Ask any older adult their biggest fear in their day to day life and you’ll likely hear the dreaded four letter word: F-A-L-L. Most older adults are terrified of falls, and for good reason. A short walk through any nursing home, assisted living facility or hospital reveals a disturbing amount of older adults with injuries caused by falls. These injuries can vary from mild to severe: lacerations and broken bones are common, as are concussions and traumatic brain injuries. Worse than injury according to the CDC, falls are the single greatest cause of accidental death for the elderly.
The functional implications of a fall can be devastating. After a lifetime of independence, suddenly requiring another’s help to dress, groom, bathe or simply move about is a sobering wake-up call. Many older adults need only talk to their friends and hear through the grapevine about so-and-so’s sad but all too familiar story of hospital admissions, long nursing home stays and eventual move to assisted living before acquiring a life limiting terror of falling.
This palpable fear of falling results in a counter-intuitive slide backwards in function, as many elderly restrict their activities not wanting to risk a fall (Researchgate). The great irony of this choice is the increased risk of fall caused by the physiological changes that restricting activity often causes. Muscle loss and decreased balance ability are normal processes of aging, but they are accelerated by sedentary behavior.
One injury that can occur through falls is the dreaded hip fracture. According to the CDC; hip fractures are common and have a common cause with 95% occurring as a result of a fall. A terrifying one out of five older adults who suffers a broken hip dies within one year of injury. Hip fractures are just one possible injury, there are so many others that bring life limiting and joy robbing changes that families must cope with as their loved one’s endure the process of aging.
We at caretakerbible.com know that falls are not an inevitable part of aging. It is possible to continue the activities we have always enjoyed without fearing a fall. Falls are preventable; they are in most cases the result of environmental or personal factors that can be remedied with education and modest changes. In general, there are three main areas of change that can dramatically reduce the risk or prevent a fall entirely.
The first change to make is modification of the environment itself. Homes are for better or for worse built with 20-30 year-olds in mind, and become virtual obstacle courses for the elderly. That gorgeous yet enormous tub was a luxury when you were 30, but it’s a death trap for you now at 70. The plethora of home modifications to allow for safely navigating in and around one’s house don’t have to cost you your nest egg. A grab bar here, a rug removed there, and some lighting are often all that’s needed to reduce the environmental risk at home. For some, more extensive modifications may be necessary, but often times there are pieces of equipment made to remove the danger without damaging the re-sale value of the home (equipment link). For more tips and tricks for home safety, or to evaluate your own home or a parent/loved one’s home for environmental dangers see link (Link).
The next change to decrease the risk of falls for an older adult is made with the older adult themselves. These changes vary from person to person but may involve increasing an older adult’s activity level with daily walks, joining a tai chi class to improve balance, or increasing strength with a weekly fitness class. Speaking with a doctor about medications that may increase the risk of a fall is also an excellent idea as some prescriptions have side effects that can cause a fall. These changes are often termed “Lifestyle Redesign” as they are minor tweaks to daily routine that have profound effects to health and well being, especially within the context of fall prevention. See “promoting a healthy lifestyle” for more information on aging well.
Finally, the last change that should be made to prevent falls also depends upon the person at risk for a fall. This change is to the way we perform all the various things we do in our daily life. Sometimes it may be necessary to adapt a new way of performing our regular routine since our bodies have changed with age. Simple tweaks to how we bathe, dress, get in and out of the shower, or out of bed can mean the difference between falling and injuring ourselves or finishing and being on our way. At caretakerbible.com we know that change isn’t always easy, but our many guides, videos, and diagrams hope to simplify tasks and keep you and your loved ones safe and doing the things you love!
The functional implications of a fall can be devastating. After a lifetime of independence, suddenly requiring another’s help to dress, groom, bathe or simply move about is a sobering wake-up call. Many older adults need only talk to their friends and hear through the grapevine about so-and-so’s sad but all too familiar story of hospital admissions, long nursing home stays and eventual move to assisted living before acquiring a life limiting terror of falling.
This palpable fear of falling results in a counter-intuitive slide backwards in function, as many elderly restrict their activities not wanting to risk a fall (Researchgate). The great irony of this choice is the increased risk of fall caused by the physiological changes that restricting activity often causes. Muscle loss and decreased balance ability are normal processes of aging, but they are accelerated by sedentary behavior.
One injury that can occur through falls is the dreaded hip fracture. According to the CDC; hip fractures are common and have a common cause with 95% occurring as a result of a fall. A terrifying one out of five older adults who suffers a broken hip dies within one year of injury. Hip fractures are just one possible injury, there are so many others that bring life limiting and joy robbing changes that families must cope with as their loved one’s endure the process of aging.
We at caretakerbible.com know that falls are not an inevitable part of aging. It is possible to continue the activities we have always enjoyed without fearing a fall. Falls are preventable; they are in most cases the result of environmental or personal factors that can be remedied with education and modest changes. In general, there are three main areas of change that can dramatically reduce the risk or prevent a fall entirely.
The first change to make is modification of the environment itself. Homes are for better or for worse built with 20-30 year-olds in mind, and become virtual obstacle courses for the elderly. That gorgeous yet enormous tub was a luxury when you were 30, but it’s a death trap for you now at 70. The plethora of home modifications to allow for safely navigating in and around one’s house don’t have to cost you your nest egg. A grab bar here, a rug removed there, and some lighting are often all that’s needed to reduce the environmental risk at home. For some, more extensive modifications may be necessary, but often times there are pieces of equipment made to remove the danger without damaging the re-sale value of the home (equipment link). For more tips and tricks for home safety, or to evaluate your own home or a parent/loved one’s home for environmental dangers see link (Link).
The next change to decrease the risk of falls for an older adult is made with the older adult themselves. These changes vary from person to person but may involve increasing an older adult’s activity level with daily walks, joining a tai chi class to improve balance, or increasing strength with a weekly fitness class. Speaking with a doctor about medications that may increase the risk of a fall is also an excellent idea as some prescriptions have side effects that can cause a fall. These changes are often termed “Lifestyle Redesign” as they are minor tweaks to daily routine that have profound effects to health and well being, especially within the context of fall prevention. See “promoting a healthy lifestyle” for more information on aging well.
Finally, the last change that should be made to prevent falls also depends upon the person at risk for a fall. This change is to the way we perform all the various things we do in our daily life. Sometimes it may be necessary to adapt a new way of performing our regular routine since our bodies have changed with age. Simple tweaks to how we bathe, dress, get in and out of the shower, or out of bed can mean the difference between falling and injuring ourselves or finishing and being on our way. At caretakerbible.com we know that change isn’t always easy, but our many guides, videos, and diagrams hope to simplify tasks and keep you and your loved ones safe and doing the things you love!