September 22 is Fall Prevention Awareness Day! The first official day of fall is used every year to promote the message that falls are preventable. Falls are the leading cause of injury and hospital admissions among older adults. They can take a large toll on a senior’s quality of life and can take months to rehabilitate.
This year is the 10th anniversary of Fall Prevention Awareness Day and events and promotions are planned to raise awareness to prevent fall-related injuries. Not only is this day important to raise awareness among seniors, but also their families, caregivers, elder care professionals, and the general public. Even though your loved one may be aging, there is no need for them to feel unsafe or uncomfortable staying active. Here are some ways you can help your loved one prevent a serious fall.
What You Need To Know?
Every 11 seconds an older adult is admitted to an ER for a fall-related injury. Far too many of these falls are preventable. Falls don’t just affect a senior physically but also can have a mental toll. Falls can cause seniors to feel isolated while recovering and even without injury the fear of falling can deter seniors from staying active. This fear can force seniors to limit their activity and social engagements, which can lead to depression.
Helping older adults with their balance and increasing their self-confidence is key to reducing the likelihood of a fall. Falls are preventable, and the likelihood if injury is low if you are properly prepared.
How Can I Prepare?
Keep your loved ones safe with these tips!
- Exercise and balance is key – Keep your loved one active and look online for simple stretches and exercises that promote balance. Your local community or seniors centre may have senior exercise classes or specific fall-prevention programs.
- Ask your doctor for an assessment – find out if your loved one is at a higher risk of falling.
- Review all medications – Dizziness and fatigue are common side effects that can increase the risk of falling. Make sure medications aren’t increasing this risk.
- Get vision and hearing checked – your eyes and ears play a large part in balance and confidence while being active. Make sure that vision and hearing tests are scheduled annually.
- Keep the home tidy – a clean and tidy home is a safe one. Remove all tripping hazards, increase lighting, and install grab bars where necessary.
- Talk to your loved ones – make sure your family members feel secure in their home and have any assisted devices they need. Keep the lines of communication open.
Where Can I Find Help?
Falling is not a normal part of aging. Fall-related injuries do not need to happen, yet 1 in 3 seniors will be injured every year. Learning how to help older adults take precautions in their home, and take steps to avoid falls, is important to their health and well-being. Seniors should be well aware of the hazards they face and how they can better prepare their homes and lives to prevent falls.
There are many places you can go to ask for help and to learn more about fall-prevention programs. Contact your local community or seniors centre to ask about exercise classes, injury-prevention classes, and information on improving home safety. Also consider contacting local in-home care providers who may have extra information on assistive devices, medication side effects, and extra care they can provide for your loved ones.
