FALL PREVENTION FOR SENIORS
AFTER READING THE STATISTICS BELOW, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHY UNDERGOING
FALL PREVENTION FOR SENIORS IS PARAMOUNT
* Each year, 350,000 Americans fall and break a Hip.
* Of those, 40% end up going from the hospital into a Nursing Home.
* 20% are never able to walk again.
The 3 Primary Risk Factors for falling are:
1. Poor balance.
2. Taking more than 4 prescription medications.
3. Muscle weakness.
* Elderly people without these risk factors only have a 12% chance of falling in a year.
* Persons with all 3 risk factors have almost a 100% chance of falling.
Falls are the leading cause of both fatal injury & trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults. Beyond physical injuries, falls also can lead to overwhelming fears of falling, loss of independence, and social isolation. This leads to increases in prolonged sitting which promotes muscle atrophy, weakness, & a decline in balance.
Falling down is often viewed as an inevitable part of aging, but it does not have to be. Researchers continue to report encouraging findings that pinpoint reasons why seniors fall, as well as steps older Americans can take to prevent falls. The U.S Senate's Special Committee on Aging has released a bipartisan report calling for more concerted efforts to prevent falls among the elderly.
"In addition to the physical & emotional trauma of falls, the financial toll is staggering," said Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine.
"Now is the time, and now is our opportunity to take action."
This includes providing Fall Prevention for Seniors.
It is estimated that older adults incur $50 billion annually in fall-related medical costs, a number that is expected to double by 2030.
"We must dispel our loved ones of the stigma of falling so that they can get the help they need to age in place - where they want to be - in their homes and their communities," added Senator Bob Casey, D-Penn.
A variety of factors contribute to falls among seniors, including an overall decline in physical fitness, chronic conditions like Arthritis or Parkinson's disease that can weaken the body, poor vision, orthopedic concerns, neurological disorders, side-effects from medications causing dizziness or imbalance, or conditions such as Peripheral Neuropathy.
But, falls can be prevented:
The committee on Aging made recommendations in four key areas:
1. Raising awareness about fall-related risks.
2. Improvements in screening and referrals to PT.
3. Targeting modifiable risk factors.
4. Reducing the use of drugs that can contribute to falls.
The first, and most important, step for Seniors and their family members is to consult with a Physical Therapist, that specializes in balance, for a fall-risk assessment, which will help identify each patient's unique strengths and functional limitations that make an individual susceptible to falls. A comprehensive fall prevention and balance therapy program includes an evaluation of a patient's gait, or walking skills, to determine potential problems with strength, posture, and other conditions. Hip and ankle weakness, as well as poor posture, often pre-dispose an individual to having a balance problem.
An experienced Physical Therapist will also develop an individualized program to increase Core stability and lower extremity strength and endurance, balance, and flexibility, and then outline steps to prevent future falls.
Five additional steps to help prevent falls include the following:
1. Assess the Home Environment: Keep floors, hallways, and stairs free of clutter, and ensure that indoor and outdoor walkways are well-lit. Consider adding grab bars in the shower or bathtub, as well as grip tape on the floor of the tub or shower to prevent slipping. Make sure sidewalks have no cracks that are potential trip hazards and make sure that steps or stairs are not too steep.
2. Prioritize Regular Exercise: Minimal impact exercises can help build stability, strength, and flexibility - abilities that often decline as individuals age.
3. Choose the Correct Footwear: Wear shoes with slip-resistant soles and adequate heel support. Limit walking and movement to even surfaces; thick grass, nature trails, throw rugs and sand each present the potential for loss of balance, tripping or falling.
4. Examine Prescription Labels: Understand the potential side-effects with medications, which can cause dizziness, blurred vision, headaches, nausea, or sleepiness.
5. Visit the Doctor: Keeping annual appointments with a primary care physician is crucial, but so too are yearly visits to an optometrist & ENT doctor. Your eyes and ears are two very important keys to good balance as you age.
As always, consult with a trained medical professional prior to making any substantial exercise, dietary, or lifestyle changes.
As the aging process continues, the risk of falling increases accordingly. Searching for a Physical Therapy clinic that provides Fall Prevention for Seniors is critical NOW more than ever.
Call FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers in Albuquerque now for a free Fall Risk Assessment!!
(505)-292-3317