Falls are the leading cause of death, injury, and hospitalization among the elderly population. In fact, just last year, more than 1.6 million older adults were treated in emergency rooms for fall-related injuries. Several factors contribute to the fact that older people fall much more often than younger people:
Lack of physical activity. Lack of regular exercise results in poor muscle tone, decreased bone mass, loss of balance, and reduced flexibility.
Vision problems. This includes age-related eye diseases, as well as not wearing prescription glasses.
medicines Sedatives, antidepressants, and antipsychotic medications, as well as taking multiple medications, are all implicated in increasing the risk of falls.
Diseases. Health conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and arthritis cause limb weakness, poor grip strength, balance disorders, and cognitive decline.
surgeries Hip replacements and other surgeries leave an older person weak, in pain and discomfort, and less mobile than before surgery.
environmental hazards. One third of all falls in the elderly population involve risks at home. Factors include: poor lighting, loose carpeting, and a lack of safety equipment.
However, falls are not an inevitable part of aging. Many falls can be prevented by making the home safer and by using products that help keep older people more stable and less likely to fall.
make home safer
Caregivers can do a number of things to make the home safer for their older mom or dad.
· Install grab bars, grab bars, or handrails in the shower or tub.
· Put non-stick tape on the bottom of the tub.
· Use a booster seat to make it easier to get on and off the toilet.
· Install at least one stair handrail that extends beyond the first and last steps.
· Make sure stairs are solid and have strong handrails.
· Make sure stairs are well lit. Consider making your home lighting brighter to aid vision.
· Make sure rugs, including those on stairs, are flat to the floor.
· Remove loose rugs.
· Avoid clutter. Remove any furniture that is not necessary. All other furniture must be stable and without sharp corners, to minimize the effects of a fall.
· Change the location of the furniture, so your elderly parent can hold onto something as they move around the house.
· Do not let electrical cables drag on the ground. Install additional base plugs so long cables are not necessary.
Have your parents wear non-slip shoes or slippers, instead of walking around in socks.
· Make sure all rooms have adequate lighting. Consider motion-sensitive lights that turn on when a person enters a room. Use night lights in each room.
· Store frequently used items in easily accessible cabinets.
· Use a grabbing tool to reach out-of-reach objects, rather than a chair or stepladder.
· Keep your water heater thermostat set at 120 degrees F or below to prevent scalds and burns.
· Clean up spills and remove broken glass immediately.
For more information on caring for your aging mom or dad, visit agingcare.com.