When a person falls, we make sure they are okay and then we help them up. Because all falls are not without gravity, vigilance is required! Sometimes a person is hurt and when we help them, we make them worse. This is often the case with older people. It is estimated that 30% of falls in seniors have complications. To reduce the risk, you have to learn how to get up properly, but also how to pick up an elderly person who has fallen to the ground. Here's how.
Before lifting a person or trying to lift them, it is highly recommended to check in with them. Even if you are not a medical professional, you must make a diagnosis. The latter is purely visual. Indeed, it is preferable not to touch the victim of a fall before carrying out some checks.
If the situation is serious or if complications are found, you must immediately contact the emergency services. To do this, call either the SAMU by dialing 15 or the fire department by dialing 18.
Attention ! It may happen that an elderly person has fallen and their medical equipment is not nearby. If you don't know the person, ask if they have a wheelchair, walker or cane. Even if this is not the case, provide a chair nearby as a precaution.
If you come across an elderly person who has fallen, you must take steps to pick them up. Of course, you have to check that she can get up.
If it is difficult for him to get up, then you can place a chair nearby. Make sure this seat is stable. Do not hesitate to maintain it. Of course, you can also ask the fallen person to lean on you!
A person who has fallen may not be able to get up on their own. In this case, you need to dwell on her condition and once again check with her that she has not injured herself. If she's fine and just needs help, you need to step it up again.
After a fall, it is essential to discuss with the elderly person. The fall can be accidental but it can also be caused by a physical failure, a loss of balance or the beginning of a loss of autonomy. The decline is most often related to age but the first falls are decisive in the management. After a fall, morale can be low. The elderly person must be reassured.
If this is the first fall, you should encourage the older person to get up on their own. Accompany her by describing the steps and encouraging her. So she will gain self-confidence and not let herself go. In no case should the situation be dramatized! On the other hand, you must make sure that the situation does not worsen.
Every year, there are 400,000 falls among seniors. These have consequences. They can be the cause of fractures, dislocations or wounds. It is possible to reduce these falls in different ways.
We must ensure that seniors are in good health. To do this, a healthy lifestyle is essential.
To reduce the risk of falling, it is also necessary to arrange the interior of the dwellings. There must be a fitted toilet and bathroom. For this, it is wise to install grab bars and a shower for people with reduced mobility. More accessible, it makes everyday gestures easier. It is also important to place chairs everywhere for support.
In living rooms like any other, it is important that passageways are not obstructed by carpets or electrical wires. These installations are the cause of falls. Elderly people must have slippers and suitable shoes. Sometimes a cane or a walker is needed to facilitate movement.
The elderly can benefit from the help of an occupational therapist to arrange their interior and limit the risk of falls. Do not hesitate to talk to a doctor about it. These professionals also help to better manage the loss of autonomy on a daily basis.
