Older adults need to be wary of falls

Falls are a major threat to the health and independence of older adults.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in three adults age 65 and older in the United States will have a fall within the next year. For adults over the age of 85, that number increases to one in two. Furthermore, falls are the leading cause of injury related deaths for older adults and the most common cause for nonfatal injuries and hospital admission for persons aged 65 or older. Common injuries that occur include laceration, hip fracture, and head injury. These injuries can make it hard to get around or live independently, and increase the risk of early death.

While these statistics are sobering, the good news is falls are preventable. Falls are not an inevitable consequence of aging, but falls do occur more often in older adults because fall risk factors increase with age and are usually associated with health and aging conditions. These risk factors can be biological (mobility problems due to decreases in strength and balance, chronic health conditions such as arthritis or stroke, vision changes or loss, decreased sensation in the feet), behavioral (inactivity, medication side effects and/or interactions, alcohol use), or environmental (home hazards such as clutter or poor lighting, incorrect use of walkers/canes/crutches, or poorly designed public spaces).

There are four steps older adults can take to reduce their risk of falls:

1. Exercise regularly, focusing on increasing leg strength and balance. A licensed physical therapist or certified fitness/exercise instructor can help you get started.

2. Review medicines with your doctor or pharmacist. Include both prescription and over-the-counter drugs to reduce side-effects and interactions that cause dizziness or drowsiness.

3. Have your eyes checked with and eye doctor at least once a year to update prescriptions and maximize vision

4. Make the home safer by removing tripping hazards, adding grab bars and railings, and improving lighting

Jason Gillam is a physical therapist for Mat-Su Regional Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine. MSRRSM professionals serve patients in the Mat-Su Valley through offices located at Mat-Su Regional Outpatient Center in Wasilla and at the hospital located just off of the Parks Highway near the Trunk Road exit. Call 352-2915 for questions about an appointment to see a physical, occupational, speech, cardiac rehabilitation, industrial medicine or wound care therapist.

If you are interested to learn more about this topic or wish to be notified when seminars for adults over the age of 50 are presented by one of our health professionals, please contact Angela Balos at 861-6807 or a.balos@msrmc.com.