"Preventing Elderly Falls"
Senior Focus - February 1997
When we are young, falls are a natural part of life, but as we age, falls can be life-threatening.
Falls are the number-one cause of injury-related death for people over 65. According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, one out of four people who break a hip dies within six months, and another 25 percent need lifelong care.
Broken hips are one of the most serious results of a fall, but broken ankles, wrists and feet are common as well.
Experts at the Huffington Center on Aging at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston say while the fractured bones are a concern, it is the immobility caused by the falls that does the most long-term damage to an elderly person. Immobility affects virtually every system of the body and makes the normal effects of aging more pronounced.
As we age, we naturally begin to lose bone and muscle mass. The loss can be compounded if a person is forced to stay in bed to recover from a fracture.
Since most falls occur in the home, there are steps to take to lessen the risk:
 | Throw out slippery throw rugs, or place nonskid material on the back. |
| Keep electric cords, telephone cords, newspapers and other clutter out of walkways. |
| In the bathroom, install grab bars or handrails in the bathtub and by the toilet. And use a nonskid shower mat. |
| Make sure the home is well-lit. |
| Put a strip of brightly colored tape on the top and bottom step of stairways. |
| Arrange items in cabinets to make them easier to reach. |
Many falls can be prevented, and taking the necessary steps to "fall-proof" a home can help older persons continue to be independent and live in their own home with a new measure of safety.
