Page 4 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - March 2025

4

HEALTH/WELLNESS

Simple steps to avoid dangerous falls

Presentation spotlights
elders’ safety at home

By Bobbie Bush FOR ELDERS
A group gathered in the Elders
Center theater for a presentation
on preventing falls by John
Carlstrom on March 6.
Being aware of your
surroundings, monitoring
medications and physical effects
and making Elders’ home
environments safe were the
topics John highlighted.
A medical journal of daily
feelings of pain, weakness,
dizziness, strengths and appetite
might also be helpful for some
folks.
John, who traveled from
Longview, emphasized that
because certain medications
have different effects on the body,
it is very important to report any
changes to your doctor, especially
if any new medications are
taken.
The following tips will help
ensure elders’ safety at home:
n Be aware of your
surroundings and how you feel.
Use a cane or walker if it has
been prescribed. Walk slowly and
deliberately. If you don’t feel well,
ask someone to help you.
n Get plenty of rest, proper
nutrition and hydration. Follow
the advice of your doctor,
discharge planners and caregivers.
Be sure to drink plenty of water.
n Simplify and make your muscle tone.
environment safer. Get rid of n Keep your home well lit.
anything that could make you WRITER’S NOTE: MEDICATION TRACKING CARD Make sure all areas you walk in
trip and fall. Arrange furniture so are illuminated at all times of
you have a clear pathway between
rooms. Move low coffee tables, When someone I knew and loved was in the hospital with pneumonia, the day and evening – especially
magazine racks, footstools and I watched him breathing hard and having no relief. Because he frequented places, such as to and
plants from pathways. did not have his medications on file at the hospital or written on from the bathroom, bedroom and
n Remove floor hazards such as card in his wallet, the doctors and nurses could not administer any kitchen. Always keep a flashlight
area rugs, extension cords or other medications to fight the infection in his lungs or ease the pain he handy in case the power fails.
things that create obstacles in your felt. Right then, I decided to have one of those little medication n Take medications as directed
path. tracking cards in my purse all the time to make sure the medications and on time. Make sure to follow
n Make sure you have at least 3 I take daily were available to any emergency responders if needed. the prescribed dosage. Do not
feet of clearance on your walking I also have one on my refrigerator that will be updated as the skip medications. Report any side
path. medications change. effects or negative reactions you
n Pay close attention to the experience to your doctor. Failure
fall trouble spots. Be aware that to properly take medication is a
nearly half of all household grab bars near sinks, toilets and slippers have rubber soles. major cause of falls and related
injuries take place in the showers. Wear safe footwear. n Ask your doctor or injuries.
bathroom and about 20% are Make sure the soles of your shoes discharge planner to prescribe an
in the kitchen. Avoid falls by are not worn smooth, which could appropriate exercise plan to help Information was reprinted with
equipping these areas with cause you to slip. Make sure your improve your balance, gait and permission from Safe@Home