Where do falls happen?

 

Over half of falls take place in a person’s home or Assisted Living Personal Care Home (wherever they live).

 

If my loved one lives in an assisted living community, why aren’t falls prevented?

 

Falls are not always a reflection of an isolated event or lack of supervision but are often at times a sign of other health problems. Generally assisted living residents are older have more complex chronic conditions and have more difficulty walking than adults living in their own home. They also tend to have more mental health or memory problems have difficulty with activities of daily living and need help getting around and taking care of themselves. These health issues increase their risk for falls. If you have a loved one who’s experiencing falls, please consult your primary care physician immediately; if they are in a senior living community, consult the Director of Nursing or the Wellness Director immediately.

 

Why are falls among the elderly such a concern?

 

Among older adults (those 65 and older) falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries. Roughly 20-30% of falls result in moderate to severe injuries (i.e. hip fractures, broken bones, head injuries) that reduce mobility, independence and increase the risk of premature death. Most fractures among older adults are caused by falls including over 95% of hip fractures.

 

How common are falls among the elderly?

 

Nearly 1 and 3 older Americans fall every tear as people age, their risk for falls increases. In 2009 adults 85 and older were almost four times more likely to fall than adults 65 to 74.

 

What are some factors contributing to the risk of falls?

 

Internal & External Factors – Changes in their muscles and bones, weakness or loss of strength, vision, balance problems, reflexes, cardiovascular (heart) difficulties which can often lead to numbness in the limbs or loss of blood to the brain which can cause fainting, medications that can affect their judgment and coordination acute diabetes, arthritis which a fall can reveal, alertness sleep deprivation and many, many more.