Paralysis is defined as the loss of muscle function in one or more area or muscle groups. Depending on how serious the paralysis is, one can lose feeling or sensation in an area of his/her body, or completely lose the ability to move that certain area.
Paralysis is often caused by damages to the brain or the nervous system. Some conditions may cause paralysis, such as trauma, stroke, botulism, multiple sclerosis, among many more. Some poisons may also trigger paralysis by interfering with nerve function.
Paralysis injury claims usually involve accidents such as slip and fall, elevator accidents, or something as bad as a fatal car crash. The elderly are more prone to paralysis injuries because of the lack of mobility that they already have in the first place. There are also medical conditions that may increase the chances of having a potentially fatal slip and fall accident, such as cardiac arrests, arrhythmia, abrupt blood pressure changes, dizziness, hearing loss, neurological conditions, and others. Here are a few ideas you can use to make your home safe for the elderly.
Make your stairs slip-free:
• Keep your stair area free from any clutter. If you have children in the house as well, keep the toys away from the stairs as this can cause potentially fatal falls.
• Make sure that there is enough source of light to enable the elderly to see the steps properly.
• Install sturdy handrails as required by law in the household. The elderly must have something sturdy and solid to hold on to when going up or down the stairs.
• Cover the stairs with non-slip treads or similar material. Marble or tiled stairs are especially prone to accidents. Slippery surfaces must be covered by non-slip materials to minimize the possibility of slipping.
Keeping your bathroom safe:
• Make sure that the bathroom is well lit. Keep the switch in a place that is easily reachable even before one enters it.
• Place handrails in the tub and toilet areas. This is to make sure that the elderly have something to hold on to when getting in and out of the tub, or sitting on the toilet and standing up.
• Use mats with non-skid backing – mats can be useful to keep us dry, but when the floor is dry, stepping on it may be potentially slippery and dangerous.
• Mop up puddles of water immediately. A buildup of water on the floor of the bathroom is dangerous. Clean it up as soon as possible.
Keeping the bedroom safe:
• Keep the floor clutter-free
• Make sure that extension cords are not visible so that the elderly will not trip on it.
• Remove rugs on the floor
• Place a night light near the bed so that when the elderly need to get up in the dark, a light is easily accessible to them
• Do not use satin sheets, as this will cause the elderly to slip while getting in and out of bed
• Make sure that there is a telephone near the bed
In case of injury due to negligence, consult with paralysis injury claims attorney to ensure that any form of negligence will be accounted for in court.
To help you pursue paralysis injury claims and other related concerns, you can consult with our expert Los Angeles personal injury lawyers. Visit our website to avail of our free case analysis.
