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Important Facts about Falls on the Elderly
A fall can be both physically and emotionally life-changing for an elderly adult. In fact, falls on the elderly are the leading cause of death, injury, and hospital admissions among the elderly population. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, one out of every four Americans aged 65 and older falls each year.
While Sept 20th marks the beginning of Falls Prevention Week, it should be a topic addressed more than one week out of the year.
To raise more awareness of the impact of falls on the elderly, President of North Star, Ignacio Quinones, Nurse & Certified Dementia Practitioner shares common causes of falls on the elderly, health consequences, and ways to prevent falls in seniors in a video below.
Click here to view video: Impact of Falls on the Elderly or see below.
In the video, Ignacio answers common questions regarding falls on the elderly such as:
- What Causes a Fall?
- What Can Happen Post-Fall?
- Impact of Fall?
- How to Prevent Falls?
Can Moving to Assisted Living Prevent Falls on the Elderly?
While the answer is not a black and white yes or no, assisted living communities are great at reducing the number of falls as they have several programs in place as well as services designed to enhance the overall health and well-being of their residents such as:
Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s)
As Ignacio mentions, one common reason seniors fall is due to their environment and current health status. In an assisted living, care staff such as certified nursing assistance (CNA’s), med-techs, and nurses assist residents with ADL’s like bathing, dressing, toileting, and meal preparation if needed. This caregiver support allows residents to get around better while lowering the risk of falls since there is someone there to help with mobility.
Wellness Programs
As we age, the say goes, if you don’t use it, you lose it. This goes for not only the mind but the body too. The less active we are the more likely falls will occur, causing a higher chance of physical and mental decline. Physical exercise and socialization are imperative the older we get. Assisted living offers a wide array of wellness programs to keep residents active and engaged through exercise classes ranging from yoga to tai chi, water aerobics classes if they have a pool, several outings, and more.
Medication Management
Many older adults are taking medications that cause drowsiness, dizziness, and low blood pressure, all contributing to an increased risk of falls. Medication management is one of the major reasons older adults consider moving to an assisted living as the care team oversees the entire process from ordering the meds, to administering them and ensuring residents are given them in a timely manner.
Better Nutrition
Eating healthy supports your immune system and bone strength, decreasing the risk of falls or breaking something after a fall. However, many seniors are unable to cook for themselves, so they are either heating up food or skipping meals. Assisted Living offers three nutritious home-cooked meals every day. By incorporating good sources of Vitamin D, mind-healthy options like fish. egg yolks, and green leafy vegetables, assisted living communities can lower residents’ risk for falls and more.
It’s safe to say that there are ways that can help lessen a fall or the impact of falls. However, there isn’t a one size fits all solution for fall prevention, as every individual and their health needs are different. Understanding and eliminating fall risks in the elderly is almost like a trial and error by determining risk factors and what can be improved both environmentally and health-related.
To learn more about assisted living or the risk factors associated with falls on the elderly, call an experienced senior advisor today at 407-796-1582. You can also visit our website at www.northstarsa.com and head to our Video Gallery section to browse other educational topics for resources for seniors in the community.
Listening and Guiding is what we do!
Share this article on social media!
Important Facts about Falls on the Elderly
A fall can be both physically and emotionally life-changing for an elderly adult. In fact, falls on the elderly are the leading cause of death, injury, and hospital admissions among the elderly population. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, one out of every four Americans aged 65 and older falls each year.
While Sept 20th marks the beginning of Falls Prevention Week, it should be a topic addressed more than one week out of the year.
To raise more awareness of the impact of falls on the elderly, President of North Star, Ignacio Quinones, Nurse & Certified Dementia Practitioner shares common causes of falls on the elderly, health consequences, and ways to prevent falls in seniors in a video below.
Click here to view video: Impact of Falls on the Elderly or see below.
In the video, Ignacio answers common questions regarding falls on the elderly such as:
- What Causes a Fall?
- What Can Happen Post-Fall?
- Impact of Fall?
- How to Prevent Falls?
Can Moving to Assisted Living Prevent Falls on the Elderly?
While the answer is not a black and white yes or no, assisted living communities are great at reducing the number of falls as they have several programs in place as well as services designed to enhance the overall health and well-being of their residents such as:
Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s)
As Ignacio mentions, one common reason seniors fall is due to their environment and current health status. In an assisted living, care staff such as certified nursing assistance (CNA’s), med-techs, and nurses assist residents with ADL’s like bathing, dressing, toileting, and meal preparation if needed. This caregiver support allows residents to get around better while lowering the risk of falls since there is someone there to help with mobility.
Wellness Programs
As we age, the say goes, if you don’t use it, you lose it. This goes for not only the mind but the body too. The less active we are the more likely falls will occur, causing a higher chance of physical and mental decline. Physical exercise and socialization are imperative the older we get. Assisted living offers a wide array of wellness programs to keep residents active and engaged through exercise classes ranging from yoga to tai chi, water aerobics classes if they have a pool, several outings, and more.
Medication Management
Many older adults are taking medications that cause drowsiness, dizziness, and low blood pressure, all contributing to an increased risk of falls. Medication management is one of the major reasons older adults consider moving to an assisted living as the care team oversees the entire process from ordering the meds, to administering them and ensuring residents are given them in a timely manner.
Better Nutrition
Eating healthy supports your immune system and bone strength, decreasing the risk of falls or breaking something after a fall. However, many seniors are unable to cook for themselves, so they are either heating up food or skipping meals. Assisted Living offers three nutritious home-cooked meals every day. By incorporating good sources of Vitamin D, mind-healthy options like fish. egg yolks, and green leafy vegetables, assisted living communities can lower residents’ risk for falls and more.
It’s safe to say that there are ways that can help lessen a fall or the impact of falls. However, there isn’t a one size fits all solution for fall prevention, as every individual and their health needs are different. Understanding and eliminating fall risks in the elderly is almost like a trial and error by determining risk factors and what can be improved both environmentally and health-related.
To learn more about assisted living or the risk factors associated with falls on the elderly, call an experienced senior advisor today at 407-796-1582. You can also visit our website at www.northstarsa.com and head to our Video Gallery section to browse other educational topics for resources for seniors in the community.
Listening and Guiding is what we do!
