When people think of the potential injuries associated with old age, most focus on broken bones. Studies show that elderly adults who break bones are most likely to do so because of a fall at home. Unfortunately for aging adults, breaking a bone is easier to do with age because of the loss of bone density and health. When an elderly adult breaks a bone, family caregivers must focus on meeting their daily needs as they begin a slow recovery.
The Impact of Broken Bones in Seniors
When an elderly person falls, they could potentially break any number of bones. Common breaks include the hip, wrist, arm, leg, and ribs. Additional physical injuries and trauma related to a broken bone in aging adults include soft tissue damage, poor circulation and a chance of infections. Some seniors even require surgery to help the bones knit back together properly. For many seniors, a broken bone affects them physically for the rest of their life. In the majority of cases, seniors may never regain the functionality they once had.
Mentally, recovering from a broken bone is difficult for seniors, too. The frustration and pain of weeks in therapy and the inability to resume the life they had before can lead to mood swings, anxiety, and depression. They may also develop confidence issues when it comes to being active again, as they are afraid of another slip and fall. Reduced activity can lead to poor health, weaker bodies and isolation from social events. It’s important that family caregivers do everything they can to help their aging loved ones recover physically and mentally from a broken bone.
Hire Senior Care Providers for In-Home Care
If an aging adult is struggling with existing medical conditions and breaks a bone, they will not be able to take care of themselves very well. If they cannot do basic tasks such as bathing, dressing, grooming, laundry, meal preparation and more, they risk their health and safety while living at home. Family caregivers can do as much as they can manage, but often they are living somewhere different and have other responsibilities, such as jobs or children.
With a senior care provider, aging adults can continue to live at home while having someone that is around and can take care of things that may be too strenuous or challenging for someone with a broken bone. Senior care providers can be scheduled to come at any time the aging person needs another adult. A senior care provider will alleviate a lot of stress in the aging adult, so they can just focus on healing and resuming their favorite activities.
It’s hard for family caregivers to see their aging relatives decline in health and wellness. Breaking a bone is especially traumatic and can be very slow to heal in seniors. To make the best of the situation, family caregivers should consider a senior care provider to step in and help care for the aging adult.
If you or an aging loved one are considering senior care in Littleton, CO, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare Denver. Call today: (303) 756-9322.
