It’s a reality of aging that older adults’ bodies constantly change — and that goes beyond gray hair and wrinkles. For example, older bodies lose muscle mass, bones become less dense, the brain’s neurons don’t fire as quickly and eyesight gets worse.
Unchecked, these physiological changes can lead to larger problems like injuries and chronic health conditions, which in turn may result in frequent trips to the emergency room. But this doesn’t have to be just another reality of aging.
For many seniors, living in Assisted Living can actually help prevent ER visits. What’s more, Assisted Living communities can significantly improve seniors’ overall quality of life, which is arguably the biggest benefit of Assisted Living.
Let’s look at four common reasons that seniors may need to visit the ER, along with ways in which Assisted Living can help older adults avoid making such visits entirely.
4 common reasons for older adults’ ER visits
1. Falls. Medications can cause lightheadedness, dizziness and drowsiness, among other side effects. Health conditions like ear and eye disorders may cause falls; people with diabetes may become dizzy if their blood sugar levels change. Even environmental hazards, such as wet floors, electrical cords, or loose rugs can cause older adults to stumble, trip and fall. But no matter what caused a fall, they can be serious enough to cause broken bones, sprains, and head and back injuries in older adults that necessitate a trip to the ER.
Assisted Living helps prevent ER visits associated with falls in a number of ways. One of the main ways is by preventing falls from happening in the first place. Assisted Living communities have specialized equipment such as grab bars in the bathrooms, taller toilets, handrails and ramps.
If a fall does happen, senior living residents are often equipped with an emergency call pendant, or have emergency call systems in their private residences. That means help is always nearby.
2. Medication interactions. Older adults may not always manage their own medications properly. They may forget to take it entirely or take it multiple times. They may not realize which medications need to be taken with food, or at certain times of the day. They might not know which medications interact with each other. Finally, older adults may neglect to get a medication refilled or picked up at a pharmacy.
Assisted Living communities can prevent ER visits because they employ staff members who assist with medication management. Staff members know what medications a resident is taking, which can also help avoid medication interactions. They also know when to deliver the medication at a certain time of day to reduce dizziness or disorientation.
Some Assisted Living communities even have pharmacies on-site, and will also have a nurse on-site 24/7. Both can help ensure residents’ medications are available and provided correctly and on schedule, as needed.
3. Illnesses. Medical conditions, weaker immune systems, and muscular weakness can make older adults more susceptible to respiratory illnesses like pneumonia, which can be deadly. The flu or a cold can also lead to more serious respiratory issues. Some older adults may have chronic conditions like congestive heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that they’re unable to successfully manage on their own. If the senior is living at home, early signs of trouble may be missed entirely, until a crisis occurs.
Assisted Living can prevent ER trips for issues like these. Round-the-clock nursing staff provide oversight and monitoring that can help detect a resident’s physical changes. Staff can then intervene before a medical emergency happens. Trained staff members can also help residents better manage chronic conditions to prevent them from getting worse.
4. Dehydration or malnutrition. Older adults’ bodies don’t retain water as easily as young bodies do; as people age, their sense of thirst diminishes. Some medications can also cause dehydration. It may seem like a small issue, but dehydration can cause kidney stones and urinary tract infections, both serious medical issues.
Malnutrition can be caused by a poor diet, but it can also be caused when a senior simply forgets or fails to eat. Another issue is that vitamins and nutrients aren’t absorbed as well by our bodies as we age, which can lead to malnutrition and vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Taken together, malnutrition and dehydration can exacerbate existing health conditions or lead to new health problems.
Here again, Assisted Living can help prevent ER visits. Many communities have a registered dietitian on staff, who consults with the culinary staff on menu creation to ensure dishes are both delicious and nutritious. Staff at senior living communities get to know residents, and pay attention to their personal preferences, likes and dislikes. If a resident doesn’t like to drink water, a staff member may swap it out for tea or juice to encourage hydration.
Consider Assisted Living at Friendship Village
At Friendship Village Chesterfield and Friendship Village Sunset Hills, we know how Assisted Living can make a positive difference in older adults’ lives — because we see the results every day. Residents appreciate the thoughtful mix of assistance and independence they find in our two St. Louis communities; they also love the opportunity to continue living joyful, purpose-filled lives, just as they always have.
Perhaps assisted living would benefit you or someone you care about. If you’d like to learn how Friendship Village can improve your health and happiness or that of a loved one, let’s talk. Contact us to learn more about our senior living community. We can answer your questions and arrange a personal tour.