Fear of falling affects 50% of senior citizens who have experienced a bad fall. This fear keeps them from living fulfilling, independent lives. The solution is simple – learn everything you can about Fall Prevention and use that knowledge to implement strategic solutions to prevent falls.
Read on to learn about the five most common risk factors and some suggestions, tips and resources for prevention.
(Note: this article is meant as a basic guide and cannot substitute for medical advice– consult your doctor and a licensed occupational therapist for recommendations appropriate for your situation. A list of sources used for this article is available at the end.)
#1: Environmental
According to Consumer Affairs, a little over 71% of all falls that result in an emergency room visit occur indoors. Oddly enough, these are the easiest to control – especially in your own home. Ways to improve your home include installing grab bars in the bathroom and in stairwells and entrances; ensuring proper lighting so that you can see any obstacles in your loved one’s path; and removing tripping hazards in entrances and pathways.
Below are a few checklists to walk you through the process of making your home a safe place for your elderly loved ones:
- “In-Home Fall Prevention” from the University of Virginia
- “Preventing Falls at Home: Room by Room” from the National Institute of Health
- “Check for Safety: A Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults” by the CDC
Here are a few additional resources on our website you can read to prepare and update the safety of your home:
- Installing Home Safety Equipment for your Elderly Loved One
- Review The Safety of Your Home
- Create a Plan for Living Successfully at Home
#2: Medicine
Whether it’s prescription or over-the-counter, drugs change the chemical balance of our bodies. When you’re younger, your body can compensate, but as you age that ability diminishes. This can result in severe side effects that increase the risk of falling. The risk doubles and even triples when different drugs are taken simultaneously. According to “Medications Linked to Falls Fact Sheet” (CDC), sedatives, anti-depressants and anti-psychotics are more likely to increase the risk of falling because they affect mental alertness.
The following are four preventative measures that will help:
- Keep a list of all the drugs your loved one takes, prescription AND over the counter; keep it on you or ask them to keep it on them, so that when they visit the doctor (or if there’s an emergency) you can ensure that any medicine they receive will not have adverse reactions to the ones they’re already taking.
- Create and stick to your medicine schedule – this will ensure a steady balance of the drug in your loved one’s system so that they don’t have symptoms from withdrawal.
- In any new symptoms DO arise, contact a doctor immediately.
- Fill any prescriptions and purchase all over-the-counter drugs at the same pharmacy; they will keep a record of the prescriptions on file and will flag any combinations that will have adverse side effects.
Here are a few additional resources on our website you can use:
- Medical Information Forms
- Why and How to Arrange a Medication Review for Your Elderly Loved One
- Medication Management
#3: Medical Conditions
There are many types of medical conditions that increase risk of falling. They include heart disease, Parkinson’s, low blood pressure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, arthritis and mental confusion. One of the biggest though is osteoporosis. There is some debate as to whether the brittle bones case the fall or are just the biggest injury from the fall. Make sure elderly loved ones keep a well-balanced diet and try to incorporate as much diary and vitamin D in their diet.
Talk to a doctor about treatment of medical conditions and prepare your home so that, if a fall should happen, you will be ready for it. You should also prepare for medical emergencies, so if one does occur (and we hope it doesn’t), you’ll be prepared to act quickly.
#4: Vision Problems
Seniors with vision problems are almost twice as likely to fall than those with perfect vision. This is because vision and balance go hand in hand; when static and dynamic visual information is lacking, balance and posture are off, which leads to falls. In fact, the CDC suggests having your loved one’s eyes and feet checked as part of fall prevention.
There are many other medical eye problems, aside from failing eyesight, that can increase fall risk – cataracts and glaucoma for example.
The most common effects of aging eyesight are:
- Increased sensitivity to glare & light changes
- Decreased ability to see in dim light or see contrast
- Decreased depth perceptions & visual acuity
- A lack of balance due to impaired vision
Age related eye disease includes:
- Cataracts
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
- Glaucoma
- Diabetic retinopathy
The National Eye Institute recommends eye exams every one or two years after the age of 60. Have your loved one’s eyes checked if they:
- notice changes in vision
- have a family history of eye disease
- have diabetes
- are 40 years or older
- have not have your eyes examined for two years of more
(Hosier)
For more information about low vision, browse our Vision Services page.
#5: Lack of Physical Activity
There exists a vicious circle for seniors who fall: they fall, which makes them afraid they may fall again, therefore they reduce their activity, certain that by not being physically active they reduce their risk… but they fall again when they finally become active. This makes them more afraid…
When anyone does not remain physically active, their body loses muscle, coordination and reflexes. These three things are protection against falls. Exercise is the only solution, even if it’s just 15 minutes every other day. That’s all it takes to keep your body in shape and help prevent falls.
Create a regular exercise regimen for the seniors in your life and you’ll find they not only will gain in strength, balance and reflexes, but they will regain the confidence they may have lost after a bad fall.
Danielle Dorsett, a personal trainer at ACAC, spoke to Care is There about balance. You can watch the video below:
Assistive Devices
There are many different devices available to help elderly persons with balance issues or medical problems that make them unsteady on their feet. These include canes, walkers and reachers. You can find a list of Assistive Device providers at Care is There.
Occupational Therapists and Physical Therapists
Many home health agencies employ occupational therapists and physical therapists that can provide fall prevention advice and care to their clients, and these programs are sometimes covered by Medicare.
Do you need help managing the care of an elderly loved one in Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Staunton, or Waynesboro, Virginia?
Contact us at Care is There Geriatric Care Management 800.434.1633 or info@careisthere.com. We offer geriatric care management, support for independent living, assisted living enhancement, Aging Life Care™ services, and peace of mind for long distance caregivers.
AGING LIFE CARE™ is a trademark of the Aging Life Care Association. Only ALCA members are authorized to use this term to identify their services. See the Team page of CareisThere.com for a list of our associates, and look for the Aging Life Care logo on the bio pages of our ACLA members.
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