We have all heard stories about senior citizens falling and injuring themselves. Many people have close relatives who have been seriously injured in this way. In fact, one-quarter of Americans 65 and older fall in any given year. So, it’s actually an incredibly common phenomenon. But what leads to these accidents? Here are six factors that increase the risk of falling for senior citizens.
Past Injuries
Whether it was another fall or something else, past injuries can increase the likelihood of a fall. Balance problems are typically associated with senior citizen falls. Injuries or just something slightly off in the legs or abdomen can greatly affect the chances of someone falling. Consider someone who needs a cane to support their weak leg joints. This person will be more susceptible to falling than someone without this previous injury.
Chronic Conditions
There are a host of chronic conditions that can make falling more likely for an elderly person. Some of these are more obvious than others. For example, people who are prone to seizures will inherently be more likely to fall. People with chronic illnesses that lead to seizures need to be extremely careful. Your ears are also highly important to the balance system. As already stated, loss of balance is one of the main causes of falls. Individuals with chronic ear problems are more likely to have these issues as well.
Poor Home Design
Many people don’t consider the design of their home when trying to keep themselves safe from a fall. However, this is one of the most important things to consider. Are there a lot of stairs? These can be a major falling hazard for older people. It only takes one misstep for someone to go tumbling down a flight of stairs. This is much more dangerous for older people, who have more fragile skeletal systems.
It’s a good idea to consider these things for your own home, even if no seniors are currently living there. If you have elderly visitors, they may injure themselves if your house isn’t conducive to fall prevention. You should also compare homeowner’s insurance quotes online to see how different policies deal with people falling on your property.
Failing Vision
Vision is essential to one’s motor skills. But it’s no secret that people begin to lose their vision as they get older. Vision is a critical element to your balance. Your eyes send signals to the brain to tell it how to align the body. With poor vision, these signals will not be entirely clear. Additionally, people with bad eyesight are more likely to take a misstep, which is often what triggers the momentum necessary for a fall.
Medications
Medications are often helpful for preserving one’s health. However, medications often also have negative side effects. Drowsiness and dizziness are two of the most common reactions to medications. Both things will increase someone’s likelihood of falling—regardless of age.
Alcohol Consumption
Young people aren’t the only ones who like to drink. However, when a young person gets too tipsy and falls, they can usually just get back up. This might not be the case for a senior citizen, however. Consuming too much alcohol greatly increases the likelihood of a fall. People who are concerned about injuring themselves this way should limit their intake.
Falling is one of the most traumatizing experiences for a senior person. No one should have to experience that terror and pain. Unfortunately, it’s a common occurrence in our world. Try to mitigate these six factors that increase the chances of a fall.
