Falls with injuries happen alot at home. Sometimes, they aren't because of a home hazard, such as a slippery or damaged floor, or tripping over the dog. The following is a common scenario often repeated as a reason for injuries that happened to patients seen in rehabilitation programs.
Scenario: Person is sound asleep. Doorbell rings. Person jumps up quickly to answer the door. Person felt dizzy, then fainted, falling to the floor. Person wakes up, lying on the floor in a lot of pain. Oops, a broken hip, leg, arm,...etc. What the heck happened?
There is a logical reason for fainting in this manner. In a "nutshell," time is needed for the heart to adjust for increases in blood pressure, caused when the body quickly moves from lying down to sitting or standing. Basically, the heart needs a moment to readjust it's pumping action.
WISE AGING TIP: How to REDUCE RISK OF FALLING DUE TO POSTURE CHANGES
Prevent the risk of falling due to rapid posture changes by taking a few minutes to
A. Slowly rise to a sitting, up right position.
B. Then sit still (on edge of bed, couch, etc) for another minute or two.
C. Do this simple act to reduce the risk of falling due to postural changes after sleeping.
That's it. Just take an extra couple of minutes to let the heart adjust it's pumping action. If this can be added every time to the routine of getting up from the bed or couch, a lot of falls can be prevented.
CAUTION! There can be many other reasons for fainting, besides getting up too quickly. Fainting should be reported to your doctor immediately to determine the cause.
If you want more info about fainting, here is a link about fainting. falling.http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/fallcost.htm#how%20big%20is%20problem
Be wise, be safe, be healthy,
Dr. Vanessa
Vanessa M. Dazio, OTD, OTR/L
SAFE AGING
www.safeaging.com
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
WISE AGING: 4 Major Tips to Reduce the Risk of Falling
Falls are Preventable
Falls are accidents, and accidents can be prevented. It only takes one fall to cause:
An Occupational Therapists Role in Fall RIsk Reduction
Over the years, as an occupational therapist, I worked with many people who fell, broke bones, and got to meet me in the hospital, nursing home and adult living facilities, as a result of their injuries.
In those settings, my task was to train the person to compensate for their functional losses (caused by their fall) so they could do their basic daily life activities as independently as possible until they did heal, then go home.
This was almost always a process that included other family members, friends or neighbors so they could learn how to help the injured person. Falls rarely affected just the person who broke the bone(s).
My favorite work was always in the home. If the injured person was able to return home, it was my job to identify home hazards, barriers or problem actions that could promote accidents.
Then, I educated the person and their family about risk reduction. I identified their home hazards, barriers or unsafe actions, and educated the injured person and their support system, on actions that could be done to reduce the risks of injury.
Let me say this, over 25 years of practice, and I am still amazed at some of the unbelievably unsafe situations people have at home.
The Costs of Falls
The costs can be staggering financially, personally and socially. Here are a few more statistics to back up my topic today.
Resources for statistics were retrieved from the Internet on April 1, 2009
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/fallcost.htm#how%20big%20is%20problem
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003093.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/preventadultfalls.htm
http://www.safeaging.com/information/ReduceYourRiskofFalling.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/fallcost.htm#how%20big%20is%20problem
Falls are accidents, and accidents can be prevented. It only takes one fall to cause:
- a dis-abling injury
- loss of independence
- severe financial difficulties
- major change in lifestyle
- intense suffering and/or
- death
General Statistics About Falls
Some people really like statistics to back up statements, so, here are a few. If you want more, check out the references listed at the bottom of this article.
- "One in three adults 65 and older falls each year."
- "Of those who fall, 20% to 30% suffer moderate to severe injuries that make it hard for them to get around or live independently, and increase their chances of early death."
- "Every 18 seconds, an older adult is treated in an emergency department for a fall, and every 35 minutes someone in this population dies as a result of their injuries."
- " Older adults are hospitalized for fall-related injuries five times more often than they are for injuries from other causes."
An Occupational Therapists Role in Fall RIsk Reduction
Over the years, as an occupational therapist, I worked with many people who fell, broke bones, and got to meet me in the hospital, nursing home and adult living facilities, as a result of their injuries.
In those settings, my task was to train the person to compensate for their functional losses (caused by their fall) so they could do their basic daily life activities as independently as possible until they did heal, then go home.
This was almost always a process that included other family members, friends or neighbors so they could learn how to help the injured person. Falls rarely affected just the person who broke the bone(s).
My favorite work was always in the home. If the injured person was able to return home, it was my job to identify home hazards, barriers or problem actions that could promote accidents.
Then, I educated the person and their family about risk reduction. I identified their home hazards, barriers or unsafe actions, and educated the injured person and their support system, on actions that could be done to reduce the risks of injury.
Let me say this, over 25 years of practice, and I am still amazed at some of the unbelievably unsafe situations people have at home.
The Costs of Falls
The costs can be staggering financially, personally and socially. Here are a few more statistics to back up my topic today.
Amazing Statistics from the US. Center of Disease Control
Average cost: By 2020, the annual direct and indirect cost of fall injuries is expected to reach $54.9 billion (in 2007 dollars).
- ".....(In a study of people age 72 and older, the average health care cost of a fall injury totaled $19,440 (this included hospital, nursing home, emergency room, and home health care, but not doctors’ services.)
WISE AGING TIPS:
4 Major things a person or family can do to prevent falls.
1. Get fit: Maintaining muscle strength, joint flexibility and complete joint range of motion increases the ability to quickly recuperate from a loss of balance.
2. Review all of your medications with doctor or pharmacist: REASON: Check for medication side effects that could cause dizziness, lightheadedness, excessive sleepiness, etc.
3. Get a yearly eye exam: REASON: Vision does decline with age. Annual eye exams detect early vision changes or loss. Often vision loss can be corrected with eyewear, or other medical help, including medications, and preventive or corrective surgery.
4. Make your home safer: REASON: Home hazards are often cited as the cause of a fall. Eliminate the hazards, and fall risk is reduced.
WISE AGING's BLOG
Tomorrow's blog will include some other details about falling, and what actions you can take to reduce fall related risks.
Resources for statistics were retrieved from the Internet on April 1, 2009
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/fallcost.htm#how%20big%20is%20problem
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003093.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/preventadultfalls.htm
http://www.safeaging.com/information/ReduceYourRiskofFalling.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/fallcost.htm#how%20big%20is%20problem
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003093.htm
Be wise, stay safe and have a healthy day.
Dr. Vanessa
Vanessa M. Dazio, OTD, OTR/L
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
