Why Might Your Parent Be More Vulnerable to Hip Fracture?
When considering the risk of suffering a hip fracture, you might immediately think of obvious issues such as osteoporosis and mobility challenges.
As a family caregiver, however, it is extremely important that you recognize there are further factors that can contribute to your parent’s vulnerability to a hip fracture. Many individual factors and influences can make your parent more vulnerable to this type of injury, and increase the risk that they will suffer serious consequences associated with it. Understanding these can help you to modify your care routine, as well as make meaningful changes to their home and other lifestyle issues to reduce the risk that they will suffer a hip fracture.
Senior Care in Clark County VA: Vulnerable to Hip Fracture
Some factors that can make your parent more vulnerable to suffering a hip fracture include:
Muscle weakness throughout the lower body, particularly in the hips and legs. This muscle weakness makes it more difficult for your parents to navigate movement effectively, prevent falls, and protect themselves if they experience a fall. Muscle weakness is common in elderly adults who live a sedentary lifestyle a, or who are suffering certain medical conditions.
Dementia. Seniors with dementia are at higher risk for suffering a fall, which is the cause of 95 percent of hip fractures among seniors. Those with dementia are also more likely to engage in potentially risky behaviors, or not follow through with safety practices.
Low vision. Having decreased vision means your parent is at higher risk of experiencing an accident that might result in injury. Low vision can increase the chances that your parent might slip, fall, trip, or other accidents due to not being able to properly evaluate their surroundings.
Drops in blood pressure. Many elderly adults experience sudden drops in blood pressure when changing position, such as going from sitting to standing or lying down to sitting upright. These sudden drops can result in dizziness that increases the risk of stumbling and falling.
Starting elderly care for your aging parent can be one of the best decisions that you make for them throughout the course of your caregiver journey. An elderly home care services provider being in the home with your parent means they will have consistent access to the care, support, and assistance that is right for them. Because you create the schedule of care that works for your parent and for you, you stay at the forefront of your parent’s care routine.
This means you can give your parent as much care as you are able to, while still knowing the care provider is there to fill care gaps, fulfill needs you are not comfortable handling or are not capable of handling due to your own challenges and limitations, and offer support and companionship for your parent when you are not able to be with them. This level of dedicated care can help your parent to maintain a more active, engaged, and independent lifestyle as they age in place.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering Senior Care in Clark County, VA, please contact the caring staff at LivinRite Home Care. Call Us Today at (703) 634-9991.
Sources:
- Sustainable Family Caregiving with the Help of Senior Home Care - November 12, 2024
- How Skilled Nursing Helps Improve Communication - October 25, 2024
- Digestive Issues in Seniors and How to Minimize Their Effects - October 10, 2024