Eight Steps to Take After Your Mom Fell and Hit Her Head
Your mom fell getting out of the shower and hit her head against the toilet. This isn’t uncommon. Approximately 2.8 million traumatic brain injuries (TBI) occur each year, and falls are a leading cause of these head injuries. Falls account for almost half of all TBIs.
What can you do to help your mom recover? Follow these eight steps.
Take Her to a Doctor
Your mom may insist she’s fine, but she hit her head. Take her to see a doctor. Actor Bob Saget’s tragic death is an excellent example of why any blow to the head shouldn’t be ignored. It’s better to learn it’s nothing alarming than to put it off and risk your mom’s well-being.
Help Her Manage Arthritis Pain
24-Hour Home Care Palm Beach County, FL: Seniors and Falls
Joint pain can make it hard to take a step and maintain balance. If your mom has been diagnosed with arthritis, talk to her doctor about the best over-the-counter pain medications to ease the pain and inflammation.
Improve Home Safety
Why did your mom fall? Did she slip on wet tiles? A non-slip shower mat improves traction when the floor is wet and soapy. Install grab bars in the shower and on the outside wall. Grab bars give her something to hold when stepping in and out of the shower area.
Make Sure She’s Not Alone
If your mom’s fallen more than once, she needs someone with her. If those falls occur when she’s showering, have someone nearby when she gets up and takes her morning shower. Caregivers can take over tasks like laundry to keep her from trying to walk up and down the stairs with a heavy basket.
Boost Her Exercise Routines
If your mom doesn’t get a lot of exercise, it’s time to change that. She should aim for at least 30 minutes a day. Strength training and programs that build balance skills and muscle strength are essential.
Change Her Diet
Have you talked to her doctor about her bone density? If your mom’s bones are thinning, it may make it harder for her to walk around and keep her balance. A diet that ensures she’s eating enough calcium and vitamin D is essential for bone health.
Look at Her Medications
Is she taking any prescription medications that cause lightheadedness? If so, talk to her doctor about them.
If they caused a fall, it might be better to have her take them when someone is around. Or, it may be okay for her to take them at night before going to bed. She can sleep through the worse of the dizziness.
Hire 24-Hour Home Care for Her Recovery
Your mom needs to have someone watching her throughout the day and night. With 24-hour home care services, she has caregivers available to safely help her get to and from the bathroom. If she needs a drink, her caregiver can get it.
Talk to a home care agency about the complete range of services available with 24-hour home care. During her recovery, support is essential, and caregivers ensure she has everything she needs until she’s feeling better.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering 24-Hour Home Care Palm Beach County, FL please contact the caring staff at Elite Senior Home Care today. (561) 570-6613
Elite Senior Home Care provides Home Medical Equipment!
Visit www.EliteMedicalSupplyFL.com
Sources:
https://www.brainline.org/article/get-stats-traumatic-brain-injury-united-states