4 Tips to Help Reduce Bruising in Elderly Loved Ones
Elderly Care in Rockford MI
No one wants to see their relatives in pain or with marks all over them. The good news is that there are some easy ways for you to work with your loved one and with home care providers to try to 
reduce the amount of bruising that your loved ones experience.
Make Wider Paths
A common cause of bruises, particularly on the lower limbs, is running into obstacles. To help prevent this problem, start making a wider path in constricted areas. Take furniture out of hallways and make sure that there is a clear path through doorways and around corners. Make sure to enlist your elderly loved one in these changes. Make sure she understands why you’re making the changes, and how this can help both her and her home care providers.
Talk about Using Tools for Safer Walking
In some cases, elderly relatives may be unstable on their own when they walk. One way to help reduce the likelihood of bruising is to start using a cane or a walker, even at home. This is something that your elderly loved one may resist, because it’s another sign of aging. Try to bring up the topic gently. Mention that even though they have senior care assistance, the walking aids can help them to rely less on the other person. This offers a trade-off that is often a good compromise for your elderly relative’s safety.
Install Handrails
Handrails are another way for your elderly relative to maintain some independence and stay safer. Handrails are important in bathrooms and stairways, but they can also be a tremendous addition to hallways. Your elderly loved one may feel nervous getting around her home when elder care help isn’t available, but having handrails in strategic spots ensures that she doesn’t have to worry about falling or bumping herself.
Help Loved Ones Stand More Easily
Another cause of bruising occurs when elderly relatives try to stand, particularly after sitting for a long time. If their joints are stiff, they might rest their arms in unusual positions to try to brace themselves to stand more easily. One way to help avoid this problem is to help your elderly loved one to stand up. In-home care providers can also help when they’re with your loved one, so that she doesn’t have to worry about bruising herself when she tries to stand.
Working together with home care providers, you can help to prevent quite a bit of bruising that your elderly loved one might otherwise experience.
If you or someone you know needs help with elderly care services in Rockford, MI, contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 258-2300 for more information.
Source
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/easy-bruising/art-20045762
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