A woman who has experienced vertigo works with a therapist during vestibular rehabilitation.

Understanding Vestibular Rehabilitation: A Path to Better Balance

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A woman who has experienced vertigo works with a therapist during vestibular rehabilitation.

Targeted exercises during vestibular rehabilitation can help alleviate dizziness and improve balance.

Struggling with balance and dizziness can be a challenging experience. Imagine constantly feeling off-balance, like the floor might slip out from under you, or being hit with sudden spells of spinning sensations that make you feel queasy and disoriented. These symptoms can disrupt everyday life, making even simple activities like walking or turning your head feel uncomfortable and risky. Thankfully, vestibular rehabilitation offers a solution, helping individuals regain their balance, confidence, and independence.

What Exactly Is Vestibular Rehabilitation?

Vestibular rehabilitation is a type of physical therapy that targets problems caused by dysfunctions in the vestibular system. This system includes parts of the inner ear and brain that play a key role in maintaining balance and controlling eye movements. When these areas are damaged or impaired due to injury, illness, or aging, it can result in symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, and nausea. Vestibular rehabilitation uses a range of exercises to help alleviate these issues and improve overall stability.

Conditions That Can Be Treated With Vestibular Rehabilitation

There are several conditions that can benefit from this specialized therapy, including:

  • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): This common cause of vertigo occurs when small calcium particles in the inner ear become dislodged and move into the semicircular canals. It typically results in short bursts of dizziness triggered by specific head movements.
  • Vestibular Neuritis and Labyrinthitis: Both conditions involve inflammation of the inner ear or the nerve connecting the ear to the brain, which can cause prolonged vertigo and balance problems.
  • Meniere’s Disease: This is a chronic condition that affects the inner ear, leading to episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a sensation of ear fullness.
  • Age-Related Balance Disorders: Balance issues become more common as people age due to natural declines in vestibular, visual, and sensory functions.
  • Post-Concussion Syndrome: After sustaining a head injury, some individuals may experience persistent dizziness and balance challenges, which can be effectively treated with vestibular rehabilitation.

How Vestibular Rehabilitation Works

Vestibular rehabilitation involves a tailored treatment plan designed to address each individual’s specific needs. Here are some common components of the therapy:

  • Canalith Repositioning: For those with BPPV, therapists perform specific maneuvers to reposition dislodged calcium crystals, helping to alleviate vertigo symptoms.
  • Balance Exercises: These exercises aim to enhance stability and coordination. Common activities include standing on one foot, walking in a straight line heel-to-toe, or using balance-enhancing tools like balance boards.
  • Gaze Stabilization: Designed to improve control over eye movements, gaze stabilization exercises can help reduce dizziness and improve visual focus. They might include keeping your eyes fixed on a stationary object while moving your head.
  • Habituation Therapy: For individuals who experience dizziness in response to certain movements or environments, habituation exercises gradually expose the brain to these triggers, helping it to adapt and lessen the symptoms.
  • Strength and Conditioning: Physical fitness is essential for maintaining good balance and coordination. Strengthening exercises help build muscle support and endurance, which contributes to better stability.
  • Educational Support and Lifestyle Adjustments: Therapists provide valuable advice on how to adjust daily activities to reduce the risk of falls and manage symptoms. This might include home safety tips, such as removing clutter, using walking aids, and improving home lighting.

Finding the Right Help

If your loved one is experiencing symptoms of a vestibular disorder, seeking guidance from a healthcare professional is the first step to an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Harmony Home Health and Hospice is also here to provide support in various ways, through customized home health and therapy services.

Give us a call at 1-877-I-NEED-CARE (1-877-463-3322) for a no-obligation in-home consultation to learn more about our home health care services and find out how we can help a loved one regain balance and confidence. We proudly serve seniors in Salt Lake City, Orem, Albuquerque, and throughout Central New Mexico and Northern Utah.

A man experiencing mobility changes in older adults holds tightly to the railing with both hands while attempting to climb the stairs.

Watch for These Early Indicators of Mobility Changes in Older Adults

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A man experiencing mobility changes in older adults holds tightly to the railing with both hands while attempting to climb the stairs.

Mobility changes in older adults may be subtle at first, but are important to detect in order to prevent a fall.

In echoing Benjamin Franklin’s timeless wisdom, the adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” rings particularly true when it comes to the important issue of identifying and addressing mobility changes in older adults. The stark reality, as outlined by the CDC, is that falls among seniors result in a staggering 3 million emergency room visits, 300,000 hip fractures, and 32,000 fatalities annually.

