How to Support an Elderly Loved One After a Fall
This is a contributed post.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that one in four elderly adults falls each year. While some of these are minor accidents, others can result in serious injuries that take months to heal.
Whether a musculoskeletal injury or a broken pelvis, older adults who fall need comprehensive support from their loved ones throughout their recovery journey, including these key components.
Prepare For a Potential Fall Ahead of Time
While most of us don't like to talk about worst-case scenarios, open and honest conversations about these risks can mean that if the worst happens, everyone knows what to do.
Ask your loved ones what their wishes are in the event of an accident. Are they comfortable going into a rehab facility while they get better, or do they want to recuperate at home? What types of injuries would they feel are a reason to be checked into a skilled nursing facility?
Acknowledging fall risks can also help prevent them, or at least lessen the impact. For example, taping down rugs and installing grab bars in bathrooms can prevent serious injuries, while fall alert buttons can ensure your loved one gets immediate help.
You should also make sure that all rooms in the home are clear so that if emergency medical services need to be called, paramedics can get to the victim in time.
Develop a Care Team
Lack of mobility has serious emotional and physical side effects, making it essential that your loved one has comprehensive support throughout their recovery. While doctors are the first resource for medical needs, friends and relatives also play a key role in ensuring a patient's comfort and overall well-being.
Unfortunately, it's common for one relative to take over all aspects of a senior's care, which quickly leads to burnout. You can avoid this by creating an action plan in which everyone in your loved one's life plays a role, no matter how small.
Create a group chat and ask everyone what they can contribute. Break things down into the smallest possible tasks, such as having one person accountable for getting mail and taking out the trash, while another is responsible for checking that bills have been paid and groceries are covered. This way, no one person is overwhelmed by all these minor tasks. The smaller responsibilities are also more manageable, which increases the chances that everything will get done.
Prioritize Maintaining Mobility
Decades of research are clear: less mobile adults are at a higher risk of dying early than their more mobile counterparts. This makes it crucial that you help your loved one get moving as soon as possible after a fall.
Physical therapists can help create a personalized care plan based on the patient's current mobility, which you can then support at home. You might also consider aquatherapy, which is gentle on the joints and can help improve mobility. Some facilities have wheelchair-accessible pools so that your loved one can get started on their care plan immediately.
Find Local Legal Support
If your relative falls somewhere outside of their home, such as at a friend's house or on a slippery sidewalk, they may be able to file an insurance claim under premises liability laws.
Local laws vary significantly, making it important to have an experienced professional to guide you through the claims process. For example, in Illinois, the Snow and Ice Removal Act protects property owners from liability if someone slips and falls on ice. However, the Chicago Municipal Code mandates snow and ice removal, including provisions for storing removed snow.
This means that if someone falls on an icy sidewalk in a Chicago suburb, the property owner might not be liable, but they would be liable in the city proper. A Chicago slip and fall lawyer can determine liability based on these factors and gather strong evidence for an insurance claim.
To support a potential claim, help your loved one keep track of all their expenses and their recovery process. Evidence like medical records, pain diaries, witness testimony, and receipts for out-of-pocket expenses like mobility aids can support your claim.
Ensure You Care For Yourself, Too
Helping an injured loved one can be challenging, especially if you're a busy dad with a full work schedule. As such, make sure to lean on your own support system rather than trying to do everything yourself. Schedule downtime and remember that you're not alone: you and your family have plenty of support from doctors, physical therapists, and legal professionals.
Elderly falls are a common and underdiscussed problem, but knowing what to expect can ease the process and help you show greater support. Coordinate with your loved one's doctors, consider legal options, and remember to take time away from caretaking when necessary. This ensures you and your loved ones come out of the experience stronger and with the funds you need to recover.
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