Per the Cambridge Dictionary the definition of a fall is “to suddenly go down onto the ground or toward the ground without intending to or by accident.” The key to this definition is the word “accident” and most accidents are preventable. Anyone at any age can fall, however, per the CDC millions of people sixty-five and older fall more frequently. In the senior population, one of four fall and unfortunately once a person falls it doubles their chance of another.
Facts About Falls
For adults sixty-five and older:
- Falls are the leading cause of injury and injury-related death.
- Each year, three million people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries.
- There were 38,742 fall-related deaths in 2021.
- Women report falling more than men.
- The fall-related death rate was higher among men than women in 2021.
- More than 95 percent of hip fractures are caused by falling.
- Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries.
- The 2021 estimate of fatal falls was higher than those during the previous 20 years.
Falls rarely have a single cause and it is important to know what risk factors may apply to you.
Risk factors identified by the CDC:
- Lower body weakness
- Vitamin D deficiency (that is, not enough vitamin D in your body)
- Difficulties with walking and balance
- Use of medicines, such as tranquilizers, sedatives, or antidepressants. Even some over-the-counter medicines can affect balance and how steady you are on your feet.
- Vision problems
- Foot pain or poor footwear
- Home hazards or dangers, such as:
- Broken or uneven steps
- Throw rugs or clutter that can be tripped over
There are several ways to lessen or resolve your risk factors. Speaking to your health care provider is a first step. If you have had a fall in the past your healthcare provider needs to be aware of this so that they can help determine an action plan to prevent further falls. Reviewing your medication list is a wonderful place to start. Vision and hearing evaluations by qualified practitioners are also suggested. If you have glasses and/or hearing aides, wear them.
Exercise is a key component to building strength and improving balance and coordination. Your physician may have recommendations of what form or forms of exercise will work best for you. If you have a balance issue, always be sure you have your balance when getting up from a chair, out of a car, etc., before taking a step. Also, make sure that you wear low heeled shoes that are well-fitting and have non-slip soles. Something as simple as proper footwear can prevent a fall.
Falls in the bathroom happen more frequently than in other areas of the home. Installing grab bars in and near bathtubs and showers will give you the stability you need. Non-slip rugs are also necessary throughout your home. Other things to look at in your home are clutter in walkways and on stairs. A small box in a walkway can lead to a fall. Evaluate lighting both inside and outside of your home and when outside be aware of uneven pavement or sidewalks. If there are stairs in your home, railings on both sides of the staircase will lessen fall risk.
By being aware of your fall risk factors and working toward resolving them as best you can, you may increase your independence as well as your longevity, along with a better quality of life. The CDC has a great brochure that can help you identify your fall risk: https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/pdf/STEADI-Brochure-StayIndependent. Their program is called STEADI which means Stopping Elderly Accidents, Death & Injuries.
The National Council On Aging also has a good resource on fall proofing your home that goes into detail, room by room, called: 18 Steps to Fall Proofing Your Home (ncoa.org)
Use your local resources
We are truly fortunate in the Green Valley area; in that we have an organization called Green Valley Assistance Services (VAS) who partner with our Santa Rita Fire Corp volunteers through the SHIM Program (Safety and Health in Motion). A nurse from VAS will screen for any medical conditions that can contribute to falls and a Fire Corp member will perform an environmental assessment of the home. Visits and assessments are free, and information will be provided to you regarding your fall risk and things you can do to improve your personal safety. Please visit the VAS website at: SHiM® - A Fall Prevention Program - Valley Assistance Services, for more specific information on what a home visit involves.
Another amazing resource we have in our community is our lock box program. This program is run by Santa Rita Fire Corp volunteers and involves installing a lock box near your front door that is securely locked and has your home keys in it. The fire department can access the lockbox with a special key that only they have. If you fall and call the fire department, they can enter your home quickly via your keys in the lockbox which not only gets help to you sooner but saves your door from being destroyed.
Falls do not discriminate, and we can all agree that falling is no fun and no one falls on purpose. Take precautionary measures and make safety a priority.
“Choose safety over regret – take the necessary precautions to avoid falls and live life to the fullest.”
