Falls and The Elderly - Facts, Causes and Prevention
Many people are not aware that falling is the leading cause of death in people aged 65 and older! When we think of leading cause of death we think heart disease and cancer but no...
falling leads the pack.
It is not always the fall itself that results in death but the resulting complications can have a sad ending.
It is a known fact that slips, trips and falls are a leading cause of emergency room visits - broken ankles, legs, wrists, hips, spine and too many bones to name individually.
Another interesting fact is that 2/3 of the people who fall once, will fall again within 6 months! And although women are 67% more likely to fall than men, men are more likely to die from the fall.
A quick look at that statistic would indicate that men are probably doing things that should be done by a professional or younger person, like using a ladder to climb onto the roof or carrying a heavy box downstairs.
An even more startling statistic is that the death rate resulting from a fall increases to 85% for people 75 years and older.
The statistics sighted above are pretty startling and something that should be addressed more frequently in doctor visits, public service announcements and communication with elderly relatives.
Many of us have parents or grandparents who won't listen but it is a subject that needs to be hammered home as much as possible.
There are many factors which can increase the risk of falling such as prescription medication like sedatives, pain meds or anti-depressants.
These drugs can decrease mental alertness, decrease balance and even cause a drop in blood pressure which can result in dizziness or momentary black outs.
Many people are mixing multiple meds without (and sometimes with!) their doctor's knowledge and the combination can increase your risk of falling.
Vision problems can alter ones depth perception and peripheral vision and hearing problems can increase a loss of balance or dizziness.
Another source of potential danger are hazards in the home such as poor lighting, slippery surfaces and possibly the most dangerous of all - throw rugs! Throw them out is what I tell people! They can cause a person to slip if they are not skid proof but even more frequently one can trip over the corner of the rug resulting in tripping or falling.
As people age, if they have not kept up regular exercise, the muscles deteriorate resulting in poor muscle tone, decreased strength and flexibility as well as a delayed reaction time.
Add this to any of the risk factors noted previously and you have a recipe for disaster.
It is important for family members and friends of elderly folks to remind them of these risks and to try to help them keep their environment as safe as possible.
Some of the simple things that will make a home more safe are:
falling leads the pack.
It is not always the fall itself that results in death but the resulting complications can have a sad ending.
It is a known fact that slips, trips and falls are a leading cause of emergency room visits - broken ankles, legs, wrists, hips, spine and too many bones to name individually.
Another interesting fact is that 2/3 of the people who fall once, will fall again within 6 months! And although women are 67% more likely to fall than men, men are more likely to die from the fall.
A quick look at that statistic would indicate that men are probably doing things that should be done by a professional or younger person, like using a ladder to climb onto the roof or carrying a heavy box downstairs.
An even more startling statistic is that the death rate resulting from a fall increases to 85% for people 75 years and older.
The statistics sighted above are pretty startling and something that should be addressed more frequently in doctor visits, public service announcements and communication with elderly relatives.
Many of us have parents or grandparents who won't listen but it is a subject that needs to be hammered home as much as possible.
There are many factors which can increase the risk of falling such as prescription medication like sedatives, pain meds or anti-depressants.
These drugs can decrease mental alertness, decrease balance and even cause a drop in blood pressure which can result in dizziness or momentary black outs.
Many people are mixing multiple meds without (and sometimes with!) their doctor's knowledge and the combination can increase your risk of falling.
Vision problems can alter ones depth perception and peripheral vision and hearing problems can increase a loss of balance or dizziness.
Another source of potential danger are hazards in the home such as poor lighting, slippery surfaces and possibly the most dangerous of all - throw rugs! Throw them out is what I tell people! They can cause a person to slip if they are not skid proof but even more frequently one can trip over the corner of the rug resulting in tripping or falling.
As people age, if they have not kept up regular exercise, the muscles deteriorate resulting in poor muscle tone, decreased strength and flexibility as well as a delayed reaction time.
Add this to any of the risk factors noted previously and you have a recipe for disaster.
It is important for family members and friends of elderly folks to remind them of these risks and to try to help them keep their environment as safe as possible.
Some of the simple things that will make a home more safe are:
- · Keep walking areas clear - outside and inside
- · Eliminate throw rugs
- · Place non-skid mats for bath/shower areas -
- · Install shower seats
- · Raise the toilet seat if needed
- · Put frequently used kitchen items in a handy place so as not to use a stop stool
- · Install adequate lighting, even night lights
- · Remove wheels from chairs that slide
- · Avoid using floor wax which makes floors more slippery
