Understanding Falls And How To Manage Them

Older adults, the frail and disabled have many well-being issues to consider and then find solutions for achieving their best daily quality of life

. One of the

simplest and most cost effective first lines of protection for medical and security purposes is a Personal Emergency Response System (PERS). Statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the National Institute on Aging, list falls as the leading cause of injury deaths and the biggest common cause of trauma and non-fatal injuries that lead to hospital admission. A staggering one third of adults over 65 experience a fall. Those adults who have fallen previously are now, unfortunately, 2-3 times more prone to falling again in the following year.

There are many contributing factors that put falls in the top ten health and mortality risk list. We know that it all starts with BALANCE. This is a learned skill that we develop as toddlers. Your balance directly affects your MOBILITY. If you are not carrying yourself by standing straight and moving correctly, it does create joint issues which are commonly felt in our back, hips and knees. This usually means that we eventually resort to some type of pain MEDICATION to seek relief from joint discomfort and aches. These medications interact with other medications prescribed for various conditions as we age and this can alter the adjustment of our BLOOD PRESSURE. Blood pressure, whether high or low, can interfere with coordination, which tampers with our balance abilities. Now add in any SENSORY DEFICITS, whether its your vision, ear problems, foot pain, discomfort or loss of sensation from circulatory problems or diabetes, and you are further vulnerable to your immediate

environment. Add to this mix HOME HAZARDS, such as loose rugs, moved furniture, clutter of to do stacks of books, mail, magazines, etc., laundry, family pets dodging our steps and wet slippery bathtubs, and marvel that we are as sure-footed as we manage to be!

Total prevention of falling is unrealistic. However, we can train ourselves to help prevent a fall. We can walk with more caution, exercise to maintain strength and flexibility, so that if we do fall, we recover quicker and easier. Furthermore, we can try to maintain a clutter free environment (that includes cords/wires, rugs and furnishings), better lighting indoors and outside, clarity to paths, stairway visibility with each step edged with contrast paint and double handrails, and bathrooms with grab bars, shower chairs and non-slip surfaces. We must also always be aware of medication interaction and the risk this carries for creating falls. Assistance is always available with a Personal Emergency Response System that provides with push of a button, the ability to summon a neighbor or relative listed for simple help, or 911 for a serious crisis.

Additional information is available with further detail, with great facts and illustrations of how to get up from a fall and how to fall-proof your home. Just call UNITED LIFELINE, a not-for-profit agency that has assisted over 19,000 subscribers to safety for over 28 years, at 1-800-345-4571 or www.unitedlifeline.com to access this important information.

Stephanie Pacchiano, Director of Community Relations

United Lifeline

Woodbury, NY

by: Austin DWI Lawyer

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