Elderly Falls: Let’s Prevent Them!
Many of us, actually, most of us, have parents who are considered elderly. I will assume most of us would like our parents to live as long and as healthily as possible. Elderly falls are serious, and often catastrophic accidents that can happen anywhere and for no good reason at all.
The CDC sites a study that showed at least 20% of hip fracture patients die within a year of their injury! http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adulthipfx.html#outcomes
Knowledge of how elderly falls happen and how to prevent them can lower the incidents of elderly falls dramatically.
Many falls happen while doing day to day things that we have done all of our lives. As we get older, we maintain the idea that we can do more than we can do. Little things from throw rugs to curbs on a sidewalk to one’s cat that seems always underfoot can lead to elderly falls. These obstacles combined with worsening eyesight, balance and that side effect caused by so many medications, is a poisonous mixture.
We should all take a little time to help and encourage our parents to take steps to prevent totally unnecessary and potentially catastrophic elderly falls.
Some steps to prevent elderly falls are as follows:
- Regular exercise – specifically increasing strength and balance
- Regular eyesight checkups – impaired vision increases chances of falling
- Recognizing medications that can cause dizziness or drowsiness
- Recognizing potential hazards around the home that cause a trip and fall
- Maintain proper diet with increased vitamin D
- Be screened and treat osteoporosis
In the case of an elderly fall, the following First Aid tips are important:
- Call 911 if there is a deformed, severely swollen or severely painful limb
- Help to keep the patient still to prevent further injury
- Ice the injured location
- Reassure the patient and help them maintain as much comfort as possible
