In today’s society, we sometimes see a person falling to be humorous. However, a person falling, especially the elderly, is no laughing matter and can become a real issue for a person that is a fall risk.
The National Institutes of Health states that falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in people ages 65 and older. In 2001, there were 10,300 fatal falls in the elderly population. Since the aging baby boomer population will represent 20% of the population by 2050, this problem could only get worse.
Hip fractures
One of these serious injuries that occurs from a fall is a hip fracture. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 90 percent of the 352,000 hip fractures recorded in the U.S. each year are the result of a fall and only a quarter of these hip fracture patients make a full recovery. Below is a breakdown of what occurs after these hip fracture injuries:
- About 40% will require nursing home care
- 50% will need a cane or walker
- 25% over age 50 will die within a year of the injury
Another interesting statistic is that the rate of hip fractures begins to increase at age 50 and doubles every five to six years. Also, women over 50 are 2 to 3 times more likely than a man to suffer a fracture.
Risk Factors
Some of the risk factors that are associated with a fall are listed below:
- Age 65 and older
- A history of falls
- Cognitive impairment
- Urinary/fecal incontinence/urgency
- Balance problems, lower extremity weakness and arthritis
- Vision problems
- Use of more than four daily medications, psychotropics, or narcotics
- Use of alcohol
- Having current acute illnesses
Evaluate the home
In an effort to potentially reduce the risk of a fall in the home, it’s a good idea to evaluate the home for any potential hazards that could increase risk of a fall. Below is a list of items that should be reviewed:
- Keep floors clear of any clutter.
- Make sure the floors are clean and not slippery.
- Improve the room lighting.
- Make sure rugs are secure and don’t have the ability to move. Using non-skid throw rugs are a good option.
- Handrails or grab bars in the stairways, or bathrooms are another great option to help the person balance.
- Make sure there is proper lighting in the home and sturdy step stools, or ladders are available to reach high places.
- Communicate the potential risk to caregivers and family members.
Therapy – balance programs
In addition, there are various fall prevention programs that could possibly help people with balance. However, the person should contact a healthcare professional to determine a fall prevention program that would work best for them. To learn more about fall prevention, you can also reference the National Council on Aging at https://www.ncoa.org/.
A fall is no laughing matter and can drastically affect a person’s quality, or could be fatal. Therefore, it’s beneficial for the person, caregivers and family members to create a safe environment.
Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay