Fall Prevention: How to Keep Your Loved One from Falling

By Jim Smeaton
Falls are common accidents that seniors experience.  Unfortunately, falling can result in a wide variety of injuries, which can range from mild to fatal in nature.  For this reason, senior care providers must uphold the important responsibility of preventing such falls from taking place.  While accidents are not always avoidable, there are certain measures that you can take to minimize the chances of your loved one sustaining injuries due to a fall.

1. Keep your senior's home clean and free of clutter.  Oftentimes, items that have been misplaced or left on the floor can cause seniors to trip and fall.  This is particularly true if clutter tends to build up in walkways.  Each day, do a quick run through of the house and put away any and all items that are out of place.  This will make it easier to keep the home clean and prevent accidents from occurring.


2. Repair any uneven flooring.  Cracked tiles, warped hardwoods, and ripped or loose carpets should be fixed immediately, as they can cause your senior to trip and fall.  Additionally, see to it that all rugs lie flat to the floor and have slip resistant backing.  If your senior's home contains any throw rugs, either remove them or secure them to the floor using double-sided tape.


3. Ensure that your senior's home has adequate lighting, particularly in the hallways, bedrooms, bathrooms, and stairwells.  Additionally, install handrails if they are lacking along the stairs of your elderly loved one's home.


4. Have your senior's vision checked annually.  Poor vision often leads to falls, so the right glasses or contact lenses may prevent accidental falls and associated injuries.


5. Reroute any cords that may pose a hazard to your senior.  Frequently, due to furniture arrangements or the location of electrical outlets, wires and cords are run across walkways.  Even if secured with tape or covered, these are obstacles that may cause your senior to fall. Reroute these cords so that they do not obstruct the walkway.  This may require running them overhead or moving furniture.


6. Remember that safe clothing is part of a safe environment.  Make sure that your loved one wears slippers or shoes with non-skid soles—not just socks, which can be slippery.  Additionally, make sure that their pants, skirts, and other articles of clothing are properly hemmed and not too loose.


7. Make sure that your senior has the necessary resources in terms of mobility.  Seniors who are at risk of falling may find it easier to avoid an accident with the use of a cane or walker.  Make sure that the equipment your senior uses is the right size and in good repair.


8. Improve the safety of the bathroom by installing grab bars, bath chairs, and non-skid mats.

By following these tips, you can help your senior avoid the pain that a fall can cause.  These suggestions will help you create a secure environment in which your elderly loved one can continue aging in place safely.


Always Best Care combines national strength and standards with local accessibility and personal service. The owner of Always Best Care of Asheville-Hendersonville is Jim Smeaton. Jim and his team assist seniors and their families in western North Carolina by providing non-medical in-home care and FREE assisted living placement services. We have strong relationships with area hospitals, social workers, senior communities and senior resources throughout the area.  We have your loved ones’ best interests at heart, and will ensure that exceptional service and care is provided to all family members.

For more information or to schedule a FREE consultation, call us at 828-333-9904 or visit us online.

Challenges Associated with Providing Long Distance Senior Care

 By Jim Smeaton
Many families band together to care for their seniors.  This allows their loved ones to age in place without having to compromise their safety.  But what if you cannot provide the hands-on care that you feel your loved one deserves?  Is it possible to provide long distance elder care?


These are common questions that children, grandchildren, friends, and loved ones of seniors ask every day.  Providing elder care is an important part of keeping seniors who live independently safe and secure in their homes.  For many families, though, geographic distance challenges their ability to provide comprehensive home care.


What Families Can Do from Afar

While there are many challenges associated with providing long distance senior care, families that live far away from their loved ones can manage many important details.  From scheduling doctor's appointments to providing financial management, family members can make everyday life easier for their seniors no matter where their geographic location.


Major Challenges

Families that live too far from their seniors to provide in-person home care face many obstacles.  First and foremost, they have to determine whether or not their loved ones need a caregiver to be physically present on a daily basis.  Additionally, these families may worry about the daily cleaning, medical administration, and transportation needs of their loved ones.


Overcoming these Challenges

The first step in overcoming the challenges that long distance senior care presents is to take stock of them.

· Does your senior need a home care provider to be present each day?  If no, then long distance care may continue to be enough.  If yes, what level of care do they need?

· If your senior needs home care services, what is the nature of the care and services that they require?  Do they need skilled medical services, or just assistance with personal care and daily activities?

·  How will your family work together to determine who is best qualified to provide the necessary care?  Will someone move closer to your loved one or will you hire a home care professional?

These questions should help you and your family overcome the obstacles that long distance senior care can cause.


Always Best Care combines national strength and standards with local accessibility and personal service. The owner of Always Best Care of Asheville-Hendersonville is Jim Smeaton. Jim and his team assist seniors and their families in western North Carolina by providing non-medical in-home care and FREE assisted living placement services. We have strong relationships with area hospitals, social workers, senior communities and senior resources throughout the area.  We have your loved ones’ best interests at heart, and will ensure that exceptional service and care is provided to all family members.

For more information or to schedule a FREE consultation, call us at 828-333-9904 or visit us online.

Overcoming Resistance to Care

By Jim Smeaton
Senior care in Asheville, North Carolina, is a service that improves the quality of life for countless elderly individuals. Home care providers help people maintain active, independent lifestyles without having to compromise their safety. With their services, elderly individuals can continue to live in the homes they love while receiving assistance with daily activities. Although senior care is indeed valuable, many elderly individuals are resistant to it. How can you help your elderly loved one overcome this resistance so they can benefit from the services of senior care providers?

The best way to overcome resistance is through clear communication and the gathering of information. By following these steps, you can approach the issue in a way that highlights the value of home care to your elderly loved one:

1. Talk with senior care providers to learn more about the different levels of care available. From simple help with daily functions to constant home care, these professionals offer a variety of services. 

2. Speak with your elderly individual's doctor to find out about any medical needs they may have. For the protection of your elderly loved one, the doctor may request their permission to speak to you about their health. If possible, bring your elderly loved one with you to speak to the doctor to ensure that you both have all of your questions answered. 

3. Make a list of the ways in which senior care services will benefit your elderly loved one. When you speak with them about hiring these services, present them with this list so they can see that you have their best interest at heart. 

4. Have an open, honest discussion about senior care services with your elderly loved one. Through the information you have gathered, you should be able to answer most of their questions or concerns. If not, write these down and find the answers together. Remember to ask why your elderly loved one objects to the care and address their objections thoughtfully. 

Overcoming resistance to care can become emotionally charged. Remember that your elderly loved one most likely does not want to lose their independence. By having honest, informed discussions about senior care services, you should be able to come to an agreement about the care that is needed.

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Always Best Care combines national strength and standards with local accessibility and personal service. The owner of Always Best Care of Asheville-Hendersonville is Jim Smeaton. Jim and his team assist seniors and their families in western North Carolina by providing non-medical in-home care and FREE assisted living placement services. We have strong relationships with area hospitals, social workers, senior communities and senior resources throughout the area.  We have your loved ones’ best interests at heart, and will ensure that exceptional service and care is provided to all family members.

For more information or to schedule a FREE consultation, call us at 828-333-9904 or visit us online.