Living alone can be scary. There is so much that could happen or go wrong with nobody else knowing. As you get older, the risk of falling tends to increase, and it’s not just while you’re out and about. A lot of seniors trip or fall in their own homes and may struggle to get back up without help. A fall can have a serious impact on a person’s life, too, as the body naturally gets weaker and less able to heal or bounce back.
It’s not the nicest thing to think about. However, if you do have a fear of falling or worry about someone you know, here are five products to reassure you, give you back your independence, and provide support in the unfortunate event of a fall.
Fall detection devices
There are now smartwatches available that can specifically detect a fall and trigger an alarm when needed. They use GPS tracking and route monitoring to make sure you’re safe while in or out of the house. The SOS alarm will then connect you to a local SOS contact (which you can set for yourself) so that help can be quickly sought out.
SOS Pendants
If you do fall, there are SOS pendants that can give you the reassurance that you’ll be able to seek help. These pendants can be worn at all times and tend to be made from soft string rather than metal – meaning they can be worn without discomfort even in the shower.
The pendant can be pressed to call emergency services to come to your rescue. You don’t need to try and get up yourself, as this could lead to further accidents. Sit tight, press the pendant, and know that help is on the way.
Hearing aids
Those that have difficulty hearing are also more likely to fall or trip. If you can’t hear what’s going on around you, you may not notice certain hazards. Speaking to your doctor about a medically approved hearing aid is the best option. This will help you stay on high alert and hear anything around you. It’ll help to turn the volume up in day-to-day life and can be a cost-effective way to repair hearing difficulties.
Handrails
Grab rails and wall handrails are great for providing support wherever you are. You can speak to an occupational therapist about where they recommend rails are added to your home or work with a relative to see which areas of the house you’re struggling with.
Grab rails can be helpful for lifting yourself out of bed or while using the toilet. They can also be installed in the shower to make standing while cleaning easier.
A grip reacher
Using a device to pick things up from the floor means you won’t need to bend down as far. If you’re unsteady on your feet, bending over could unbalance you and seriously increase your chances of falling. Using a reacher means you don’t have to put yourself in danger.
Other items like perching stools can also help you to maintain your independence, even when the fear of falling is too high.
