A holiday visit can be dangerous for older relatives who live in retirement centers, experts say.
On Thanksgiving and Christmas, firefighters often respond to calls of elderly adults slipping and falling in the homes of family members, Snohomish County Fire District 7 spokeswoman Audrey Duncan said. The elderly are also more likely to suffer from health problems or succumb to stress.
“These are older adults who are used to being in care facilities, where the pace of the day is a bit slower,” Duncan said.
Retirement centers have safeguards in place to help care for elderly adults, such as full-time support staffs, handrails and wide walkways.
People planning to have older relatives over for the holidays should clear rooms and hallways of clutter, including decorative rugs that could slide underfoot, Duncan said.
“Ground-level falls for older adults can lead to serious injuries,” she said. “It is something we have to make time for, to prevent them.”
Elderly adults who’ve been sitting for a long time should stand up slowly or be helped up. Offering them food and drinks throughout the day and listening to any other concerns they have also helps, Duncan said.
They also need downtime to stay relaxed, she said.
“By taking a few preventative steps and extra care throughout the day, you can help to ensure everyone at your gathering will have a safe and happy holiday,” Duncan said.
Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
