in falls for residents.
The method involves the use of ankle weights to strengthen key muscle groups that are responsible for fall prevention. Study participants were also asked to exercise three days a week and record their progress in "exercise diaries."
In 2012, direct medical costs resulting from falls totaled over $30 billion, with over 2.4 million older adults treated in emergency departments, according to Senior housing News.
"The cost of treating fall-related injuries among the elderly continues to be a significant part of the U.S. health care budget with the root cause of 85 to 90 percent of these falls being the loss of muscle mass and strength that occurs in all sedentary older people," Simply Home Health CEO Robert Kunio wrote in a report.
For caretakers and children of older adults, this method could help increase confidence in the decision to age in place.
Independa's home health care solutions can help to integrate this method outside of assisted care facilities. Our Angela™ solution features an award-winning, intuitively designed interface that provides single-touch access to medication reminders, daily schedules, video chat and important health information, as well as fun games and activities that mentally stimulate older adults. Through the Caregiver Dashboard, caregivers and loved ones can set reminders for care recipients to exercise and follow the steps outlined in Simply Home Health's fall prevention method.
To schedule a demo, or learn more about how Independa's solutions can support the decision to age in place, contact us today through our online form.
