Falls in Older Adults Can be Reduced by Taking Simple Steps

September is National Falls Prevention Awareness Month 

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – One in four Americans aged 65+ falls each year, according to the National Council on Aging. Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall. Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma-related hospital and nursing home admissions among older adults. In fact, more than 800,000 patients a year are hospitalized because of a fall injury, most often because of a head injury or hip fracture. 

Although falls are prevalent in older adults, there could be many ways to help your loved one continue to live safely and independently in their own home. 

Falls and accidents seldom “just happen.” “Usually there are several contributing factors that lead to a fall,” says Rebecca Read, PT, DPT, Interim Manager of Rehabilitation Services at MetroWest Medical Center.  “The danger in some of these factors can be eliminated or reduced by taking simple steps to make an elder’s home safer.” 

Rebecca provides a room-by-room breakdown of some of these steps: 

Bathrooms: Place a rubber mat or rubber safety strips in the tub or shower. Install sturdy grab bars in the tub/shower area to provide support. Have a night light available to use after dark and in the middle of the night. 

Bedrooms: Use night lights or bedside, remote-controlled light switches. Place the telephone in an area easy to get to and keep the cord out of walking pathways. Consider a cordless telephone. 

Stairs and hallways: Put light switches conveniently at both the top and bottom of stairs. Make sure carpeting is not lose or buckling and use non-skid treads on stairs. Both sides of each stairway should have sturdy handrails running their entire lengths. Avoid waxing hardwood floors that could create a slippery surface. 

Living areas: Secure and place electrical/telephone cords out of walking pathways. Remove throw rugs, as they are a tripping hazard, and could slip. Furniture should be arranged to allow for unobstructed walkways. It is important to keep floors clear of clutter. 

Other tips to prevent falls:

• You should wear well-fitted, flat, rubber-soled shoes to prevent slipping.
• Do not walk or climb stairs with arms loaded — always leave a hand free for balance.
• Slowly get out of bed and sit at the edge for 30 seconds to 1 min after sitting up
• Slowly rise from sitting to avoid dizziness. Stand still after standing for a few seconds, and then start walking
• Make sure to have your vision tested regularly and keep glasses clean.
• Be aware of any medications you are taking that could cause difficulty with balance or dizziness.
• Often elders think dizziness is a “normal part of aging”. This is not true. Dizziness is never normal, and you should talk with your physician if you are experiencing dizziness. 
• You should be discussing fall risks with your primary care physician and you should be aware of any medical condition that could increase risk of falling.

Rebecca also recommends exercising to improve balance and strength. “Exercises focused on improving balance and total body strength will reduce your risk of falling. Lack of exercise leads to weakness and increases your chances of falling. If you feel your body is weak, and your balance is not what it used to be, ask your doctor for a referral to Physical Therapy. Physical Therapists are movement specialists that can help determine your risk of falling, and also give you an individualized program to help reduce you risk of falling in the future,” she says. 

The dangerous situation created by a fall is frequently compounded by the inability to call for help. Personal emergency response systems should be installed whenever someone appears to be at risk of falling. The systems provide 24-hour access to emergency help, giving both the elder and family members some sense of security. 

For more information about our balance and falls program at MetroWest Medical Center, visit here or call 508-271-2088.