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SOURCE: Senior Care Corner
Gifts chosen with love for senior loved ones can unwittingly set them up to become one of the 2 million plus seniors annually who receive medical treatment for a fall, a quarter of whom are hospitalized due to the fall. While falls can’t be prevented altogether, Senior Care Corner has some shopping tips to help keep that gift given with the best of intentions from being the cause of a fall.
Greenville, SC (PRWEB) December 06, 2012
Gifts chosen with love for senior loved ones can unwittingly set them up to become one of the 2 million plus seniors annually who receive medical treatment for a fall, a quarter of whom are hospitalized due to the fall. While falls can’t be prevented altogether, Senior Care Corner has some shopping tips to help keep that gift given with the best of intentions from being the cause of a fall.
Many items that may be considered when buying gifts for seniors, including by children when shopping for grandparents, can create slip and fall hazards. Taking some extra time to consider the potential for falls in potential gifts can promote safety for older loved ones.
“Some common gifts, purchased with the nicest of intentions, can contribute to falls in those whose balance is not what it was in younger years” says Kathy Birkett of Senior Care Corner, “but we can help prevent that by shopping with safety in mind.”
Tips for Choosing Safer Gifts for Seniors
The risk of falls can be reduced by looking at potential gifts from the standpoint of their potential hazard, even when being used as intended.
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When buying slippers, look for those with a rubber sole, rather than one that is soft or slick. Gripper socks may be a slipper alternative for some.
- Avoid giving throw rugs unless there is a way to anchor them securely to the floor.
- If purchasing pajamas, pajama pants or a nightgown, check the length to keep them getting under or tangled up with the wearer’s feet.
- Canes and walkers that are not properly sized for the user can result in a loss of balance. Check the ones already in use as a sizing guide for purchase.
- If considering purchase of an item with a power cord, keep in mind where it will be used and whether there is an outlet positioned so that the cord will not be in a walkway.
- New pets should be given to seniors with caution and assistance, as they can become tangled in legs or startle with their enthusiasm. Keep in mind that prior pets may have aged with loved ones and become accustomed to changes in balance and ability over time.
- Games with many small pieces can be double trouble, with the potential to cause injury through slip if stepped on or by falling while bending over to pick up a dropped piece.
Similar thought should go into items that aren’t on this list to assure getting safe gifts for seniors. While falls can’t be totally eliminated, steps can be taken to reduce them and the risk that a gift given in love could be the cause of pain.
About Senior Care Corner
Senior Care Corner (on the web at SeniorCareCorner.com) provides solutions, information and tools to family caregivers and others who care for and about senior adults to help them improve the lives of the seniors in their lives. Their blog, biweekly podcast and bookstore address a wide variety of topics family caregivers can use to better understand the wants and needs of their senior loved ones.
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