Seniors at Risk for Falling
It’s no secret that our risk of serious injury increases as we age. Whether it’s a broken bone or a concussion, falls can have profound effects on your quality of life. And if you’re in assisted living or long-term care, they can even affect your level of independence. Luckily, there are several things you can do to reduce the chances of falling.
Why are falls dangerous for seniors?
According to the Centers for Disease Control, falls are the leading cause of injury and death among older adults. In fact, one out of three people over 65 will fall each year. That’s one in every three!
Falls are also the most common cause of nonfatal injuries among older adults, causing more than 2 million injuries treated in emergency departments annually (CDC).
Over 40% of people who suffer a hip fracture die within six months, and another 15-20% will never fully recover from their injuries. Falls can cause serious injuries and even death. So, it’s important to be aware of these risks and take steps to prevent them before they happen.
Does weather play a role in falls?
A person’s ability to walk is impacted by weather. For instance, walking may be more difficult and unsafe if it’s raining or snowing.
Weather can also have an impact on vision. When there is fog or rain, seniors may not be able to see as well as they normally would.
Senior communities and falls
When you live in a senior living community, your safety is the top priority for staff members. They want to help you stay as active and independent as possible, even if that means preventing falls from occurring.
The following are some of the ways that assisted living facilities can help seniors prevent falls:
Fall prevention plans:
If an elder care facility has a long-term care insurance policy available to residents, it may offer them the option of creating a plan that outlines specific strategies for reducing their risk of falling. These plans will typically include exercises (such as stretching), medications (like blood thinners or anti-depressants), dietary changes (like eating more vitamin C), and other solutions tailored to each person’s specific needs and preferences.
Fall risk assessments:
A healthcare professional at an assisted living facility will conduct a comprehensive evaluation when you first move into the community to determine how likely it is that you’ll fall while living there. Once they’ve determined your level of risk—high or low—they’ll be able to provide customized recommendations based on what they’ve learned during this evaluation process. These could include anything from physical therapy sessions with an occupational therapist up through moving into another wing with fewer stairs. So, there’s less chance of tripping over something unexpected!
How can you create a safe environment at home so that you don’t fall?
Use a slip-resistant mat in the bathroom. This product is easy to install, and it will help prevent slips and falls when you’re likely to be barefoot or wearing slippers.
Put grab bars in the shower and around your tub. Grab bars are also useful if you need assistance with getting up from a chair or toilet seat and support when standing for long periods (such as while doing housework).
Use a shower chair or grab bar. These items are simple to install and provide an extra layer of security when entering or exiting the shower/tub area.
Use non-slip rugs in both bathrooms (bathroom flooring should ideally have a rubberized back) and kitchen areas where liquids may spill onto floors (e.g., near sinks). This kind of rug can be easily removed, if necessary, by simply pulling it out from under its adhesive backing.
What age is fall risk a concern?
You may have seen age-related falls in your family members or even yourself. Falls are a problem for seniors of all ages, but they become more common and serious as people age. This is because the body changes with time, including vision and balance. As you get older, you may be less able to see clearly or hear well enough to navigate obstacles on your path. You might also begin to lose some strength to keep yourself upright when walking or standing up from sitting down.
Who falls more men or women?
Men fall more often than women. This may be partly because their bodies have a higher percentage of lean muscle mass and less body fat, which helps them build strength. But it’s also because men are more likely to participate in sports such as football and ice hockey, which put them at greater risk for falls.
On the other hand, since women tend to live longer than men, they’re more likely to experience chronic diseases like arthritis or osteoporosis (brittle bones), making falls even more dangerous.
With some planning, many falls can be prevented.
With some planning, many falls can be prevented. You can prevent falls by doing the following:
- Wear shoes with good traction.
- Wear comfortable shoes.
- Wear low-heeled shoes (2 inches or lower).
- Wear shoes with good arch support and shock absorption.
- Wear shoes that have a wide toe box and are flexible in the forefoot area of the shoe so they don’t feel tight against your toes when you walk or move around in them.
In Conclusion
The first thing we recommend doing when putting together a fall prevention plan is calling your doctor or nurse practitioner. They can help you assess whether or not any medications might be causing dizziness and check to see if you have any other health issues (such as diabetes) that could contribute to falls. Suppose your health care provider doesn’t address these things. In that case, we suggest getting an assessment from an occupational therapist so they can evaluate which types of exercises would best improve your balance and mobility.
Patients in our facilities are assessed for fall risk on a regular basis. If you would like more information about how our facility handles patients at risk for falls, send us your information and someone from our team will contact you.