F-A-L-L—The Other Four-Letter Word
by Kate Coyle
Now that the seasons are about to change Fall is upon us, creeping toward winter it’s time to talk about that four-letter F word that plagues seniors: fall. Not the season, but as the dictionary defines it, “to descend freely by the force of gravity.” According to SeniorLiving.org, falls are the leading cause of injury related deaths among seniors 65 year of age and older. Falls can also threaten seniors’ independence, mobility, and safety. The CDC reports that one in four seniors experience at least one fall every year. This results in 800,000 hospital admissions each year. According to the National Council on Aging, an older adult is treated in the emergency room every 11 seconds due to a fall. 27,000 deaths a year are attributed to falls. This results in a financial toll of about $50 billion per year, 75% of which is shouldered by Medicare and Medicaid.
Several factors make seniors more susceptible to falling than the rest of the population. Difficulties with balance, walking, and lower body weakness can increase the risk of falling. As seniors age, their gait and balance changes. Sometimes this is a result of medical conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease, Osteoporosis. Vision impairment can also increase the likelihood of falls.
Seniorliving.org offers several suggestions for preventing falls. Increasing strength, balance, and flexibility can decrease the risk of falling. They suggest walking, cycling, Tai Chi, and yoga, which are activities that do not require difficult, painful movements.
Other suggestions are:
Review medications with your doctor of pharmacist,
Get daily recommended levels of Vitamin D and calcium,
Move furniture so that it is not in your way,
Keep the floor rug and clutter- free,
Install stair handrails,
Consider a walk- in tub, use a non-slip mat in the tub or shower,
Consider buying an alarm that can be activated in the event of a fall,
Ensure that ladders and step-stools are secure before use,
Use a night light,
Make sure that vision prescriptions are up to date and that eyeglasses are used,
Ask for support from family and friends for simple tasks.
The Centers for Disease Control and STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, & Injuries) websites offer a trove of articles, checklists, and brochures to get your home as safe as possible. Also, you can talk to your doctor’s office about getting a referral for an in-home assessment, where a professional comes to your home and makes suggestions to increase independence and reduce the risk of falls and injuries.
We at Coyle & Eyman Elder Law are committed to helping our clients and their families live their best lives. I hope this information is helpful, and if you need any help in being pointed in the right direction, don’t hesitate to contact us!
