Keeping your home safe to avoid falls
By
Suzanne Hopkins-
Food festival slated for July 26
Join us on Monday, July 26, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., for a food festival presented by Gordon Foods. Gordon is our newest food supplier, and they have lots of delicious treats in store.
Admission is $3 and if you’ve been to our previous food shows, you know you won’t go hungry.
Gordon will be offering a variety of items, from appetizers to desserts.
As a special treat, there will be live Country Music by the Over the Hill Gang.
This event is open to the public, so come one, come all.
What to do if you fall
For the last several weeks, we have been reviewing causes of falling, including medications you are taking and obstacles in your home, and measures you can take to reduce your risk, such as making your home environment safer and exercising to increase strength and balance.
This week we will discuss what to do in case you do fall. Getting up from a fall encompasses three simple steps:
Prepare
Look around for a sturdy piece of furniture, or the bottom of a staircase.
Don’t try and stand up on your own. Getting up quickly or the wrong way could make an injury worse.
If you are hurt, call for help using a medical alert service or a telephone.
Slowly get up on your hands and knees and crawl to a sturdy chair.
Place your hands on the seat of the chair and slide one foot forward so it is flat on the floor. Sit for a few minutes before you try and do anything else.
Roll over onto your side by turning your head in the direction you are trying to roll, then move your shoulders, arms, hips, and finally your leg over.
Rise
Push your upper body up. Lift your head and pause for a few moments to steady yourself.
Sit
Keep the other leg bent with the knee on the floor. From this kneeling position, slowly rise and turn your body to sit in the chair.
Seniors who are at high risk of falling should consider getting a medical alert device or keeping a cell phone handy to quickly call for help in case of a fall.
Call the Highland County Senior Center at 937-393-4745 for more information.[[In-content Ad]]
Join us on Monday, July 26, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., for a food festival presented by Gordon Foods. Gordon is our newest food supplier, and they have lots of delicious treats in store.
Admission is $3 and if you’ve been to our previous food shows, you know you won’t go hungry.
Gordon will be offering a variety of items, from appetizers to desserts.
As a special treat, there will be live Country Music by the Over the Hill Gang.
This event is open to the public, so come one, come all.
What to do if you fall
For the last several weeks, we have been reviewing causes of falling, including medications you are taking and obstacles in your home, and measures you can take to reduce your risk, such as making your home environment safer and exercising to increase strength and balance.
This week we will discuss what to do in case you do fall. Getting up from a fall encompasses three simple steps:
Prepare
Look around for a sturdy piece of furniture, or the bottom of a staircase.
Don’t try and stand up on your own. Getting up quickly or the wrong way could make an injury worse.
If you are hurt, call for help using a medical alert service or a telephone.
Slowly get up on your hands and knees and crawl to a sturdy chair.
Place your hands on the seat of the chair and slide one foot forward so it is flat on the floor. Sit for a few minutes before you try and do anything else.
Roll over onto your side by turning your head in the direction you are trying to roll, then move your shoulders, arms, hips, and finally your leg over.
Rise
Push your upper body up. Lift your head and pause for a few moments to steady yourself.
Sit
Keep the other leg bent with the knee on the floor. From this kneeling position, slowly rise and turn your body to sit in the chair.
Seniors who are at high risk of falling should consider getting a medical alert device or keeping a cell phone handy to quickly call for help in case of a fall.
Call the Highland County Senior Center at 937-393-4745 for more information.[[In-content Ad]]