The Role of On-Site Therapy in Preventing Falls and Injuries in Assisted Living
Falls are one of the leading causes of injury in senior adults. It can also lead to life-altering consequences including broken bones, concussions, or even a loss of independence. If your senior loved one has a history of falls, it is essential to make sure they’re in an environment where they get ongoing care and support.
In an assisted living setting, there is on-site therapy that can help prevent future falls and injuries. This guide will discuss what measures are taken in such a setting to ensure that falls and injuries are prevented amongst residents. Let’s go over the details on what to know that your senior loved one can be safe.
Why Fall Prevention Is So Important In Assisted Living
One in four adults over 65 years of age experience falls every year. However, assisted living communities provide safety features, such as proper lighting, non-slip flooring, and handrails, ensuring your loved one is safe and secure from falling.
In addition, therapy sessions for strength building, mobility improvement, and awareness are beneficial for seniors in an assisted living setting. When done on-site, it’s easy, accessible, and convenient for residents that need such therapeutic services regularly.
What Are The Benefits of On-Site Therapy for Residents?
Off-site therapy appointments include travel and scheduling issues which can be a major issue for your senior loved one. That’s why on-site therapy in assisted living can really make a difference. Not only does it improve participation, but it also makes it so that therapists are more laser-focused on working closely with your senior loved one as well as their care staff. As a result, the therapy regimen is more personalized.
In the case of preventing falls and injuries, physical therapy is more emphasized. It includes targeted, low-impact exercises that are created for each resident’s individual needs and limitations. Consistent therapy can go a long way for a senior where they can experience improvements in stability and confidence even if they rely on safety features on the community grounds or in their living space.
Strength and Balance Training
One of the major pillars of on-site physical therapy for seniors is strength and balance training. Falls are typically linked to numerous factors such as weakened leg muscles, vision issues, poor coordination, or proprioception (which is the sense of body position). An on-site therapist can help with your senior loved one with focuses on the following:
- Leg and core strength
- Posture and body alignment
- Joint flexibility
- Patterns of gait (the way they walk)
The thing to remember is that there are no difficult routines or heavy workouts. This menas no therapy session will be grueling or a challenge each week.
Fall Risk Assessments and Ongoing Monitoring
On-site therapy also focuses on conducting a routine fall risk assessment. They do this to evaluate if a resident is most at risk. From there, they will put together an intervention that will allow them to implement preventative measures before a fall ever happens. Therapists look at the following aspects:
- Reaction time
- Gait speed and length of stride
- Use of mobility devices
- Inspect their apartment for any home environment hazards
An on-site therapist can work with your senior loved one’s care staff to make sure they have a plan together to prevent falls. This can include adjusting room setups, recommended use of certain equipment, and other home safety improvements. High-quality assisted living staff members work together to make sure that the safety of each of their residents is prioritized whether it’s installing new safety features in a bathroom or modifications to the living space itself.
A Safer, More Independent Lifestyle
Lastly, it is important to make sure your senior loved one is able to live a safer and more independent life without the fear of falls. Assisted living communities with on-site therapy will help residents who go to regular sessions ensure they stay active and mobile while also helping them maintain their independence. This can reduce hospital visits due to fall-related injuries and help your loved one lead a stress-free retirement life.
Provide Safe and Active with On-Site Therapy For Your Loved One at Bailey Pointe at Miracle Hills
At Bailey Pointe at Miracle Hills, our on-site therapy staff will tirelessly work with your senior loved one to prevent them from facing the situation of falls and the injuries that may result. With regular therapy sessions, your senior loved one will have more strength, more ability, and increased confidence to move around and live independently. For more information on how Bailey Pointe at Miracle Hills can assist your loved one, contact us today or schedule a tour.
