Fall Prevention for Seniors: Tips and Emergency Response
As we age, falls become a major concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in four older adults falls each year, with falls being the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older Americans. The high number is mostly because of the higher risk of falling that comes with aging. Thankfully there are many steps that seniors and their loved ones can take to reduce the risk of falls. As a caregiver, it is important to be knowledgeable about this topic to be equipped and address fall risks in your client’s environment, and to know what to do in case the incident happens. In this blog, we will explore some tips and strategies for fall prevention and what to do in case of a fall emergency. By taking proactive steps toward fall prevention, seniors can maintain their independence and enjoy a higher quality of life.
Tips to Prevent Falls
Although falling is a normal part of our lives and is sometimes inevitable, there are several factors that can contribute to it happening more often to people at risk than those who aren’t. Recovering from falls is not easy for seniors, so it is important to know who is more susceptible to it. That being said, here are some tips to prevent falls for the elderly.
Assess Your Patient
Assessing your patient’s physical condition can help you know what areas they are struggling with, that may lead to falling. Some of these factors include muscle weakness or loss, chronic illnesses like arthritis or Parkinson's disease, vision and hearing impairments, and injuries. Age-related muscle mass decrease and chronic conditions can affect mobility, balance, and overall health. Poor vision and hearing impairments can impact balance and awareness, while injuries may lead to temporary or permanent changes to mobility, strength, or balance. It's crucial to identify and manage these physical factors to reduce the risk of falls in seniors.
Implement Exercise and Mobility Programs
Exercises and mobility programs improve balance and coordination, increase strength, enhance flexibility, and overall reduce the risk of falling. Here are examples of safe exercises that the elderly can do to reduce their risk of falls:
Weight Shifting - do this by standing with your feet. Shift your weight to one side then lift your opposite foot. Hold this position for about 30 seconds or as long as you can, then shift your weight to the other side.
Sit-to-stand exercises - Sit-to-stand exercises can help improve leg strength and mobility. Sit in a sturdy chair with feet flat on the ground. Slowly stand up, using the legs to push up. Sit back down slowly, controlling the movement. Repeat 10-15 times.
Heel-to-toe walking - Heel-to-toe walking can help improve balance and coordination. Place one foot in front of the other, so that the heel of the front foot touches the toes of the back foot. Walk in a straight line for 10-15 steps, then turn around and walk back.
Yoga - Yoga does not directly reduce the risk of falling but it can help improve balance, flexibility, and strength. Gentle yoga poses, such as tree pose or warrior pose, can be particularly helpful for improving balance.
Make use of Assistive Devices
Using assistive devices can prevent falls in seniors by providing added support, stability, and mobility. These devices can help compensate for physical changes or limitations that increase the risk of falls, such as muscle weakness, balance problems, or mobility impairments. Some examples of assistive devices that can be used by the elderly to prevent falls include:
Install grab bars and handrails: Grab bars and handrails help support seniors who have a hard time standing up and balancing themselves without any support. Installing grab bars and handrails in key areas such as the bathroom, stairways, and hallways can provide additional support, and stability for your client.
Use mobility aids: Mobility aids help your client to walk properly and effectively on their own. Providing your client with appropriate mobility aids such as a cane or walker can help improve balance and stability and reduce the risk of falls.
Vision Aids: Vision aids help people with vision impairments to see better. Aside from the usual glasses, and magnifying glasses, there are other vision aids that many people do not know about.
Hearing Aids: Hearing aids are one of the most common hearing devices used, they amplify sounds and can be customized to cater to and meet the specific needs of the client.
Modify the Environment
Modifying the environment according to the needs of your client is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of them falling. Always remove clutter that may cause tripping or falling, you can also exchange loose rugs for secured ones. Make sure that the floor is always dry and use non-slip mats in places like the bathroom, shower, and kitchen which are places that are prone to becoming wet. Adjusting the furniture and appliances to give easy access to seniors is also a good way to modify the environment and reduce tripping. Lastly, improve the lighting of rooms, many seniors have vision impairments and they may not see clutter and furniture properly if there is not enough light in the room.
if your patient has mobility issues, the environment should be modified in a way that will help them be able to walk and move around easily. If your client has visual impairments and struggles with seeing properly, the environment should be modified to help them see better, or help them make use of their other senses.
Wear Appropriate Footwear
Always make sure that the senior is wearing appropriate footwear depending on where they are standing and walking around. Slip-resistant shoes or slippers that have soles made of rubber or other materials that provide a good grip and reduce the risk of slipping on wet surfaces. They can also help seniors maintain their balance and stability while walking on slippery or uneven surfaces. Seniors should avoid wearing socks or walking barefoot in the bathroom, as these can increase the risk of slipping and falling. It's essential to choose shoes or slippers that fit well and provide good support to prevent other foot problems, such as blisters or plantar fasciitis.
Responding to Falls
When a fall occurs, it's important to respond quickly and appropriately in order to minimize the risk of further injury and promote recovery. Responding to falls involves taking immediate action to ensure the safety of the individual who has fallen, assessing the situation to determine if medical attention is needed, and taking steps to prevent future falls. A prompt and effective response can help older adults recover from falls and maintain their independence and mobility
Immediate Response
The first thing that you need to do is assess the situation. Do an ABC (airway, breathing, or circulation) check on the elderly. If you see any problem with one of them, call an emergency hotline immediately. You also need to check if the patient is conscious/responsive or not, if not then call an emergency hotline too. Do not move the elderly if they have signs of fractures, especially in the head or neck area, some injuries can get worse with movement.
If the elderly can get up on their own, show them encouragement and give them assistance when they need it. If they cannot get up on their own you may help them or ask help from someone who is physically stronger and can support the elderly.
Assessment of Injuries
Once the person is upright, check for injuries such as cuts, bruises, or broken bones. If there are any signs of a serious injury, such as a head injury or broken bone, call for medical assistance immediately. You may assess and observe the patient for 24 hours to see if they are showing signs of pain that may indicate underlying problems. Falling can be a traumatic experience, so as a caregiver, it's important to offer comfort and reassurance to the person who has fallen. Encourage them to take deep breaths and remain calm.
Reporting and Documentation
After the assessment of injuries, you need to ask them about the situation of the environment before they fell. You may ask them what we're doing and what they think caused the incident. Knowing the cause can help prevent it from happening again.
Conclusion
In summary, falls are a normal part of life but are a major concern for seniors because of their fatal effects. 36 million falls are reported among older adults each year resulting in more than 32,000 deaths. As a caregiver, it is one of your duty to safeguard your client’s safety and help them avoid fatal incidents like falling or tripping. Assessing your patient, implementing exercises and mobility programs, making use of assistive devices, modifying the environment, and wearing proper footwear are tips that can help avoid and prevent falls. It is also crucial to know how to respond to falls and what immediate actions to take. Make sure to do the ABC (airway, breathing, or circulation) check, and call an emergency hotline if the client is not responding. Make sure to identify what caused the fall to know how to avoid and prevent it the next time.
Free Training
What tip will you implement first thing for your client to avoid falls? If you liked this blog and found it helpful, we are pleased to inform you that Ca Care Association will have an online webinar training.
The training will be held on May 16, 2023, with a discussion about “Fall Prevention”. This training is 100% virtual and will be from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm PDT
EVERYONE is invited to join. And those who attend and complete the training will earn a free certificate that will be personally emailed to you! Don’t forget to take the quiz too after the training and test how much you have learned
Click here to register on our website
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