Published on July 2, 2022
Elderly are often at a high risk for falls, especially if they had a fall in the previous year, are unsteady while walking or having a worry about falling. Falls could result in fractures and disability. Here are a few steps that can prevent falls in the elderly:
Physical Activity
Falls often occur due to a weakness in the muscles of the lower limbs and balance issues. Thus, exercises that improve the strength of the lower limbs and balance can reduce the chances of falls. Footwear should also be well fitting and comfortable.
Hazard-Free Home
The floor should be clutter free to avoid tripping. Grab bars and anti-slip mats should be placed in the bathroom.
Vision correction
Conditions that affect vision such as cataract and glaucoma are common in the elderly and could contribute to falls. Therefore, vision issues should be corrected to prevent tripping.
Treatment of Underlying Conditions
Conditions such as Parkinson’s disease that increase the risk of falls should be treated. The medications that the person takes should be reviewed since some of them may make the person dizzy and increase the risk of falls.
Reference:
https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/index.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK565579/#ch16.Sec1. Available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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