Rest: Make sure your loved one can rest and relax as much as possible. If they need help with this, get in touch with a professional caregiver who can assist them with getting up and moving around.
Ice: Apply ice packs to any injuries or areas where bruising has occurred. This will help reduce swelling and make it easier for your loved one to recover from their fall.
Compression: Use compression bandages on any injured areas of the body to prevent further damage from occurring. Compression bands should be changed every 2-3 days depending on the severity of the damage done to the area in question; however, if you notice that there is some bleeding after changing out these bandages, then you should consult with your doctor immediately about what else needs to be done in order for this problem to not become worse over time.
Elevation: If possible, elevate both feet above heart level (by placing pillows underneath each leg) to keep blood flow flowing freely through all parts of your body.
The benefits of using this strategy are that it can reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation. It also reduces bleeding and bruising and helps ensure blood flow continues.
Resting helps slow down the body’s natural response to injury, including swelling and inflammation.
Ice can help reduce pain, swelling, bruising, and inflammation. It also helps reduce bleeding by reducing blood flow to the injured area.
Compression helps to restrict the movement of fluids within the injured area, which reduces swelling and inflammation, which in turn reduces pain. It also helps stop bleeding by reducing blood flow to the injured area.
Elevation helps to reduce swelling by increasing blood flow away from the injury site towards your heart (it’s all about gravity). You can elevate either your foot or your leg depending on where you’re feeling pain at any given time.
Of course, in more severe cases, when symptoms do not subside within a day, it is vital to consult a doctor. Taking advice from a specialist can save your loved one’s life and health, but you should always listen to your instincts when dealing with an injury. If something hurts or doesn’t feel right, it is better to seek medical attention immediately.
If you are looking for additional support to meet the changing needs of your family member, please reach out to us at: www.affinityseniorhelp.com or call Affinity at 248-363-8430.