ELDERLY SLIPS AND FALLS GUIDE
Not a TASA-referred expert. Published with permission from Brown & Crouppen Law Firm
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In 2019, more than 3 million elderly Americans visited the emergency room because of fall-related injuries. That breaks down to five or six falls every minute. Data suggests women are hospitalized after a fall at twice the rate of men. Many of these falls are quite serious.
Falls can have serious physical, emotional, and financial repercussions for elderly fall victims and their families. The CDC estimates that falls cost about $50 billion in medical bills annually.
So, why are seniors slipping and falling at such alarming rates? And what can be done to limit the chances of you or someone you care about falling and getting hurt? Brown & Crouppen in Kansas City tackles these important questions and others in our slip-and-fall guide for the elderly.
WHY ARE SENIORS PRONE TO FALLING?
As we age, we become more susceptible to falling and sustaining severe injuries. Risk factors that increase the odds of elderly adults slipping and falling include the consequences of the natural aging process, such as poor vision and reduced muscle mass, as well as a person’s surroundings.
VISION PROBLEMS
It is common for eyesight and vision to deteriorate over time. Limited visibility or blurred vision can make it more difficult to see where we are going, which increases the risk of tripping over an object or slipping on a slick surface.
HEALTH CONDITIONS
Many health conditions can adversely affect our sense of balance and reflexes, making it more difficult to remain upright or grab onto an object to help steady us before a fall.
Health issues that might increase the likelihood of falling include:
- Parkinson’s disease
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
- Thyroid disease
- Vertigo
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Dementia
- Incontinence
- Dehydration
- Hypotension (low blood pressure)
- Heart disease
- Bradycardia
- Irregular heart rate
- Vitamin D deficiency
Often, older Americans find themselves taking several medications to manage these (and other) medical conditions. However, sometimes those medications can be a risk factor for falls too.
MEDICATIONS
All pharmaceutical medications have side effects. Specific types of medications — including sedatives, insulin, antidepressants, and antipsychotics — can substantially increase the risk of a fall.
Some of the most common side effects include dizziness, confusion, low blood pressure, high blood pressure, and low blood sugar, all of which can increase the likelihood that an elderly person will fall.
The risk increases with each additional medication a person takes.
To read the full blog, click here.