Located near key restaurants and local amenities, the Davis Place Senior Living community in Bullhead, AZ, is the ideal option for those entering their retirement years. Here at Davis Place, we understand that seniors have specific needs, including those related to safety, which is why we incorporate a fall prevention program into our staff training and community uplifting efforts.
Our program includes:
All of these are part of our Assisted Living offering to help with preventing senior falls. Read on to learn more about this senior safety program and the various aspects we can provide to you and your loved ones.
A fall prevention program is imperative in any community where the CDC identifies slips, trips, and falls as the most significant cause of injury. As such, we take extra care with our senior residents to ensure that they understand their responsibilities and how we can assist them.
One of the core aspects of a fall prevention program is training. The goal is to promote fall risk reduction, notice hazards, and prevent them. Ways that this can happen include:
With each of these, a precise progress-tracking method should be in place, enabling individuals to monitor their performance effectively. Where possible, implement SMART criteria when it comes to training, to ensure that people have a solid understanding of what they must do.
It's essential to assess each person's likelihood of falling and use that information to determine the steps needed to keep them safe. Make a note of things like their blood pressure, personal balance, and the number of falls they have experienced in the past, etc.
Also, be sure to examine their footwear and determine whether they are currently taking or are likely to change their medication in the near future. Both of these can have a significant impact on someone's likelihood of falling.
If possible, conduct a test to assess the scale of mobility support you offer and how easy it is to move around a space. This will also give you a good understanding of their ability to perform similar tasks, but in the event of an emergency. You can then use this information to focus your attention on those who need the most help.
When you notice that an individual is experiencing issues with dizziness, pain, or mental wellness, it is a good idea to involve primary care. They can assist with improving functionality and helping a resident to get back on their feet, literally.
A loved one's gait can be improved by consistent exercise, making it less likely that they will have a fall. As such, use activities to support people by blending flexibility and endurance training, including learning how to react safely should they feel like they are about to fall over.
Start simply. People will want to feel capable before attempting anything complicated. Also, try to make it an enjoyable experience for those you are training.
A good example of how to do this is Tai Chi, which requires practitioners to balance while performing routine, daily motions. These also need people to hold specific poses for extended periods, which helps build endurance.
There is even evidence from studies, such as those by Chen et al. (2023), that shows how activities like Tai Chi can prevent falls and improve balance.
Other options for similar balance training efforts that can provide other benefits include:
Make sure to incorporate a five-minute warmup into these activities, however. Most people involved in these events in a senior living community are unlikely to have done so regularly before an event such as this begins.
While the Davis Place Senior Living location is brimming with amenities and events, it is essential to remember that people need to move around the space.
Seniors should avoid creating significant clutter. However, not everyone can be trusted to ensure the location is clear of such debris at all times.
As such, staff training should include how to identify such problems as discarded clothes and possessions, both within and outside private apartments. There should then be a process for getting it back to its owner in the correct location.
As you move through spaces, also ensure that you clear up cords and rugs, which may have become lifted or moved from their designated areas. These trip hazards are potentially hazardous, and you should take every precaution to prevent them from causing problems.
If you are instead someone looking to bring a loved one to Davis Place, or even if you haven't considered this yet, you can do so in your own home.
Take the time to:
You should also check your loved one's shoes and medication. Ensure that they feel comfortable moving around and that their prescriptions are being taken regularly. If they are not, irregular medicines can cause dizziness, and poor shoes can make it harder to balance, both of which are other hazards.
Using simple processes and exercises, you can develop a fall prevention program to help a senior in your life, whether they are your loved one or not. Our staff at Davis Place Senior Living understands this, and you can have the assurance that we have developed a similar unique program designed to ensure the comfort and safety of everyone in our care.
To learn more about what we do for every resident in our community, get in touch. Book a tour and learn how we can help you or a loved one today.