{"id":1894,"date":"2021-09-01T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-01T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.boomershub.com\/?p=1894"},"modified":"2023-03-10T14:32:06","modified_gmt":"2023-03-10T14:32:06","slug":"tips-to-prevent-falls-in-dementia-patients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.boomershub.com\/blog\/tips-to-prevent-falls-in-dementia-patients","title":{"rendered":"Prevent Falls in Dementia Patients: 7 Effective Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Introduction<\/h2>\n

As we age, we become prone to many health-related issues. One of them is dementia. And seniors who have dementia tend to fall at least 4 times a year. So, dementia falls are quite a common sight. And thus, it is crucial to Prevent Falls in Dementia Patients.<\/p>\n

It is up to us to take care of our elders. You obviously don\u2019t want the seniors of your house to fall and hurt themselves. So,\u00a0paying extra attention to dementia patients<\/a>\u00a0is crucial.<\/p>\n

But what makes people with dementia so risky to fall often? And as caregivers, how do you mitigate the risk of falling? As the National Fall Awareness Week (21-25 September) is nearby, let\u2019s find out the answers to help our seniors. \u00a0<\/p>\n

A Brief Understanding of Dementia<\/h2>\n

We talk a lot about Memory Care for dementia patients. But\u00a0what exactly is dementia<\/a>? You need to understand this properly before diving into dementia and falls.<\/p>\n

Dementia means the deterioration of brain functions. When an elderly is diagnosed with dementia, the person faces gradual decay in cognitive skills. They can include memorizing, paying attention, critical thinking and many more. As a result, they face problems with their day-to-day practices.<\/p>\n

And when we talk about dementia, many issues come to mind. One of the most alarming issues is elderly falls and dementia. It is not just the dysfunction in the brain that causes such a scary incident. There are many reasons why dementia patients can fall.<\/p>\n

To top it off, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a frightening claim. They have stated that dementia falls are the dominant reason for senior deaths from injuries. You cannot completely cure a dementia patient. So, how do you care for elderlies with dementia?<\/p>\n

There is no other alternative to preventing dementia falls among seniors.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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5 Causes behind Dementia Patients Falling Down<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"dementia\n
Dementia causes<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

Let\u2019s discuss dementia and falls causes first. Dementia patients are at a higher risk for falls than any other senior with health issues. Why are they at a higher risk of falling and injuries themselves? Many symptoms make them prone to such horrible incidents.<\/p>\n

When you know the reasons behind the fall, you know how to prevent it. There are several\u00a0risk factors<\/a>\u00a0associated with older people falling due to dementia. As caregivers, it is essential to assess the risks for better\u00a0dementia care<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here are 5 causes behind dementia patients falling.<\/p>\n

1. Decrease in memory capacity<\/h3>\n

Short-term memory loss is a common symptom of dementia. As a result, seniors can often have trouble remembering important information. And this can cause them to forget something dangerous.<\/p>\n

An example would clear out any confusion. Suppose you told the senior that the floor is wet from an ongoing cleaning process. You have also asked them not to walk around a certain room of the house. But the person can end up forgetting about it due to the mental condition.<\/p>\n

Thus, the decline in memory capacity makes them risky to slip and fall.<\/p>\n

2. Weak perception of the surrounding<\/h3>\n

It is very common for seniors with dementia to have an impaired perception of their surroundings. As a result, they may often fail to understand any fall hazard signs and signals. Again, we can simplify the cause with an easy example.<\/p>\n

Suppose there is a \u201cwet floor\u201d sign on the floor. We all may think that it is easy to understand. But a dementia patient may not realize the sign before it’s too late. This happens because they face trouble in catching these minor details.<\/p>\n

Also, such seniors can lack common sense at times. For example, they have known throughout their lives that feeling dizzy is a sign of taking a break and relax. But they can forget all about it and walk around in such a condition. Eventually, this will result in falling and hurting.<\/p>\n

3. Trouble in coordinating<\/h3>\n

This symptom is rather technical. Dementia patients can have trouble coordinating the movements of the muscles. We all know that every muscle, tissue and neuron is connected to the brain. So, a person with brain dysfunction can lose the ability to understand muscle movements.<\/p>\n

As a result, they will have trouble coordinating daily physical movements. This can result in them being clumsy. And finally, they can fall and get injured. \u00a0<\/p>\n

4. Hallucination and illusion<\/h3>\n

We get it- these terms may sound fancy and dramatic. But as any dementia patient about it. Do you know what they will say? They will state that hallucination and illusion are their best buddies.<\/p>\n

So, how do they contribute to dementia seniors falling? Imagine you are going down the stairs. What will happen if you hallucinate that there is no other step? You will immediately lose your balance and fall off the stairs.<\/p>\n

The same thing happens with dementia patients. And for them, this tends to happen more often than not! So now you know why they can be so unbalanced.<\/p>\n

5. Deterioration in senses<\/h3>\n

The final cause of this massive problem at hand is\u00a0dementia affecting the senses<\/a>. People with dementia can have a lack of sensory abilities. For instance, they may face deterioration in the sense of touch, sound, or sight.<\/p>\n

This can cause them to be at high risk of being careless. For example, suppose a senior with such issues is trying to get on the bed. Just a little sight-loss can result in them tripping over and falling.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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7 Tips to Prevent Falls in Dementia Patients<\/span><\/h2>\n

We\u2019re on the main topic now. Here we will see some guidelines and fall prevention strategies for dementia patients. These are how-to tips that will allow you to reduce the risks of falling. We\u2019ve compiled a complete 7-step approach for your help. So, without further ado, let\u2019s dive in.\u00a0<\/p>\n

1. Design a safe living place<\/h3>\n

The first task is to design an abode that is safe for them. So what does a safe living place mean for dementia patients? Let\u2019s find out.<\/p>\n