For older Americans, falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries. About 25 percent of American adults 65 years of age and older fall each year, but falls should not be an expected part of aging. Not only do falls greatly injure seniors physically, they can also have devastating mental effects that will affect a senior’s confidence in their mobility. For this reason, fall prevention in the elderly is critical.
Falls in the Elderly Fast Facts
According to the CDC, each year, approximately 2.8 million seniors are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries. They estimate that more than one in four older people fall each year, but less than half of those that fall will tell their doctor. Here is a quick look at some stats regarding falls in the elderly:
- One in five falls causes serious injury such as broken bones or head injuries
- Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries
- At least 300,000 seniors are hospitalized for hip fractures each year
- More than 95 percent of hip fractures are caused by falling, usually sideways
Fall Risk Factors
While most falls are the result of a combination of risk factors, there are some conditions that make you more likely to experience a fall. Fall prevention in the elderly begins with recognizing and modifying risk factors. Here is a list of risk factors for falls:
- Lower body weakness
- Difficulties with walking or balance
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Use of medicines that can affect your balance
- Vision issues
- Foot pain
- Poor footwear
- Home hazards
Consequences of Falls in the Elderly
Fall prevention in the elderly is important because the consequences of falls are so devastating for a senior. The most obvious concern with falls is the injuries they cause. Beyond hip fractures, falls can cause broken bones and head injuries. If a senior hits their head, they should see a doctor right away to ensure they do not have a brain injury.
Injuries from falls are quite costly, totaling $34 billion in 2013. About two-thirds of this total is attributed to hospital costs. By 2020, due to the growing aging population, costs of falls may reach as much as $67.7 billion.
The physical injuries and financial toll are just part of the consequences of falling in the elderly. A senior that has previously fallen is likely to become afraid of falling. Even seniors that have not fallen may become scared to fall. This fear can cause a senior to restrict their daily activities. This can also lead to them becoming less active and more isolated.
Though these seniors are attempting to prevent a future fall, the inactivity leads to weaker muscles and bones that will actually lead to an increased chance of falling. Furthermore, seniors that no longer have confidence in their mobility may start to experience feelings of hopelessness and depression. It is important that seniors that experience falls rebuild their confidence after the physical injuries heal.
5 Tips for Fall Prevention in the Elderly
There are a couple things that you or your senior can do to help prevent falls. These tips for fall prevention in the elderly will help you reduce your risk factors.
1. Visit Your Doctor
Make an appointment to talk to your doctor so that you can determine your risk for falls. You will want to bring them a list of medications you are taking so they can review the side effects with you. Your doctor may be able to switch medications or limit medications that are causing loss of balance, vision issues, or drowsiness.
Also, make sure that you discuss any and all health conditions with your doctor to see if you have a further increased risk for falls. If you have fallen in the past or almost fallen before, you will want to tell your physician about those details so that they can create a specific fall prevention plan for you.
2. Keep Your Body Moving
Physical exercise goes a long way in fall prevention in the elderly. As long as your doctor clears you for physical activity, you should do activities that can help improve strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility. These may include walking, working out in water, or tai chi.
3. Make Your Home Safer
There are many things that you can do to ensure your home safety, but there are some major areas you want to pay attention to. Make sure that you create open space and walkways for your senior. There should not be clutter or things on the ground or stairs that your senior may trip on. Don’t forget this includes making sure all cords and wires are taped down or moved and rugs are secured to the ground.
Bathrooms are a place where falls can happen due to the wet surfaces. Take fall prevention steps in your bathroom like adding grab bars in the shower or near the toilet. Also, consider installing a shower chair or using non-slip mats in the shower.
Also, install lights in any dark areas. Stairwells and walking paths around the home should be well lit should your senior have to navigate around the home at night.
4. Wear Proper Footwear
Sometimes fall prevention in the elderly can come down to simply changing a senior’s pair of shoes. Make sure that your senior is wearing properly fitting shoes with nonskid soles. Shoes like high heel or flip-flops can make anyone trip, stumble, and fall.
5. A Little Help Goes A Long Way
There are some assistive devices that can help your senior stay on their feet. Your doctor may recommend using a cane or a walker. In the home, you should also have rails for both sides of stairways. If you have bare wood steps, nonslip treads should be placed on them as well. Make an appointment with an occupational therapist to come up with some other fall prevention methods for you or your senior.
