Falls are the national leading cause of injury death among the elderly population, so everything we can do to reduce falls is vital for our seniors. Whether or not your loved one struggles with falls, it is never too early to identify fall risk, and understand how each of us plays a role in preventing and reducing falls.
In addition to falls being the most common cause of injury for seniors, falls are frequently the primary reason a senior is referred to a senior living community or rehabilitation center. Falls are also very impactful to mental health, and can cause seniors to lose confidence or “give up.” For this reason, many loved ones and family caregivers seek to find ways they can help seniors thrive, at home or in a senior living environment.
Risk Factors
One way to educate yourself is to understand the basic facts about falls, and understanding what increases an individual’s risk of falls. Some of these fall risk factors include:
- Being over the age of 65
- Certain medications can increase risk–check with your doctor to determine if this is the case for you or your loved one
- Medical conditions, dementia and other cognitive impairments can increase the risk of falls
- History of previous falls
- Bouts of dizziness
- Urinary or bowel incontinence
- Vision and hearing impairment
- Depression
- Acute illness such as covid, flu, RSV, dehydration
- Recent hospitalizations
Understanding Individual Fall Risk
All of these and more can increase the risk of falls for seniors. If your loved one has one or more of these factors, you will want to be cautious and understand their specific risk. It is a good idea to sit down with a medical professional familiar with your loved one’s medical history to identify an accurate risk assessment. Here are some questions a doctor or senior care provider is likely to ask your loved one:
- Is there a history of falls?
- Were there any falls outside the home?
- Are you currently taking any medications?
- Have you experienced any dizziness in the past?
- Are there any cognitive or physical challenges?
- Has there been any change in your medical condition?
- What worked at home to reduce falls?
By creating a detailed history, we can reduce future fall risks.
Your Role in Reducing Falls
Family members, caregivers, and even friends can help reduce the risk of falls in a number of ways.
Be aware of safety risks in the apartment. This includes throw rugs that can be slippery, and oversized furniture that is difficult to navigate around. By removing excess clutter on the floor and extension cords, you can eliminate potential hazards that can easily cause someone to trip and fall.
Encourage hydration and exercise to maintain strength. Proper fitness can boost the healthy systems of the body, and improve the ability to walk, sit and stand safely and comfortably. Joint health, flexibility, bone density and movement all play a part in staying strong.
Keep frequently used toiletries and other items within reach. Make sure your loved one doesn’t have to use a step stool or bend down low to retrieve items they need everyday.
Avoid store-bought transfer devices. This equipment is too important to get from just anywhere. Work with your medical, healthcare or senior living professional to get the dependable, sturdy equipment you need.
When packing their wardrobe, only bring well fitting shoes with non-slip thread. Slippers, socks, and ill-fitting shoes are serious fall risks.
Provide nightlights if needed. When your loved one gets up to go to the bathroom at night, you want to make sure they are able to see any obstacles that might be in their path.
Doing your part to identify and eliminate risk can help keep your loved one safe.
The Safe Landings Team Approach
At The Arbor Company, we have a fall reduction program called Safe Landings. This is how we train our staff to identify and eliminate fall risks, and how to assess residents if and when a fall occurs to minimize injury.
Part of our approach is to work together as an interdisciplinary team along with healthcare providers, medical staff, and family caregivers. When moving into an Arbor community, our Safe Landings Team will:
- Conduct an admission assessment to identify and address risk factors.
- Create a personalized plan of care with your assistance and our feedback.
- Form a partnership with in-house physical, occupational and speech therapy providers.
- Work with a pharmacist to review and understand medication side effects and proper dosages.
- Communicate clearly and frequently with medical providers.
- Provide recommendations for assistive and adaptive equipment.
- Conduct a thorough review post-fall for any necessary care plan updates.
By working together as a team, we can create a safe and supportive environment for our residents. That means every person on the team has a role to play to reduce falls. If you have questions about fall reduction, please contact your local Arbor community for more information.