Preventing a potential tragedy requires knowing the warning signs that indicate escalating mobility concerns in seniors:

  • Avoidance of Stairs: Keep a watchful eye on older loved ones who, while seemingly mobile, shy away from stairs. This cautious approach may indicate a fear of falling, potentially fueled by a range of factors such as diminishing strength, joint issues, or an unsteady gait. If stairs become a perceived obstacle, it’s crucial to explore the root cause and address any underlying mobility changes. Encourage open communication to understand their concerns and work collaboratively on solutions, which might include home modifications or the introduction of assistive devices to enhance confidence and safety.
  • Struggles With Sitting or Standing: Observing an individual’s ability to navigate between sitting and standing is pivotal. Difficulty in rising from a seated position or settling back down may signal muscle weakness, joint stiffness, or balance challenges. If external support, such as furniture or nearby objects, is relied upon for these movements, it’s an indication that a person’s mobility may be compromised. A comprehensive assessment, including a consultation with a healthcare professional, can unveil the specific areas of concern and guide the implementation of targeted interventions, including exercises and adaptive equipment.
  • Decline in Physical Activity: A significant red flag is raised when an individual undergoes a noticeable shift from an active to a more sedentary lifestyle. This decline in physical activity can result from various factors, including a fear of injury, chronic pain, or overall fatigue. Recognizing the reasons behind this shift is crucial in addressing the root cause of potential mobility issues. Engage in supportive conversations to understand a person’s experiences, preferences, and any perceived barriers to staying active. Collaboratively developing a personalized plan that accommodates their needs and interests can foster a gradual return to physical activity, improving overall mobility and well-being.
  • Dizziness and Balance Problems: Unexplained dizziness and challenges with balance are multifaceted issues that demand careful attention. These symptoms may arise from conditions such as inner ear disorders, medication side effects, or cardiovascular issues. Swift identification and addressing the root causes are imperative to mitigate the risks posed to mobility. Encourage regular check-ups with healthcare providers, including specialists, if necessary, to conduct thorough assessments. By pinpointing the specific factors contributing to dizziness and balance problems, tailored interventions, which may include physical therapy or medication adjustments, can be implemented to enhance overall stability and mobility.

One effective method to assess mobility and fall risk is the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Its simplicity makes it a valuable tool in gauging a person’s mobility:

  • Place a sturdy chair against the wall.
  • Mark a distance of 10 feet from the wall.
  • Instruct the person to sit in the chair.
  • Upon your signal, start a timer as they stand, walk to the 10-foot mark, turn around, return, and sit down.

Stand nearby for support if necessary, track results over time, and share findings with the doctor for guidance. Further details on the test, along with a downloadable assessment sheet, can be found here.

If any of these signs resonate, initiate an open conversation with the individual. Express concerns and schedule a check-up with their doctor. Introducing simple mobility aids can significantly enhance safety and independence.

For additional insights into mobility changes in older adults and how to address them, contact our team of experts at Harmony Home Health & Hospice. You can reach us any time at 1-877-I-NEED-CARE (1-877-463-3322) to find out more about how our home health care services in Salt Lake City, Orem, Albuquerque, and throughout Central New Mexico and Northern Utah can help someone you love.

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Modifications for a Wheelchair-Friendly Home

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Recovering at home

Creating a wheelchair-friendly home starts with basic modifications to ensure safety.

Home is our sanctuary; it’s where we feel most comfortable, even during the more trying times in our lives. That’s why so many older adults are choosing to age in place in the comfort of home. However, as people age, loss of mobility due to chronic illness, injury, or general frailty can become an issue. To help people in this situation, the use of a wheelchair is often recommended. But incorporating a wheelchair into the home can present a variety of challenges when it comes to safety and access. Read more

Positive old grandfather holding walking stick resting on couch

Maintaining Independence with Assistive Devices for Seniors

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Positive old grandfather holding walking stick resting on couch

Assistive devices for seniors can be easily incorporated into daily life and help maintain independence.

Consider the various tools you utilize every single day – your phone, hairbrush, toothbrush – simple items, but ones you cannot picture living without. Now, imagine struggling to use those items and finding it challenging to accomplish daily tasks. Having access to assistive devices for seniors could mean the difference between living at home and facing a move to assisted living. However, almost half of seniors living at home aren’t utilizing these useful tools – despite the fact that prices are minimal. Read more

Senior woman on a video call with her doctor

Medications That Increase Fall Risk in Seniors & Tips for Prevention

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Senior woman on a video call with her doctor

Learn about medications that increase fall risk in seniors and learn how to ensure a loved one’s safety.

We’ve long known that there are particular medications that increase fall risk for seniors. Twenty years ago, slightly over half of all seniors were impacted by that risk; yet now, that number has risen considerably – to an astounding 94% of seniors who are now vulnerable to falling due to medication side effects. Not only that, but deaths from such falls are occurring at more than double the prior rate.

