en English
ar Arabicen Englishfr Frenchru Russianes Spanishuk Ukrainian

Please Call Us267-263-7200

Preventing Falls to Ensure Safety and Peace of Mind

To ensure protection and peace of mind, fall prevention is crucial for older adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, millions of individuals aged 65 and above experience falls every year, with one in four older adults experiencing falls annually. However, only less than half of those who fall report it to their doctors. When a person falls once, their chances of falling again double. Recognizing the significance of fall prevention, our team at AmeriChoice has designed training, supervision, and procedures to reduce the risk of injury.

AmeriChoice prioritizes four essential elements of fall prevention, which are as follows:

  • Household hazards account for approximately 50% of all fall cases. That’s why our registered nurses perform an in-home assessment, utilizing the CDC Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults, to ensure that our clients live in a secure environment.
  • Inactivity leads to weakness and increases the likelihood of falling. Our team promotes regular exercise and movement, collaborating with the client’s physician and/or therapist to create an individualized exercise program.
  • Certain medications or combinations of medications can cause dizziness or drowsiness, increasing the risk of falls. Therefore, we provide medication management services to ensure proper medication usage. Additionally, if any adverse side effects arise, we inform the client’s physician. Our case managers can also accompany clients to appointments as necessary.
  • Poor eyesight raises the risk of falling. Our caregivers offer personalized care, including standby or hands-on assistance with ambulation.

If your loved one is prevented from falls, slips, and other incidents at home or anywhere, they can avoid costly injury treatments and hospitalization. As a result, they can maintain greater independence in carrying out tasks such as bathing, cooking, and socializing with others. Safety at home is an important component of graceful aging, so, to help your loved one achieve the highest comfort in health and at home, seek assistance from our caregivers today.

According to the World Health Organization:

  • Almost 650,000 individuals die from falls annually.
  • Over 37 million falls result in medical attention due to severity.
  • Falls are the second deadliest accident in the world.
  • Older adults aged 65 and above are more likely to experience falls.

With the data above, senior falls can be considered a global health concern. The number of fall incidents may seem high, but these only include the reported cases. According to some experts, the actual number of falls may be even higher as many unreported falls were observed.

Although most falls are non-fatal, senior falls greatly affect their quality of life. Falls can lead to muscle compression. Approximately 30 to 60 minutes after the compression, the muscles start to collapse. As a result, the elderly may feel pressure sore or dehydrated. For severe falls, they may experience pneumonia or hypothermia.

As the number of senior falls continues to rise, several older adults tend to limit their activities to avoid falling. This can hamper their overall quality of life. A sedentary can lifestyle further results in depression, isolation, mental decline, physical impairment, and cognitive decline. Hence, as a family member, you must encourage your senior loved ones to stay active. To keep the worries away, you may also hire one of our caregivers to assist your loved ones in their daily activities to avoid falls.

AmeriChoice strives to help our clients live an independent and quality life. As such, we consider all factors that might contribute to senior falls. These factors will be based on the client’s assessment, which will be conducted by our healthcare team. Some of the factors we will look into include:

Intrinsic Risk Factors
  • Medical conditions
  • Lifestyle
  • Cognitive and mental decline
  • Psychological factors
  • Visual impairment
  • History of falls
  • Medications
  • Poor mobility and gait
  • Nutritional deficiency
Extrinsic Risk Factors
  • Improper use of assistive devices
  • Clothing and footwear
  • Home hazards (e.g., slippery floor, poor lighting, etc.)

With AmeriChoice, not only will we work to address the consequences of falls, but we will also prevent their occurrence. Our team of health professionals will identify possible safety risks by:

  • Assessing your home for potential fall hazards
  • Suggesting home modifications based on the assessment
  • Providing therapeutic interventions to improve physical coordination and balance
  • Recommending appropriate assistive devices
  • Educating the clients and their families about fall prevention
Home Safety and Fall Prevention

Falls are a leading cause of injury among seniors, and they don’t just happen out of nowhere. In many cases, there are underlying causes involved, including:

  • Arthritis
  • Balance problems
  • Certain weather conditions, such as ice, snow, or rain
  • Diabetes
  • Heart or lung disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Impaired vision or hearing
  • Muscle weakness
  • Numbness or pain in hands and feet
  • Side effects of prescription and over-the-counter medications
  • Stroke
Know the Signs of a Recent Fall

Despite the high incidence of falls in older adults, many times, they go unreported and unrecognized by the caregiver unless a hospital or emergency room visit is necessary. Failure to report even a minor fall can be a serious problem because the fall may indicate a potentially dangerous problem.

If you are a caregiver, be aware of any signs of injury that may be related to falling. These can include:

  • A change in walking speed, stability, or step
  • Any new bruising, bumps, or cuts
  • Complaints of pain, dizziness, or loss of balance
  • Protecting certain parts of the body unnecessarily
  • Swelling or redness of a joint

Fall Prevention Strategies

The best way to start your fall prevention plan is by making an appointment with your loved one’s physician. The physician will want to evaluate your concerns, as well as you or your loved one’s medical condition and lifestyle. This includes:

Medications
A physician can review medications for side effects and interactions that may increase your or your loved one’s risk of falling.
Falling History
Be prepared to provide details about a fall, including when, where, and how the fall occurred. Also, discuss instances when you or your loved one almost fell but managed to grab hold of someone or something just in time.
Any Other Health Concerns
A physician can determine if certain health conditions may be affecting mobility, muscle strength, gait, or balance.
Fall Facts and Myths

Below are some common myths that many older people believe to be true. Have an honest conversation with your physician or loved one to debunk some of these untruths about how falls occur and can affect a person’s lifestyle:

Myth: Falls only happen to other people.
Fact: In the United States, one in three older adults—or about 12 million—fall every year.
Myth: Falling is a part of aging.
Fact: Falling is not normal, and precautions can be taken to help prevent a fall from happening.
Myth: If I limit my movement, I’ll reduce my risk of falling.
Fact: Balance, strength, and range of motion can be considerably improved by staying active.
Myth: Using a walker or cane will make me more dependent.
Fact: A properly fitted walking aid may improve stability, mobility, and confidence.
Myth: Staying home will reduce my chances of falling.
Fact: Falls occur more at home than in any other setting.

Learn More

Are you or your loved ones at risk of falls? Take this quiz from the CDC STEADI program.

Source:

If you have any queries or concerns, do not hesitate to contact us.