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FALLS RISKS IN THE ELDERLY POPULATION

Prevalence

​

  • ¼ of Americans 65 years or older fall EACH YEAR

  • Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall.

  • In 2013, the total cost of fall injuries was $34 billion


For more information about falls risks visit:

https://www.ncoa.org/news/resources-for-reporters/get-the-facts/falls-prevention-facts/

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In Good Hands

Common factors that lead to falls in the elderly:

  • Balance and gait- Instability occurs due to loss of coordination, and flexibility primarily due to inactivity.

  • Impaired vision- Normal aging process’ affect visual acuity which makes obstacles more difficult to see and to maneuver around.

  • Medication- Many medications may cause dehydration and dizziness impairing the ability for older adults to maintain balance.

  • Environment- The elderly may not be able to move around their home like they used to, therefore changes to the elderly’s home may be necessary to make it safer.

  • Chronic conditions- 90% of older adults have at least one chronic condition, some of the most common being arthritis, diabetes, and stroke. The symptoms that accompany these conditions are often pain, loss of function, depression and more which can affect the elderly’s motivation to be active

Falls prevention:

  1. Assess individual risk factors

  2. Consult a physician to ensure safety and to create a customized plan for each client

  3. Get active!

  • Studies have shown that there is a strong relationship between the lack of muscle flexibility, poor walking ability and balance.

  • Researchers have concluded that better stability and control of lumbopelvic muscles can contribute to postural stabilization which in turn increases balance ability (Martinez-Lopez, 2014).

  • Many exercise programs for older adults include supervised proprioception therapy, water aerobics, yoga, tai chi, etc. The determining factor being individual ability.                                                                                     For more information about fall prevention visit: https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/patient.html

Yoga Class for all Ages
Pile Of Books

References

Martinez-Lopez E. J., Hita-Contreras, F., Jimenez-Lara, P. M., Latorre-Roman, P., Martinez-Amat, A. (2014) The association of flexibility, balance and lumbar strength with balance ability: risk of falls in older adults. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 13, 349-357.

CDC (2016) STEADI Older adult fall prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/patient.html

National Council on Aging (2017). Falls prevention facts. Retrieved from https://www.ncoa.org/news/resources-for-reporters/get-the-facts/falls-prevention-facts/

Please return to the home page for additional information.

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