The research doesn’t expressly identify these medications as the cause for fatality in the falls experienced, but suggests the need for further research into the dosages being prescribed. Joshua Niznik in the geriatric medicine division at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine notes, “We’re starting to understand now that the dose of the medication that someone is on is really what we should be looking at probably with the greatest level of scrutiny, and that really has a strong correlation with falls.”

It is essential for seniors and their physicians to work together to strike the perfect balance between managing the conditions that require these medications and preventing additional complications from a fall.

Amy Shaver, postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions, and lead author of the research study, states, “These drugs are all necessary medications, but there needs to be a conversation about risks and advantages, that pro-con conversation about: For this particular patient at this particular point in time, what can we do?”

What Medications Increase Fall Risk for Seniors?

Medications that are specifically connected with fall risk include those for depression, blood pressure management, seizures, pain, and psychosis, among others. Women are most often prescribed these types of medications, and those 85 and older are experiencing the highest spike in fall-related deaths.

One step seniors can take to help is to have the home assessed for fall risk, and to implement any recommended safety precautions. Harmony Home Health & Hospice is pleased to offer an evaluation, scheduled at a time convenient to you. We can also help minimize fall risk through services such as:

  • Making sure that medicines are taken just as prescribed
  • Aiding in safe walking and transfers
  • Encouraging older adults to engage in physician-approved exercise programs to bolster balance, flexibility, and strength
  • And so much more

To learn more about how our home health care team helps families in New Mexico and Utah, schedule an assessment today by contacting us online or giving us a call at 1-877-I-NEED-CARE!

Senior in hospital with bruising on hands.

Is Your Senior Loved One at Risk of Elder Abuse?

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Senior in hospital with bruising on hands.

There are several factors that can put seniors at risk of elder abuse, and knowing these risk factors can help you keep them safe.

Providing the assistance that helps seniors continue being independent, healthy, and happy is the mission of our professional senior care experts. Considering the quality of life of aging adults is so important to us, it’s crucial that we take a look at a topic that can be challenging for many of us to even imagine – elder abuse. Read more

How to Recognize the Signs of Elder Abuse in a Senior Loved One

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Senior woman being scolded by young tattooed woman.

Knowing these signs of elder abuse can help you keep senior loved ones safe.

Even though abusing an older person is something that would never cross the mind of most people, it is a tragically common situation in the United States. Elder abuse occurs in many ways, from physical to emotional, and it strikes the most frail and vulnerable among us. Read more

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12 Steps to Prevent Senior Falls When Caring for Aging Parents

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Prevent senior falls at home with these tips.

Falls among senior citizens are all too frequent and may have serious consequences. If you’re caring for aging parents, taking measures to prevent senior falls is crucial, such as examining the home for fall dangers like throw rugs or other tripping hazards, poor lighting, and an absence of appropriate grab bars and railings. But there’s another strategy being suggested now: creating a fall plan of care, which, when implemented correctly, has been shown to cut down on fall-related emergency room visits up to 40%.

So while we definitely do not want to plan for a loved one to fall, we can be better equipped by helping the individual take the following steps:

  • Remain vigilant – Avoid letting your mind wander and instead keep your full concentration on your surroundings.
  • Check vision – Regular eye exams and constantly wearing eyeglasses if required can ensure tripping hazards are seen and avoided.
  • Practice balance – Exercises as basic as lifting one foot off the ground and staying balanced on the other foot for up to 30 seconds often helps.
  • If a fall does occur, understanding how to fall more safely can minimize the chance of injury. In particular:
    • Avoid head injuries by intentionally turning your face away from the fall, or folding your chin to your chest if falling back.
    •  Bend the elbows and knees to avoid the rigidity that can trigger a break to the wrist or elbow when trying to catch your fall.
    • Roll through the fall, which diffuses the impact of the fall over a larger portion of the body instead of concentrating it on one area.
    • Try to land on fatty tissue, such as on your thighs or bottom, rather than on more bony surfaces such as hips, knees, and elbows.
  • Using the following proactive measures can also go a long way towards avoiding a fall:
    • Be sure that all walking areas both inside and outside of the home are free from clutter and any possible tripping risks, such as extension cords.
    • Keep flooring surfaces, particularly in the bathroom and kitchen, clean and dry.
    • Install grab bars around the bathtub and toilet.
    • Make sure handrails are in place and secure alongside all stairwells.
    • Remove and replace any worn carpeting and remove all loose rugs.

At Harmony Home Health & Hospice, we’re experienced in making the home environment as safe and secure from falls as it can be to prevent senior falls, and we are skilled in providing ambulation help and oversight when needed to help ensure fall risk is reduced. We are also available to engage in physician-approved fitness programs to boost stability and flexibility, resulting in overall improved health.

Call us at 1-877-I-NEED-CARE (1-877-463-3322) to find additional ways we are able to help and to learn more about our in-home care in Ogden and the surrounding communities.

