Avoiding Falls While Exercising: 5 Tips Your Senior Can Use

Keeping your aging adult from falling while she’s exercising is one of the more important parts of helping her develop a solid exercise program. Try some of these ideas to keep her as stable as possible.

Home Care Services in Lake Worth FL: Senior Exercise and Falls

Choose the Right Shoes

Shoes made for exercising in that have a stable, sturdy sole are the right choice. Rubber soles can help your senior keep from slipping while she’s walking. Make sure that the shoes are the right size so that they don’t rub or irritate her feet. In addition to the right shoes, make sure that your senior has socks that cushion and protect her feet.

Timing Can Be Everything

When your senior exercises can make a huge difference as to how well she’ll be able to avoid a fall. If she’s sleepy still or if she’s just taken some medication that leaves her feeling dizzy or wobbly, that can be a problem. Find out from your senior’s doctor how long she should wait after taking medication to exercise.

Learn about Medication Side Effects

Some medication, particularly medication that goes to work on blood sugar or blood pressure, can have different side effects on your aging adult when she’s exercising as opposed to when she’s just resting. Having an understanding of those side effects can help you and your aging adult make good decisions about when and how to exercise. When you know more about how her medication affects her during exercise, be sure to let people like home care providers know what to watch for so that they can help your senior effectively.

Encourage Her to Pace Herself

Exercising too hard or for too long can create a situation in which your senior is much more likely to take a fall. By pacing herself, your aging adult can avoid that a little more readily. If your senior is seated, remind her to stand up slowly so that she doesn’t throw herself off balance.

She Should Rest if She Needs It

Exercise is important, definitely, but if your senior needs to rest, she should. If she tries to push herself, she may find that she’s not as ready for exercising as she thought that she was and that can lead to an injury or a fall.

If your aging family member starts to notice any symptoms such as dizziness or anything that can lead to falling, be sure that you mention it to her doctor.

If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring a professional home care services in Lake Worth, FL, please call the caring staff at Alongside Home Health.  Providing senior care in Palm Beach County and surrounding cities. Call for Assistance: (800) 712-4266

• Author
• Recent Posts

Michelle Hankla, Patient Care Coordinator and Community Liaison

Patient Care Coordinator and Community Liaison at Alongside Home Health

Michelle has spent many years in a customer focused setting in a variety of community organizations. She has worked with seniors for many years particularly those with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. As part of the Alongside team, she works closely with our client service team to ensure client satisfaction. She visits healthcare facilities, clients and their families to ensure that top notch care is being provided to their satisfaction. She is the interface between our caregivers, clients, and our organization that keeps everything operating smoothly. She has resided in Palm Beach county for many years and has two children.

Latest posts by Michelle Hankla, Patient Care Coordinator and Community Liaison (see all)

• How Can You Bring Family Members Together When They Disagree about Care Decisions? - May 4, 2018
• People Who Have Aging Parents Insist Home Care Is Crucial - April 18, 2018
• How the Frail Elderly Benefit from In-home Elder Care - April 6, 2018