Where Will You Fall?

Do you ever think about falling in your home? I have never fallen in my home and the last fall that did occur happened when my young daughter was running in our home. Regretfully, she broke her toe. Thankfully, that happened only once. After young children grow up, falls are rarely if ever thought of again.

Recently, I noticed that my 70 year old mother sometimes struggles to get up after sitting for long periods of time. I have also noticed that sometimes her balance is compromised when carrying heavy objects. With this in mind, I have started to concern myself once again with falls and the dangers and consequences of a fall.

There are many causes for falls in older adults as stated in “Preventing Falls in the Elderly” by K.R. Tremblay, Jr. and C.E. Barber. Some common causes include osteoporosis, weakened muscles, loss of eyesight, medications, and hazards in the home. Falls can cause broken or fractured bones. There are varying degrees and severity of falls as well.

Cataracts and glaucoma alter older people's depth perception, visual acuity, peripheral vision and susceptibility to glare. These limitations can hinder an individual’s ability to safely negotiate their environment, whether it is in their own home or in a shopping mall.

Sedatives, anti-depressants, and anti-psychotic drugs can contribute to falls by reducing mental alertness, worsening balance and gait, and causing drops in systolic blood pressure upon rising to a standing position. Additionally, people taking multiple medications are at greater risk of falling.

At least one-third of all falls in the elderly involve environmental hazards in the home. The most common hazard for falls is tripping over objects on the floor. Other factors include poor lighting, loose rugs, lack of grab bars or poorly located/mounted grab bars, and unsteady furniture.

To learn more about falls and how to avoid falls, watch the free online fall prevention videos provided by mmLearn at Morningside Ministries.

Link: http://msm.mediasite.com/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=9d6fcf6611f14b6d9f095328afd400fb1d