taking a stand against falls - home | modern maturity

Taking a Stand Against Falls Presented by Christiana Care – Injury Prevention

• Falls are the leading cause of injury related death among older adults and fall rates have increased more that 30% since 2007.

• (Center for Disease Control [CDC])

Each year, one in every four adults age 65 + or older will fall (NCOA)

• 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 (NCOA)

• Falls result in more than 2.8 million injuries treated in emergency departments annually, including over 800,000 hospitalizations and more than 27,000 deaths. (NCOA)

People Who Have Fallen

Are 2 to 2.8 times more likely to fall again (Al-Aama, 2011)

May restrict their activity which will increase their risk for falling

(fear of falling leading to decreased physical

engagement leads to deconditioning)

Falls are preventable!

• Falls are NOT an inevitable part of aging

A Few Questions to ConsiderDo I have a regular exercise routine?

What do I know about my medications?

What if I am on blood thinners?

When was the last time I had my eyes checked?

How can I make myself and my home safer?

How can I help myself if I do fall?

Who can help me address my needs?

What Can You Do?

• Action Plan:

• 1. Stay Active

• 2. Ask your doctor & pharmacist to review your medications

• 3. Have your eyes checked regularly and corrected

• 4. Do a Home Safety Check

(CDC)

Do I Have a Regular Exercise Routine?

• Ask your doctor before beginning an exercise plan

• Arrange transportation if necessary

• Low impact, safety considerations

• Focus on balance and muscle strengthening (Rao, 2005)

Have I Asked my Doctor About How My Medicines Can Effect My Risk For Falls?

Some medications can increase a person’s risk for falling – talk to your doctor about what you are taking and how it may effect you, especially with a dosage change

Keep a current list of medications and doses and review that list with all of your doctors when you visit

Don’t forget over the counter medicines or vitamins!

https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/pdf/check_for_safety_brochure-a.pdf

Blood Thinners!

https://www.mnhospitals.org/Portals/0/Documents/ptsafety/falls/blood-thinners-education.pdf

• Seek medical attention immediately if you have a fall on blood thinners

• Ask your doctor what to avoid (certain foods, activities, etc.)

• Things to avoid:

• Heights

• Ladders

• Contact Sports

When Was the Last Time I had My Eyes Examined?

• Visual impairment is an important risk factor for falls. (Al-Aama, 2011)

Can I Make My Home Safer?• Bathroom

• Kitchen

• Living room

• Entrance to home

• Stairways

• Lighting

• Bedroom

Do I Have Throw Rugs?

Are Rugs Secure and Free From Wrinkles?

Do All My Stairways Have Handrails on Both Sides?

Do I Hold Handrails on Stairways?

Are My Stairways Clear?

Do I Have Clear Pathways?

• Are There Loose Wires That Need to be Contained?

Can I Improve the Lighting Around the House?

• Nightlight

• Lights at the top and bottom of stairways

• Lighting near the bed

Do I Have a Clear Lighted Pathway from My Bed to My Bathroom?

• This is especially helpful in the evenings, so that you can have light the entire way when navigating your room

• Improve the lighting in your home. Put in brighter light bulbs.

• Florescent bulbs are bright and cost less to use.


Do I Have Handrails in the Bathrooms? When Traveling,

request an ADA room

• Using a non-slip rubber mat or self stick strips on the floor of the tub or shower

• Have grab bars put in next to and inside the tub and next to the toilet


Do my shoes have good grip on the soles? Are they weather appropriate?

• Wear shoes both inside and outside of the house, avoid going barefoot or wearing slippers.


• Ensure that footwear is weather appropriate (grip in inclement weather)

Should I consider using a personalized emergency response system?

• Put a phone near the floor in case you fall and can’t get up.

• Keep emergency numbers in large print near each phone

• Think about wearing an alarm device that will bring help in case you fall and can’t get up.


Are My Pathways Even & Flat? • Walk on even terrain

as much as possible, and avoid areas that may become tripping hazards

Are the parking lotsbrightly lit?

• The same rule applies with parking lots, so you can adequately see where you are going., the more lighting, the better

• Park as close as possible to the entrance of the building

• Use a flashlight if needed

What if you do fall?

How to HelpYourself After a Fall? (if you think you

can get up)First lie still for a few minutes and think about how you feel. If your body feels okay and you think you can get up safely, follow the rest of the steps below:

Look for a chair or other piece of furniture that is close to you.

Roll onto your side and rest. Roll by turning your head in the direction you want to roll, move your shoulder and arm, then hip and leg in the same direction.

Lie still for a moment to let your blood pressure adjust

.

https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/abl3081

Slowly push your upper body up, lift your head, and take a moment to rest

Slowly get up on your hands and knees, and crawl to the chair or other stable piece of furniture.

.Put your hands on the chair.

Move one foot forward, and place it flat on the floor. Your other leg should be bent with the knee on the floor.

.Rise slowly, turn your body, and sit in the chair. Stay seated for a bit and think about how you feel. Call for help. Even if you feel okay, let someone know what happened to you. You might not know that you have a serious injury.

How to Help Yourself After a Fall (if you cannot get up)

If you think you are injured after a fall or you cannot get up, try not to panic.

Call out for help.

.If you have a phone within reach or you have an emergency call device, use it to call for help.

If you do not have a phone within reach, try to slide yourself toward it. If you cannot get to the phone, try to slide toward a door or window or a place where you think you can be heard.


Yell or use an object to make noise so someone might hear you.

If you can reach something that you can use for a pillow, place it under your head. Try to stay warm by covering yourself with a rug, blanket, or clothing while you wait for help.

f you can, try to move around a little bit to keep from getting stiff. If you urinate, try to roll away from the damp area.

Who Can Help?

Home Safety – an Occupational Therapist or a CAPS

Falls – Physical Therapist, practice and falls training

Primary Care Doctor & Pharmacist – review of medication and medication safety

Eye Doctor- Most updated prescription


To find a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist in your area call the NAHB at 800-368-5242 or visit its directory page "Find a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist" at www.nahb.org.

https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/info-2014/using-an-OT-or-CAPS.html

http://www.nahb.org/

Additional Resources

• Center for Disease Control (CDC

• National Council on Aging (NCOA)

• AARP

• Hospital websites and courses

• PubMed

• AAA (Area Agency on Aging)

• National Directory of Home Modification and Repair Resources

Can You Offer Some Ideas to Help Other’s to Prevent Falls?

Feedback

• What did you learn in this presentation?

• What changes are you planning on making to prevent a fall?

• Please give your feedback to your activities director, who will communicate to me!

THANK YOU

• For your attention, feedback, and time watching our presentation!

• We hope you have learned ways to keep you & your loved ones safe. Do not hesitate to reach out to the resources listed or your family doctor about falls prevention for yourself.

REFERENCES • https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/fallcost/deaths-from-falls.html

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

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3135440/

• https://www.mnhospitals.org/Portals/0/Documents/ptsafety/falls/blood-thinners-education.pdf

• https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/abl3081

• https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/info-2014/using-an-OT-or-CAPS.html

• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16035686/

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