Falls and the Elderly
Important Details About Falls and the Elderly
Why are falls a particular concern for older people?
While falls can happen to anyone, older adults (those 65 and above) are more at risk for falls in terms of their health. For older Australians, falls are the most common cause of unintentional injuries. There is a greater chance of falls and hospitalizations due to falls as our population ages and becomes older. Almost one in three senior Australians had fallen within the previous 12 months. Five of them needed to be admitted to the hospital.
Even in cases where falls result in no injuries, they frequently cause older people to lose confidence and develop a lifelong dread of falling. This may eventually cause the person to become less active and move less, which raises the chance of falling even more. On the other hand, most falls are avoidable, and one’s risk of damage can be decreased. We can all do our part to keep older folks from falling if we are motivated, adopt healthy behaviors, and understand how to lower risk.
Why might older people fall?
Someone may fall for other reasons besides being clumsy or failing to focus. Older adults may fall for a variety of reasons, including:
Changes to the body: As we age normally, our bodies alter over many years in a natural way. Age-related changes in the body include: impaired vision, which causes you to see less clearly or experience difficulty with sudden light changes or glare; slower reaction times; new health issues, like dementia or incontinence; and balance issues, such as feeling unsteady when walking or having trouble lifting your feet when walking.
These alterations may be brought on by a sickness or condition, or they may be the result of aging normally. They may have an impact on our gait and may even result in a fall.
In and around the home, about two out of every three falls occur. A few common home safety risks are dim lighting, dangerous shoes like slippers or high heels, spills, wet or shiny floors, staircases, uneven surfaces, and trip hazards such floor mats, rugs, and electrical cords.
Neglecting general health and wellbeing: Older adults who are not physically fit or active typically have weaker muscles and lower balance, which increases their risk of falling. It may also be challenging for them to be healthy enough to walk around securely if they are not eating well and are not drinking enough water.
What other risk factors are there for a fall?
There are several circumstances that make someone more likely to fall. Among them are: Fall history: You have a higher chance of falling again if you have fallen more than once in the preceding six months. Low blood pressure: Older adults who have low blood pressure by nature may experience lightheadedness, vertigo, or unsteadiness when moving. Postural (orthostatic) hypotension: When a person shifts positions, like from sitting to standing, their blood pressure falls. An higher risk of falls occurs in older adults with postural hypotension, whether it is a result of a prescription side effect or something else. Incontinence: You might have to run to the bathroom a lot, which raises the possibility of falling, especially at night.
Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, and strokes all alter your gait and make it more difficult for you to respond fast enough to stop yourself if you stumble. Diabetes: Variations in blood sugar levels can cause dizziness. Diabetes can also impair vision and lessen leg and foot sensation. Depression – Elderly patients experiencing depression may take medications that raise their chance of falling. Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia: These conditions can cause older people to lose awareness of their surroundings and their ability to respond rapidly. Although osteoporosis, which is characterized by weak, thin bones, does not increase the risk of falls, it does increase the likelihood of breaking or fracturing a bone if a person does fall.
When should I see my doctor?
Even if you feel great, talk to your doctor if you’ve suffered a fall. Any number of health problems, such as a new medical condition, a pharmaceutical side effect, balance difficulty, or muscle weakness, could be indicated by falls. Your physician can offer advice on how to lessen your risk of falling in the future. Regular check-ups with your doctor are also a good idea. This makes sure that any worries you may have are taken care of before they cause a more significant fall down the road.
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How are falls treated?
The following measures may be recommended by your doctor if you have experienced a fall or if you are worried about your risk of having one.
Vitamin D and calcium supplements: Your physician could advise supplementing with calcium and vitamin D. This can lessen the chance that a fall may break one of your bones and assist to improve the health of your bones.
Medications review: Some medications have adverse effects that include fatigue, disorientation, shakiness, or dizziness. Your pharmacist or doctor can assess your prescription to determine whether any adjustments are necessary because these side effects may raise your risk of falling.
Podiatry Assessment: The feet alter as we age, which may have an impact on our balance and gait. See a podiatrist for guidance on how to improve circulation, reduce swelling, and lessen pain in the legs and feet if you experience pain or swelling in your feet when walking, or if you experience other symptoms like tingling or pins and needles.
Eyesight Assessments and Cataract Surgery: Any eye conditions can be prevented from getting worse by being detected early. See your physician or optometrist to have your eyes examined. If cataracts are causing your vision problems, having surgery to remove them will help you lower your risk of falling and breaking bones in the future.
Hip Protectors: The most frequent fall injury is a hip fracture, which is more likely in the elderly. Think about whether you would benefit from wearing hip protectors. To protect them in the event of a fall, these are positioned over the hips and tucked inside special underwear. They lessen the chance of hip fractures, especially in people with osteoporosis or high fall rates.
How can falls be prevented?
There are many practical ways to reduce the risk of falls occurring, including:
Lifestyle Changes: Continue your physical activity. Regardless of age, try to engage in at least 30 minutes of action five times a week to increase your strength and balance. Exercise regimens for groups, dancing, and tai chi are appropriate activities.
Eat healthily: Savor a wide range of foods and beverages, especially in the summer. If you are extremely thin, food supplements could be helpful. If you’ve been sitting or lying down, carefully get up to avoid dizziness from bad posture.
Changes Around the Home: Additionally, you can lower your chance of falling by improving three potential hazards in your home: tripping, slipping, and lighting.
Lighting: Enough illumination is essential for a home. Turn on the lights as you move around. Turn on the lights in the hallway at night. By covering your windows with net curtains or blinds, you can lessen glare inside your home. These adjustments lessen the likelihood of a fall and make it easier for your eyes to see where you are going.
Slipping: You can lessen the chance of slips and falls by making changes to what you wear around the house and correcting any risky surfaces. In areas that are damp, like the shower and bathroom, use non-slip matting. It can be worthwhile to cover the entire floor in non-slip material in larger rooms. Put in a bench or hand rails in the bath or shower. To improve visibility, apply non-skid tape to the edges of stairs and steps. Clear outside pathways of any leaves, moss, or slime. Slips can also be avoided by wearing shoes that fit snugly on the foot.
Tripping: Small objects may provide a trip risk. Remove any rubbish from any walkways, and secure any electrical lines running along the skirting boards with tape. To make any slight variations in floor level easier to perceive, mark them with a contrasting color. Instead of leaving loose, trip-hazardous debris on the bottom of doors, install a “draught excluder.” Throw away worn-out mats and ripped or stretched carpet.
Are there complications following a fall?
Both men and women can get injuries to their hips and thighs from falls. Nine out of ten hospital admissions for hip fractures are due to them. Head injuries, wrist fractures, and other traumas are among the other problems that arise from falls. Hip fractures can cause a great deal of long-term hardship since they make older individuals less self-sufficient, more dependent on family and caregivers, and more likely to require assisted living.
Many elderly persons lose confidence when walking and develop a fear of falling again after experiencing a fall. You could begin to engage in less physical activity. But as time goes on, your decreased range of motion actually increases your risk of falling again due to weaker muscles, stiffer joints, and worse balance.
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