Fall-related injuries can be severe for the elderly.
Even a minor accident can make your aging parents vulnerable to serious complications, and physical and emotional stress.
Be honest with the doctor
Members of the elderly community are often reluctant to share details of accidents or the severity of injuries with their medical care providers. However, the doctor needs to know exactly what happened in order to run the proper tests and administer the right treatment. Additionally, a physician can help you and your parent make the necessary adjustments to prevent future falls.
Address the cause
When you discover the cause of your parent’s slip and fall, take measures to avoid future incidents. If the fall occurs at your home or your parent’s home, remove clutter and other mobility barriers or tripping hazards in and around the property. However, if the fall happens at a public facility or nursing home, it is important to report the incident to the staff as soon as possible. If you are unhappy with the response, or if this is a reoccurring problem at the facility, then you should protect your loved one and others by holding the neglectful party accountable.
Document the details
If your parent’s fall is the result of someone else’s negligence, you can pursue legal action to recover medical care costs and damages for pain and suffering. Make sure to collect as much data about the incident as you can. Collect your parent’s medical records for fall-related care and document all communication between yourself and anyone you spoke with regarding the incident.
Your aging mom or dad deserves quality care. Do not let anyone get away with abhorrent elderly neglect.
