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Home > For Senior Adults, Families, and Caregivers |
For Senior Adults, Families, and Caregivers
Hamilton County Fall Prevention Task Force |
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| Have
you or a senior adult you know fallen in the past
year? If so you're not alone! About 1 out of every
3 Americans fall every year.1
Falling can cause serious injury such as broken
and fractured bones and even brain trauma which
can reduce independence. The good news is that
you can prevent falling by taking a few simple
steps to keep yourself or a senior adult in your
life safe. |
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Risk
Factors for Falling
1,2,9
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Poor mobility
(balance problems,
muscle weakness) |
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Diseases
and long term illnesses
(Parkinson’s, Osteoporosis,
high/low blood pressure) |
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Vision problems |
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Fear of falling |
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Medication side effects |
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Clothing and footwear |
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Environmental/situational
hazards
(being in a hurry, no handrails on stairs/in
the bathroom, unsecured throw rugs) |
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Steps
You Can Take To Reduce the Risk of Falling1,9
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Exercise Regularly.
Strong muscle and bones help you move around
with ease. Talk to your doctor and start
slowly if you are a beginner. |
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Have
Your Eyes Checked Yearly. Poor vision
is associated with an increased risk for
falling. |
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Improve the Lighting
in Your Home. Use night lights and light
bulbs with the maximum wattage safe for
your light fixtures. |
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Talk to Your Doctors
and Pharmacists about the Medications
You are Taking. Taking 4 or more medications
increases the chances for interactions and
intensifies side effects that may contribute
to your chances for falling. |
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Remove
Hazards in Your Home |
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Use Caution on Slippery
or Uneven Surfaces |
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Don't Rush!
Take your time, especially when getting
out of bed or standing up if you have been
lying down or sitting for an extended period
of time. |
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See a Physical or
Occupational Therapist if you are afraid
of falling. These visits are covered by
Medicaid and Medicare if you are referred
by a physician. |
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Wear proper clothing
and footwear. This includes shorter
pants, skirts and bathrobes, supportive
rubber soled, low heels. Thick rubber soles
increase the risk of falling because
it is harder to feel the ground below your
feet. |
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Talking
to Your Doctor about Falling
 Your
doctor may or may not address falling with you
during your regular check ups. If he or she does
not, it doesn't mean they don't think reducing
your risk for falling is important; it is easy
to forget to mention it in a limited amount of
time. That's why you should bring up the subject
with your doctor if he or she does not. Here are
some examples of questions that patients commonly
ask their doctors about falling:3
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What should
I do after a fall? |
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How can I prevent a
fall? |
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Are any of my medications
making me unsteady? |
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Is there a test that
can tell if I am likely to fall? |
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What medical conditions
may increase my risk of falling? |
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What kind of exercises
can help keep me from falling? |
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Should I see a specialist? |
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What
to do If or When You Fall
Panic
is often your first reaction after falling. It
is important to try not to panic because the way
you react after a fall can cause more injuries
than the fall itself. If you try to get up quickly
or in the wrong position, you may make an injury
worse.
Before
you do anything, remember to take several deep
breaths and determine if you are hurt. If you
believe you are injured, do not get up. Instead
call 911, use your Lifeline to call for help or
get help from a family member. While you wait
for help to arrive, try to cover yourself with
a blanket, jacket, or throw rug to keep warm.4
If
you are not injured, follow these steps follow
these steps provided by the American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgeons to get up from a fall safely:
Try to fall on your side or buttocks.
Roll over naturally, turning your head in the
direction of the roll.
If you can, crawl to strong, stable furniture
like a chair, and pull yourself up. Approach the
chair from the front and put both hands on the
seat.
Slowly, begin to rise.
Bend whichever knee is stronger,
keep your other knee on the floor.
Slowly twist around and sit in the chair.
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Fall
Prevention and Caregivers
 A
recent study by the National Alliance for Caregiving
and AARP discovered that in about 25% of all homes,
a person over the age of 18 had been a caregiver
to an adult over the age of 50 at some time during
the previous year.5
The
work of an informal caregiver is important and
can include providing everything from minimal
assistance with personal care and homemaking and
errands to 24-hour assistance.
There are
many resources available for caregivers. Your
local Council on Aging are a great place to look
for additional resources. In Hamilton County,
the Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio has
many resources available for caregivers. Visit
their website at http://www.help4seniors.org.
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Fall Prevention Tips |
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FLOORS |
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Remove
rugs or use double-sided tape
or non-slip backing so rugs
won't slip |
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Keep objects
off floor and stairs |
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Coil or
tape electrical cords next to
wall to prevent tripping |
STAIRS
& STEPS |
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Fix loose
or uneven steps |
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Turn on
light at the top and bottom
of stairs; install a light if
one isn't present; use switches
that glow in the dark |
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Change
light bulbs, ask family or friends
for help |
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Fix loose
handrails; handrails should
be as long as stairs |
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Attach
carpet firmly to every step;
use rubber treads on uncarpeted
stairs |
KITCHEN |
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Move items
in cabinets to bottom shelves,
at waist height |
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Use a sturdy
stool with a bar; never use
a chair as a stool |
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BEDROOM/BATHROOM |
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Place
lamp close to the bed within
easy reach |
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Use night
lights |
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Put non-slip
mats in the tub or shower |
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Install
grab bars in tub and next to
toilet |
OTHER
PREVENTION MEASURES |
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Exercise
regularly; it adds strength
and improves balance and coordination |
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Ask your
doctor or pharmacist about medicines
that make you sleepy or dizzy;
review all medications and supplements
with your physician regularly |
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Get up
slowly after sitting or lying
down |
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Wear sturdy
shoes with thin, non-slip soles |
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Improve
the lighting in your home |
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Use reflective
tape at the top and bottom of
stairs |
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Keep emergency
numbers in large print near
phones |
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Consider
using a personal emergency medical
alert system |
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Have vision
screened regularly and wear
corrective lens as prescribed |
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