Fall Precautions
“Over 800,000 patients are admitted to hospitals each year due to brain injuries or hip fractures caused by falls, and 3 million elderly patients receive treatment for fall-related injuries in emergency departments each year. Individuals may limit their daily activities as a result of these findings. Over $50 billion in medical expenses have been paid for because of falls in 2015. 75 percent of these expenses were covered by Medicare and Medicaid.” — as stated over “cdc.gov” under “facts about falls”.
Falls can be avoided; they are not an inevitable aspect of ageing. Here are a few easy precautions you may prevent yourself from falling.
Speak with your Doctor -
List all of the supplements and prescription and over-the-counter drugs you use, or bring them with you to the appointment. The way that medications function in your body can alter as you age. Your doctor can check your prescriptions for interactions and side effects, such as which ones could cause you to feel drowsy or lightheaded. The use of specific medications, such as sedatives, antidepressants, or tranquilliser, can possibly contribute to falls.
If you have ever fallen, are afraid of falling, feel shaky, or have fallen in the past, clear the things to a doctor straight away. Prepare to talk about the times you nearly fell and someone saved you or you managed to cling onto something in time. Provide specifics like if you’re at home or out, where you are in the house, day or night, and what you were doing when you “fall”. Every year, one in four adults over 65 falls, but fewer than half of them report the incident to their physician.
Fall risk is increased by visual impairment. Your vision may be limited by a medical condition such as cataracts or glaucoma. See your ophthalmologist once a year, and replace your glasses as needed. Keep the glasses clean on a regular basis. The risk of falling is decreased for older persons who travel outside the home when they switch from bifocal lenses to single distance lenses.
Inform the doc of any additional medical conditions, regardless of how trivial they are. The risk of falls can be raised by a number of illnesses that are prevalent in older persons. Syncope, lightheadedness, and altered awareness can all be symptoms of cardiac problems. Reduced movement can be a result of depression. Gait irregularities can be caused by neurological diseases including dementia and Parkinson’s disease. People may run to the toilet as a result of incontinence.
Stay Active -
Obtain recommendations from healthcare providers for activities that strengthen your legs and enhance your balance. Exercises for balance and coordination include modified forms of Tai Chi, direction-stepping and stepping practice, chair rise exercise, dancing steps and “ball-catching and throwing drills”. Workouts for strengthening the body include wall press-ups and sit-to-stands (that use the user’s weight) as well as resistance band workouts that target the upper and lower extremities. Aerobic physical activity, such as practicing brisk walking with pace and direction variations. A recommended and authorized physical trainer should deliver these physical sessions.
Further, obtain advice from your caretaker and doc to participate in Community fall prevention programmes and Medicare advantage wellness programmes, that provide fall prevention sessions (such as “Silver Sneakers” or “Silver and Fit”).
Examine your Shoes and Feet -
Fall risk can be increased by foot issues, such as reduced sensation from diabetes or foot abnormalities like hammertoe. Additionally, wearing shoes without enough heel support, arch support, or strong, grippy soles can raise your chance of falling. Shoes with worn-down or smooth soles may not provide enough traction on different types of surfaces. Shoes that are too loose or expose the toes could not offer enough protection from stubbly toes or snagging on objects. Talk about appropriate footwear and find out if a visit to a podiatrist is recommended.
Domestic Risks -
An occupational therapist (OT) will do or suggest the following home evaluation.
- Papers, shoes, books, and other items should never be on the stairs.
- Verify that the carpet is securely fastened to each step, or have the carpet removed and replace it with non-slip rubber soles on the stairs.
- Replace broken railings or tighten up loose ones. Verify that the handrails are as long as the stairs and that they are located on both sides.
- Rebuild damaged, lopsided, or loose stair rails.
- To ensure that the rugs don’t slip, remove them or secure them with double-sided tape or a non-slip backing.
- If you need to go around furniture while moving through a room, ask someone to move/fix it to create space for you.
- Shoes, papers, books, bottles, purses, laundry baskets and other items should never be on the ground.
- To prevent trips over cords and wires, coil or tape them adjacent to the wall. Have an electrician install an additional outlet if necessary.
- Keep your living area’s hanging garments out of the way when you move.
- Stow frequently used items on the bottom shelves, which should be about waist high.
- Clean up spilled food, liquid, water or any other sticky or slick material right away.
Lighten Living Area -
A light switch and overhead light should be installed by an electrician at the top and bottom of the stairs. Light-emitting light switches are available. Learn more.
Get a friend or relative to replace the burned-out lightbulb.
Put a lamp where it’s convenient to reach — close to the bed.
Install a night-light so you can see your path. After dark, some night-lights turn on by themselves. If there are spaces without electricity outlets, think about using lights that run on batteries.
Mirrors can be used strategically to reflect artificial or natural light, giving the appearance that a place is larger and brighter.
Utilise Assistive Things/Technology -
- Install grab bars beside the toilet, within the tub, and next to it.
- If using a step stool is necessary, choose one with an arm to grab onto. Avoid using chairs as step stools at all.
- Cover the floor of the bathtub or shower with self-stick high-friction sheets or a non-slip rubber mat. If at all possible, mount the high-friction tiles in the kitchen and bathroom. Surfaces with high-friction offer additional resistance to motion, making it more difficult for people to fall.
- Outside falls can be increased by snow and ice. One way to keep from slipping on ice is to add a thin layer of sand or cat litter.
Certain options are reasonably priced and simple to install. Others might need more money or expert assistance.
Assess Your Fall Risk -
The total points (in brackets) for each “yes” response should be added up. You can be at danger of falling if you received four or more points. Talk about this pamphlet with your physician.
| Mark "Yes" or "No" next to each of the following statements | Why it is important | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes (2) | No (0) | In the last year, I have fallen. | After falling once, people are prone to fall again. |
| Yes (2) | No (0) | For safe mobility, I use a cane or walker, or I've been told to use one. | A person may already be at a higher risk of falling if they have been recommended to use a cane or walker. |
| Yes (1) | No (0) | While walking, I occasionally feel unstable. | Poor balance is exhibited by unsteadiness or the need for assistance when walking. |
| Yes (1) | No (0) | At home, I walk with the assistance of furniture to stabilise myself. | This is another indication of unsteadiness. |
| Yes (1) | No (0) | My concern is that I might fall. | Individuals who have anxiety over falling are more prone to fall. |
| Yes (1) | No (0) | To get out of a chair, I had to push with my hands. | This is an indication of weak leg muscles, which is a common cause of falls. |
| Yes (1) | No (0) | I find it difficult to step up onto curbs. | This indicates weak leg muscles as well. |
| Yes (1) | No (0) | I often need to run to the toilet. | Making a hasty toilet trip, particularly at night, increases your risk of falling. |
| Yes (1) | No (0) | Some of my foot sensation has disappeared. | Foot numbness can make you stumble and possibly fall. |
| Yes (1) | No (0) | I take medication, which occasionally causes me to feel queasy or more exhausted than normal. | Medication side effects can occasionally make you more vulnerable to falls. |
| Yes (1) | No (0) | I take medication to elevate my mood or aid with sleep. | These medications may occasionally make you more vulnerable to falls. |
| Yes (1) | No (0) | I get depressed and unhappy often. | Falls are associated with symptoms of depression, such as feeling unwell or sluggish. |
That’s all friends.
