How to Help a Parent With Osteoporosis at Home: Advice From Our Team

Helping a parent with osteoporosis at home comes down to preventing falls, keeping them moving safely, and making everyday tasks like bathing and getting dressed less risky. Small changes to the home and the daily routine do more to prevent a fracture than most families expect, and the best time to make them is before the first break happens.

October 20 is World Osteoporosis Day, an annual awareness day led by the International Osteoporosis Foundation. Osteoporosis weakens bones until a fall from standing height, or even a hard bump, can cause a fracture. The Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that roughly one in two women and up to one in four men over 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis. Because falls cause the vast majority of hip fractures, according to the CDC, what happens inside the home matters a great deal.

We asked Sandra Ternes, AbriCare's Referral Intake Manager and home care expert with 20 years of experience, what she sees in clients' homes and what she wishes every family knew.

‍Meet Sandra Ternes

Sandra is AbriCare’s Referral Intake Manager. She works directly with families and CareGivers to discuss care options, coordinate care intake, and understand the needs of each individual and family who reaches out to AbriCare. She has over 20 years of experience in Home Care delivery and management.

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Q&A With Sandra

What does osteoporosis look like from inside a client's home?

Most of the time, nobody calls us because of osteoporosis itself. They call because their Mom had a fall, or their Dad came home from the hospital with a fractured hip and the family realizes they can't cover every hour. Osteoporosis is usually the reason that fall turned into a break. Once you know that, you start looking at the house differently.

What's the first thing you look at when you walk into a home?

The path they take every day! I'll walk from the bed to the bathroom, from the kitchen to the favorite chair, and out to the mailbox. That's where falls happen, because those are the trips people make tired, in a hurry, or in the dark.

Sandra's usual walk-through checklist:

• Throw rugs and runners that slide or curl at the edges

• Cords running across walkways

• Dim lighting between the bedroom and bathroom at night (plug-in night lights help a lot)

• Stairs without a sturdy railing on both sides

• Everyday items stored up high, which leads to climbing on step stools

• Slippers or socks without grip

Why is the bathroom the room you worry about most?

Hard surfaces, water on the floor, and a lot of standing up and sitting down. It's the room where a fall is most likely to cause a fracture. Grab bars by the toilet and in the shower, a shower chair, a handheld showerhead, and non-slip mats make a real difference. For a lot of our clients, having a CareGiver there for bathing is the single most important part of the visit, because it lets them keep their routine without doing the riskiest part alone.

How do CareGivers help without impacting a parent's independence?

We do as much 'with' as we can and as little 'for' as we need to. If a client can get dressed on their own but gets unsteady putting on pants, the CareGiver stands by and steadies them instead of taking over. Staying active is good for bones and balance, so we encourage the walks and the movement their doctor recommends. Taking over everything can actually have the opposite effect of making someone more afraid of falling, which raises the risk.

What about meals and daily routines?

CareGivers can plan and cook meals that follow what the doctor has recommended, which for many people with osteoporosis includes foods with calcium and vitamin D. They can give medication reminders so nothing gets skipped, and they can drive clients to appointments, including bone density scans and follow-ups. None of that is complicated, but it's the kind of thing that can easily slip when a family is stretched thin.

What changes when a parent comes home after a fracture?

The first few weeks home are when families need the most hands. Mobility is limited, the person is often in pain and nervous about moving, and a second fall is a real worry. We usually start with more hours during recovery and taper down as they get stronger. The CareGiver follows the discharge plan and the routine the family has set, and keeps the family updated on how each day went.

Does Missouri weather change anything?

Absolutely! From November through March we talk with families about ice on porch steps, the walk to the mailbox, and getting in and out of the car in a slick driveway. Plan ahead for who salts the steps and who picks up the mail. In Rolla and around Phelps County, for example, a lot of our clients are on rural roads and long driveways, so that planning matters even more.

What signs should families watch for?

Things that seem small but add up: a parent who has gotten shorter, a new stoop in their posture, back pain that came on suddenly, or a near-fall they laughed off. Also watch for someone who starts avoiding the stairs or stops going out because they're afraid of falling. Those are all worth mentioning to their doctor. We're non-medical, so we don't diagnose anything, but CareGivers see clients often enough to notice changes and let the family know.

What do you wish more families knew?

That you don't have to wait for a fall to get help. Some of our families start with a few hours a week so the main family caregiver gets a break, and that's often when we catch the loose rug or the missing grab bar. If you're the one doing all the care right now, take care of yourself too. Burnout is real, and it's hard to keep a parent safe when you're running on empty.

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Want to learn even more? Explore our posts on What Is Respite Care and How Does It Work? and Caregiver Burnout: Signs & What to Do.

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Fall Prevention and Home Care Support in Rolla, St. Louis, & North Kansas City

AbriCare provides non-medical home care in Rolla, St, Louis, and North Kansas City, Missouri. In Rolla, our CareGivers support families across Phelps County, including St. James, Newburg, and Doolittle. In North Kansas City, we serve families throughout the Northland and the greater Kansas City area. St. Louis covers St. Louis County as well as thr City of St. Louis, and many of the surrounding counties.

CareGivers help with:

• Bathing, dressing, and grooming assistance

• Mobility support and standby assistance around the house

• Meal planning and preparation

• Medication reminders

• Transportation to appointments and errands

• Light housekeeping that keeps walkways clear

• Companionship and respite for family caregivers

AbriCare offers options for private pay, long-term care insurance, VA benefits, or Medicaid for those who qualify. If you're comparing options in the Kansas City area, our guide to how much home care costs in Kansas City walks through typical rates. For local resources, see Community Resources for Seniors and Families in Rolla, MO and Community Resources for Seniors and Families in North Kansas City, MO.

If your parent has concerns abut the idea of help, the first thing to know is that this is totally normal. Our article on How to Talk to a Parent About Home Care has a few approaches that work.

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FAQ: Helping a Parent With Osteoporosis at Home

How can I help a parent with osteoporosis at home?

Focus on fall prevention first: remove loose rugs, add grab bars and night lights, and install railings on stairs. Support safe, doctor-approved activity like walking, and get help with the riskiest daily tasks, especially bathing. Many home care services like AbriCare can support with standby assistance, meal preparation, medication reminders, and rides to appointments.

What is the most common cause of fractures in people with osteoporosis?

Falls. According to the CDC, the large majority of hip fractures are caused by falling, usually sideways. Preventing falls at home is one of the most effective ways to prevent fractures.

How do I make a bathroom safer for someone with osteoporosis?

Install grab bars near the toilet and in the shower, use a shower chair and a handheld showerhead, add non-slip mats inside and outside the tub, and keep a night light on the path from the bedroom. Many families also schedule a caregivers for bathing, since it's an activity with one of the highest fall risk.

How quickly can home care start in Rolla, St Louis or North Kansas City?

AbriCare starts with an intake conversation to understand your loved one's needs and schedule. From there, we ensure AbriCare is a good fit for your needs and then connect clients with a CareGiver and confirm a start date, sometimes in as little as one to three days. If your family is in an urgent situation, such as a parent coming home from the hospital this week, call your local office directly.

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Sources: Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation, CDC: Facts About Falls, International Osteoporosis Foundation: World Osteoporosis Day

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