How Can You Help Your Parent Prevent Concussions?

Traumatic brain injuries including concussions are responsible for approximately 30 percent of all injury-related deaths. It is a common misconception that only athletes get concussions. In your role as a family caregiver, it is important to realize that elderly adults can and do experience these traumatic brain injuries as well. In fact, seniors over the age of 75 experience the highest numbers of traumatic brain injuries each year among the population.

Home Care Services Manhattan Beach CA – How Can You Help Your Parent Prevent Concussions?

Concussions are usually mild, but some can be very serious and have lasting consequences for your aging parent. Helping them at to prevent injuries and accidents dramatically reduces their risk of experiencing a concussion, and can protect their health, well-being, and quality of life as they age in place.

Some of the ways you can help your parent prevent concussions include:

• Make sure your parent always wears a protective helmet when they are doing any sort of physical activity that may lead to an injury, such as riding a bike. This is a fantastic form of exercise, and a great way for them to spend time with their grandchildren, but it can pose serious dangers.
• Ensure your parent buckles their seatbelt whenever they are in a moving vehicle. Remember that even accidents at low speeds can lead to serious head injuries if a person is not properly secured by a safety belt.
• Encourage your parent to wear the right shoes for their gait, and their mobility issues.
• Ensure a senior with mobility problems and balance issues has physical support from you or a home care services provider at all times when managing tasks such as climbing the stairs or getting in and out of the bath.
• Make meaningful modifications throughout the home to preserve safety for a senior with mobility problems, low vision, and other challenges.
• Encourage your parent to exercise regularly. This will make their body stronger and more resilient, which can help your parent avoid accidents and injuries, and recover more effectively if they do experience an accident such as a fall.

The highly customizable nature of the services of a home care services provider mean both your aging parent and you as their family caregiver can feel absolutely confident they will get what they need, when they need it. Your senior is an individual. Even if they are experiencing the same health problems and challenges as another older adult, they are still on their own personal journey, and deserve the respect and support that is right for them.

This means a customized schedule to ensure they have the ongoing care and companionship they need, respectful, dignified care, and encouragement to stay as independent as possible, and continue pursuing a lifestyle that is active, fulfilling, and filled with the types of activities they love. Through this level of support, the home care services provider will help your parent to stay safe and healthy as they age in place.

Sources: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/symptoms-causes/syc-20355594

https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/get_the_facts.html

If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Manhattan Beach CA, please contact the caring staff at 1Heart Care Services today.