Older Adult Falls

 

.... sitting at the park where I and another player were the outfield.

Now, I'm afraid to walk. SMH.

Elderly Fall Statistics

About 36 million older adults fall each year—resulting in more than 32,000 deaths. Each year, about 3 million older adults are treated in emergency departments for a fall injury. One out of every five falls causes an injury, such as broken bones or a head injury. [CDC]

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When an elderly person falls, their hospital stays are almost twice longer than those of elderly patients who are admitted for any other reason.

The risk of falling increases with age and is greater for women than men.

Annually, falls are reported by one-third of all people over the age of 65.

Two-thirds of those who fall will do so again within six months.

Falls are the leading cause of death from injury among people 65 and older.

Approximately 9,500 deaths in older Americans are associated with falls each year.

More than half of all fatal falls involve people 75 or over.

Among people aged 65 to 69, one out of every 200 falls results in a hip fracture. That number increases to one out of every 10 for those aged 85 and older.

One-fourth of seniors who fracture a hip from a fall will die within six months of the injury.

The most profound effect of falling is the loss of functioning associated with independent living. [https://www.shellpoint.org/blog/10-shocking-statistics-about-elderly-falls/]

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Environmental Hazards

The majority of falls in the elderly population occur in or around seniors' homes. Environmental factors such as poor lighting, clutter, areas of disrepair, loose carpets, slick floors and lack of safety equipment can jeopardize a senior's safety in their home.

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Falls in Older People

This is why I suggested, on my Pharmacy blog post, to buy the Merck Manual 💓

• Most falls occur when older people with one or more physical conditions that impair mobility or balance encounter an environmental hazard.
• Although many people have no symptoms before a fall, some have dizziness or other symptoms.
• After a fall, people may have broken bones or bruises.
• Doctors often do tests to evaluate whether an underlying condition contributed to the fall.
• Falls may be prevented by taking precautions around the home.
• After injuries are treated, people work with physical therapists to help reduce the risk of subsequent falls.

Falls are common among older people. About one third of older people who live at home fall at least once a year, and about half of people who live in a nursing home fall. In the United States, falls are the leading cause of accidental death and the 7th leading cause of death in people age 65 or over. Once a person has had a fall, they are more likely to fall again.

Falls often cause injuries. Some of the injuries, such as a broken hip, can be serious. Older people are more likely to break bones in falls because many older people have porous, fragile bones (osteoporosis). Some injuries caused by a fall are fatal.

Many older people fear falling. Fear of falling can lead to problems. People may worry about doing their usual activities and thus lose their self-confidence and even their independence. Older people can do many things to help overcome their fears and to reduce their risk of falling. Knowing what causes falls can help.

Causes of Falls

Falls can be caused by physical conditions that impair mobility or balance, hazards in the environment, or potentially hazardous situations. Most falls occur when several causes interact. For example, people with Parkinson disease and impaired vision (physical conditions) may trip on an extension cord (an environmental hazard) while rushing to answer the telephone (a potentially hazardous situation).

A person's physical condition is affected by changes due to aging itself, physical fitness, disorders present, and drugs used. The physical condition probably has a greater effect on the risk of falling than do environmental hazards and hazardous situations. Not only does a poor or impaired physical condition increase the risk of falls, but it also affects how people respond to hazards and hazardous situations.

Physical impairments that increase the risk of falling include those involving

• Balance or walking
• Vision
• Sensation, particularly in the feet
• Muscle strength
• Cognition
• Blood pressure or heartbeat
• Use of drugs that affect attention (for example, opioid analgesics, antianxiety drugs, and some antidepressant drugs) or lower blood pressure (for example, antihypertensive, diuretic, and some heart drugs) can also increase the risk of falling.

Hazards in the environment are involved in many falls. Falls may occur when people do not notice a hazard or do not respond quickly enough after a hazard is noticed.

Environmental hazards that increase the risk of falling include

• Inadequate lighting
• Throw rugs
• Slippery floors
• Electrical or extension cords or objects that are in the way of walking
• Uneven sidewalks and broken curbs
• Unfamiliarity with surroundings
• Most falls occur indoors. Some happen while people are standing still. But most occur while people are moving—getting in or out of bed or a chair, getting on or off a toilet seat, walking, or going up or down stairs. While moving, people may stumble or trip, or balance may be lost. Any movement can be hazardous. But if people are rushing or if their attention is divided, movement becomes even more hazardous. For example, rushing to the bathroom (especially at night when not fully awake or when lighting may be poor) or to answer the telephone or talking on a cordless phone can make walking more hazardous.

Prevention of Falls

Older people can do many simple, practical things to help reduce the risk of falling.

• Exercising regularly: Weight training or resistance training may help strengthen weak legs and thus may improve steadiness during walking. Tai Chi and balancing exercises such as standing on one leg can help improve balance. Exercise programs should be tailored to a person's needs. Many senior citizen centers, YMCAs, or other health clubs offer free or low-cost group exercise classes tailored to senior citizens.
• Wearing appropriate shoes: Shoes that have firm, nonslip soles, some ankle support, and flat heels are best.
• Standing up slowly after sitting or lying down and taking a moment before starting to move: This strategy can help prevent dizziness because it gives the body time to adjust to the change in position.
• Learning a simple head maneuver: A simple head maneuver called the Epley maneuver may help some older people who feel dizzy when they move. It involves turning the head in specific ways. Doctors usually do the maneuver the first time, but people can learn how to do it themselves if it needs to be repeated.
• Reviewing drugs being taken: People can ask a doctor or another health care practitioner to review all prescription and nonprescription drugs being taken to see if any of the drugs could increase the risk of falling. If such drugs are being used, doctors may be able to lower the dose or people may be able to stop taking the drug.
• Having vision checked regularly: Getting the correct glasses and wearing them can help prevent falls. Treatment of glaucoma or cataracts, which limit vision, can also help.
• Consulting with a physical therapist about ways to reduce the risk of falling: Some older people need a physical therapist to train them to walk, particularly if they need to use an assistive device such as a walker or cane (see figure Just the Right Height ). Physical therapists can help fit or size people for other assisted devices (such as removable foot plates on wheelchairs) and teach them how to use them.

*What's worse ... falling or being referred to as "old"