Falling Risk in Older Adults

The numbers don’t lie. Each year, one out of every three individuals over the age of 65 suffers a fall that sends them to their physician or, worse, the emergency room, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After age 75, those rates are even higher. ^{1, 2}

The statistics are still more troubling when nursing homes and hospitals are taken into account. Falls among people aged 65 and over happen three times more often in institutional environments when compared to home settings, with a reported 1.5 falls per bed, per year. ³

The older we get, the more dangerous a fall can be since weaker bones, arthritis, balance disorders, poor vision and slower reflexes increase the risk of serious injury. In fact, 75% of all fall-related deaths occur in individuals aged 65 and over. ⁴ What’s more, repeated falls are a leading reason why otherwise independent older adults are admitted to long-term care institutions. ^{5, 6}

What a caregiver can do

Protecting the safety of your family member requires a multifaceted approach. Studies show that a single change doesn’t make much of a difference for improved safety, but making several changes together can help reduce the occurrence of falls. ⁷ Follow the steps below to make your loved one’s environment as safe as possible:

• Make their home more accessible.  Assistive devices like bed alarms, canes, and walkers provide demonstrated benefits. Although the use of assistive devices alone will not prevent falls, a combined approach that incorporates the other suggestions listed here can deliver effective results.
  
  In addition to assistive devices, be sure to replace loose carpeting, put non-skid strips on wood stairs, use brighter lighting and install safety equipment in your bathrooms. Avoid long extension cords that can cause someone to trip or fall.
  
  
• Simplify your loved one’s medication list. Individuals who take four or more daily medications are at an increased risk for drug interactions, including reduced mental function, poor balance and drowsiness, all of which may result in a fall.
  
  Medications that affect brain function such as tranquilizers, sedatives and antidepressants can increase the risk of falling, so it is important to review your family member’s medicines with your doctor to see if any can be safely eliminated or replaced.
  
  
• Encourage balance training and strength exercises.  General exercise and aerobics are not sufficient to reduce the occurrence of falls, but balance training works! Additionally, scientific evidence suggests that strength, or resistance, training may also reduce the risk of falls.⁷
  
  
• Consider new shoes. Protecting your loved one may be as simple as a new pair of shoes. Wearing well-designed walking shoes can markedly improve balance.

You needn’t wait for a dangerous fall to happen before taking action. You can try a simple at-home test to see if falling should be a concern. Ask your family member to show you how well they can “get up and go.”

• Begin by having them sit in a chair.
  
  
• Then, ask them to stand up without using their arms, walk a few steps and return to a seated position in their chair.
  
  
• If you observe any shakiness or instability during this activity, schedule a doctor visit for a complete evaluation of your loved one’s balance and ability to walk. ⁷