Preventative healthcare is something we practice in order to stay healthy, enjoy a good quality of life and increase our life span. While many Americans work hard at achieving optimum health, they often do not recognize that one of the biggest health hazards of all is falling.
Everybody Falls
No one age group or demographic is immune from falling and suffering subsequent trauma.
“Falling can be seen much more frequently in the elderly population due to physiological process of aging as well as presence of some disorders that can directly or indirectly predispose to falls,” said Yevgeniya Kushchayeva of the Diabetes and Endocrinology Center at USF Health. For example, age-related loss of muscle density, degenerative joint disease, decrease in bone mass can result in mechanical skeletal failure. Other medical problems that may cause falls include but not limited to stroke, dementia, depression, low blood pressure, arrhythmia, Parkinson’s disease.”
For children we have safety standards in place and have implemented protocols and laws to try and ensure their safety, such as window guards, modified furniture etc. But in the elder population, a keener and personal eye is needed to assess their environment and to meet the individuals’ needs for safety standards.
Seniors are at a higher risk of serious injury and even death as result of a fall.
Have You fallen Recently?
At least 1 in 4 seniors falls each year, but less than half are transparent with their
doctor out of fear of losing their independence. It is encouraged that any falls be
reported to your doctor because one fall is an indicator of future falls.
“Falls can lead not only to direct negative consequences such as fractures, bruises, injuries of different degree of severity but also can cause inactivity, functional decline, dependency, loss of self-confidence, depression and eventually can affect life span,” said Dr. Kushchayeva.
Your Doctor Can Tell You If You Are Headed for A Fall
There are many reasons why an older person, (65 and older) is prone to falling and
many of them can be addressed and remedied by a trip to the doctor.Your doctor will
perform an evaluation of the following risk factors:
- Balance and gait
- Deficiency of vitamin D
- Foot assessment -check for pain and proper footwea
- Home evaluation – check for hazards such as uneven steps rugs, etc.
- Medications – many medications including prescriptions medications and over the counter can cause dizziness or disorientation and contribute to falls.
- Vision check
- Weakness in the lower body
“There are basic things that can help prevent and/or reduce falling frequency. Some of them are strength and balance exercises that can be done in classes or at home, improvement in vision and/or hearing, comfortable shoes, and safe home environment,” said Kushchayeva.
Visit the How to Avoid Falls guide to learn more ways to prevent falls.
Home – An Accident Waiting to Happen
We generally consider home our sanctuary. Home is where we feel safe, comforted and
at ease. But our homes can also be full of safety hazards which are conducive to falls.
The Make Your Home Safe Guide offers illustrations of safety tips on how to make your home safer, room by room.
Fall proofing your home can be done by:
- Arranging the furniture in such a way that it is easy to navigate
- Create an easy to reach environment - where items are within reach and easy to put away
- Carpets and rugs should be secured to floor to avoid slipping
- Installing handrails on stairwells
- Installing handrails in shower/tub
- Integrating non-slip items in the bathroom, including floors and shower/tub area
- Keep flooring dry
- Maintaining clear pathways throughout the home
- Making sure to have sufficient lighting throughout the home
- Night lights are recommended
- Pets can be tripping a hazard as well – create an environment that safe for people and pets.
Safety first is always the best approach in accident prevention. These simple preventative measures can benefit everyone. Encourage loved ones to be frank with their health care providers regarding past falls, to ensure an active and bright future.
To learn more visit the Diabetes and Endocrinology Center at USF Health.
To book an appointment call 813 821-8011.