Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury in Your Loved One

Providing care for an elderly loved one that doesn’t reside with you can bring about worry for caregivers about how well their loved one is doing when they aren’t there and one of the main concerns of many caregivers is the possibility of their elderly loved one falling and sustaining a traumatic brain injury. A 24-hour home care team can make sure someone is always there to assist your loved one with whatever they need they have so that they can continue to live in their home safely.

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. According to its website, the Brain Injury Association of America has a campaign each March to bring awareness to the prevalence of brain injuries and the steps being taken to reduce the risks of brain injuries as well as help those who have suffered from a traumatic brain injury.

With an elderly senior to care for, it’s important for caregivers to both know the best steps to reduce the risk of their loved one developing a traumatic brain injury through a fall and know the symptoms to watch for in case they have but hasn’t shared that they have fallen.

Brain Injury Symptoms

Some brain injury symptoms are immediately noticeable in a fall victim, while others are more subtle, get confused with other conditions, or don’t appear until days after the fall has taken place.

These are symptoms caregivers can look for when trying to discern if a fall has taken place.

• Your loved one complains of a persistent headache.
• They’re more wobbly on his feet than normal, perhaps stating they’re feeling dizzy or has vertigo.
• Their speech is impaired or garbled.
• They’re sleeping too much.
• They’re vomiting.
• They’re more confused than normal or has a difficult time following conversations or completing simple tasks.

Five Steps to Preventing Falls in Seniors

1. Provide assistive devices around the home. This could be installing grab bars in the bathroom, or having your loved one use a cane or walker to maneuver around his home.
2. Clean up clutter. Loose rugs, along with random items on the floor can all be tripping hazards and increase the risk of falling. Look at doorways where shoes gather, in laundry rooms, and on bathroom floors for anything that might trip him up.
3. Increase lighting. Bad lighting can make it hard for your loved one to notice an elevation change where he’s walking or see something misplaced on the floor or step.
4. Wear good, supportive, non-slip shoes, even in the house. Socks and slippers can make tripping and falling more likely.
5. Stay active. An active senior is more likely to have a stronger inner core for balance and quicker reflexes when needed.

24-Hour Home Care Assistance Can Help Reduce Fall Risk

Sometimes an illness (such as vertigo, Alzheimer’s disease, or Parkinson’s Disease) increases a person’s risk for falling and while you can take steps to keep the home free from tripping hazards, your loved one may still need physical assistance to move around their home safely without fear of falling. A 24-hour home care team helps caregivers rest a bit easier when they are not there with their loved one, knowing there is always someone there, reducing the risk of their loved one falling and not having anyone nearby to help.

If you or an aging loved one is considering 24-Hour Home Care Services in Alpharetta GA, please contact the caring staff at CaraVita Home Care today. (770) 643-1712