Fall Prevention & Safe Route Program

Most of us have slips and trips with no serious consequences. But, among older adults, falls are more common, and can often result in serious injuries. Falling is the biggest health risk for seniors, but the good news is that older adults can reduce their risk of falling. At Karp, we can provide you with the education and skills to reduce your risk of falling, ensuring your mobility and independence.

Personal and environmental factors can increase an older adult’s risk of falling. And, in most cases, personal factors and environmental hazards interact, greatly increasing the risk of falling. At Karp, we can help you reduce the majority of these risks; however, it is also important you have regular check ups with your doctor to have your blood pressure, eyesight and ears examined, as problems with these, too, can increase your risks of falling. It is also important to periodically review any medications you are taking with your doctor, and discuss any side effects with your pharmacist.

As we age, our bodies change: we experience loss of muscle and bone strength, eyesight and balance problems, chronic illnesses and increased use of certain medications. Any or all of these issues may also increase an older adult’s risk of falling. Certain behaviours and lifestyles also contribute to increasing your falling risk: not paying attention, rushing or taking unnecessary risks increase your chances of falling, as does wearing improper footwear, not eating a well-balanced diet, or being physically inactive. That is why, at Karp, we encourage older adults to try to become more active. This may include going for walks with a friend, or joining an appropriate exercise program offered through a local seniors’ centre, or a recreation centre. With one-on-one guidance from our Karp representatives, we will help you make an informed choice on the physical activities that will be appropriate for you and your lifestyle.

Physical issues are not the only factors increasing your susceptibility to falling. Many accidents leading to falls happen inside the home; at Karp, we can help you protect yourself against any indoor hazards. These potential hazards include bathtubs without grab bars or non-slip surfaces; carpets or mats that are not secured to the floor; stairs with no handrails or poor lighting, and electrical and telephone cords in walking areas. Karp offers a guided walk-through of your home to identify any possible risks, and offers solutions to ensure your house is safe and free of possible hazards.

Safe Route Program

Hazards also exist outside the home, and can be particularly dangerous when you are not familiar with the outside environment. These hazards outside the home include poor lighting, broken sidewalks, uneven steps and poor snow or ice removal. Although you may not be able to control these outdoor hazards, Karp can still help you protect yourself from falling, with the help of our educated professionals, and tailored programs. We offer numerous tailored programs, each developed specifically for your individual needs; including our Safe Route program, where a member of our trained Karp team will personally guide you along a custom walk route. These custom walk routes will be devised in consideration of the challenges an older adult faces, including avoiding any major obstacles, such as major intersections, uneven paths, or construction zones.

Whatever challenges you face in older adulthood, Karp can help provide you with the knowledge on fall prevention, and help you ensure your independence well into your senior years. With close communication with your family doctor, pharmacist, and Karp, it is easy to safeguard yourself from falling, and to protect yourself from any unnecessary injuries.

Karp Home Care Vancouver is committed to providing priemium in home care to the elderly, ill or injured. For more information call 604-420-7800