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7 Great Fall Prevention Exercises for Seniors

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These fall prevention exercises for seniors can reduce the risk for serious injury.

The CDC shares that as many as one in three seniors fall each year, and surprisingly, less than half of them tell their doctors about those falls. When a senior experiences a fall, even if it does not cause serious injury, he or she can begin to fear falling, leading to reduced involvement in activities, decreased mobility and physical fitness, and eventually, an increased risk of another fall.

In our last blog post, we shared some fall prevention home modifications you can make to boost senior safety. Additionally, there are a number of exercises that seniors can engage in regularly to increase muscle strength and enhance balance, which will not only help to lower the risk of falls, but will also provide the older person with more confidence and improved wellbeing. Check with the senior’s doctor first, and then try these fall prevention exercises, as recommended by our professional home health team:

  • Leg Lifts: Lift the knee as high as your hip (if possible), holding onto a sturdy object such as a chair to maintain balance. Hold the leg up for three seconds or more.
  • Flex and Point: While seated, point the toes and then flex them. Repeat with both feet.
  • Toe Taps: In a sitting position, simply tap the toes, repeating with alternating feet.
  • Sit-to-Stand: Holding onto a chair for support, stand and then return to a seated position. Try to gradually decrease reliance on the chair as legs are strengthened.
  • Calf Muscle Strengthening: Holding onto a wall, chair or the kitchen counter, repeatedly raise up and down on tiptoes. As strength improves, try to go higher up on the toes and eventually try the movement on one foot at a time.
  • Shin Muscle Strengthening: Stand and lean against a wall with heels 7 – 8” away from the wall. Lift the toes of both of feet off the ground as high as possible.
  • One-legged Stand: Hold onto a secure object, and then raise one leg off the ground and maintain balance on the standing leg.

Falling can cause devastating injury to an older adult. Contact Harmony Home Health & Hospice, the leading provider of home care in Ogden and the surrounding locations, for more fall prevention tips to ensure the seniors you love remain safe. Call us at 1-877-I-NEED-CARE (1-877-463-3322) for more information about our home health services for seniors.

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Reduce Senior Fall Risk with These Recommendations

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Reduce fall risk for older adults with these tips.

Falling can be painful, but for seniors, the results can be devastating, including hip fractures, which can result in a broad range of health concerns. As many as 25% of all older adults who experience a fractured hip lose their lives within six months of the injury. As disturbing as this statistic is, it’s important to know that there are steps that can be taken to reduce fall risk and to prevent serious injuries at home.

Making a few simple modifications to your loved one’s home can make a world of difference in enhancing safety. Below are some easy home alteration recommendations from our home health experts:

  • Lighting:
    • Replace light bulbs throughout the home on a routine basis to ensure there is sufficient lighting in the senior’s home
    • Make use of nightlights or motion detector lights to enhance visibility at night
    • Ensure no electrical cords are stretched across walking areas
  • Floors:
    • Use low pile carpet or slip-proof tile
    • Take out all throw rugs, or ensure they are firmly secured with non-slip tape
    • Use contrasting colors for paint, furniture and carpeting to clarify changes in surface types or levels
    • Never use floor polish or wax
  • Bathroom:
    • Install grab bars around the tub and beside the toilet, making sure they are strong enough to support an adult’s full weight
    • Place slip-proof strips or mats in and around the tub
    • Purchase a wall-mounted liquid soap dispenser for the shower wall
    • Use a portable, hand-held shower head
    • Add a padded shower or bath seat

Additionally, there are a number of products available to assist with reducing fall risk at home, such as:

  • Door Alarms: If the senior has a tendency to wander, especially at night, door alarms will let you or the senior’s caregiver know that he or she is moving about and could be in danger.
  • Monitoring Systems: Monitoring systems are an efficient way to track a senior’s movements in the home. Sensors are positioned throughout the home, and some even include calling capabilities so the older adult can alert a caregiver if a fall or other emergency has occurred.
  • Safer Footwear: Fall management footwear features rubber grips on the bottom to prevent slipping, and are great for older adults who are at a heightened risk for falls. You can even find waterproof, slip-resistant socks that can be worn in the tub or shower.
  • Bedrails: Many falls occur during the night as seniors move around in their sleep or get up to go to a different room. Bedrails can prevent seniors from falling out of bed and also provide something to hold onto when standing up to get out of bed.

With so many seniors choosing to age in place at home instead of moving to an assisted living facility, it’s crucial to make the home as safe as possible. Harmony Home Health & Hospice, the leaders in Salt Lake City in-home care and care in the surrounding areas, can help with professional in-home care services to reduce fall risk and enhance senior safety. Call us at 1-877-I-NEED-CARE (1-877-463-3322) today!