Falls are the leading cause of accidents in the elderly, as around 30% of people over the age of 65 fall at least once a year, and the chances increase even more after age 70 and with age.
The occurrence of a fall can only be an accident, however, it can also indicate problems related to the health of the elderly, in addition to causing very negative consequences, such as a decrease in function, the need for hospitalization or institutionalization, which consists of living in nursing homes.
- In addition.
- If the elderly has already had previous falls.
- The risk of new falls is higher.
- So it is very important that prevention begins before such accidents occur.
- Adopting a healthy lifestyle.
- With practice of physical activities to maintain muscle.
- Massive and bone calcium.
- Balanced nutrition and chronic disease control with medical follow-up.
The main risk factors for falls in the elderly include
Lack of physical activity causes a loss of muscle strength, balance and flexibility of the joints, which aggravates the physical performance measured by the speed of walking or the agility to sit and stand, and leaves older people more fragile and at greater risk of falls.
Sedentary lifestyle is very common in older people, since in older people exercise is not encouraged, which is a mistake, because the less the body moves, the more physical conditions and abilities decrease, the good news is that in many cases this loss can recover, in whole or in part, although it is not easy. Learn how to prevent muscle loss in the elderly and how you can recover.
Cognitive decline is often caused by diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s dementia, for example, this situation carries a risk of falls because it leads to an alteration of posture, perception of the body, reaction of the limbs during movement, in addition to leading to a decrease in muscle strength, a reduction of balance.
In addition, in cases of advanced dementia, older adults often experience episodes of agitation and reduced mental states.
The use of many medications, especially at age 5 or older, is a situation known as polypharmacy, and if not properly monitored, it can cause side effects or combinations of pharmacological effects, so the consequences may be the existence of symptoms such as dizziness, drowsiness and pressure drop, which can cause falls.
Some of the drugs most related to these effects are antihypertensives, diuretics, sedatives or sleeping sedatives, some antidepressants, antipsychotics and opioids, for example.
One of the main risk factors for falls is an environment without adequate adaptation to the mobility of the elderly, with slippery surfaces, low lighting, absence of support handrails and many carpets or steps. Observing this situation is very important, as it is much more common for the fall to occur at home than in the outdoor environment.
Wearing inappropriate footwear, such as flip flops, such as Hawaiian shoes or slippery shoes, is also a cause of falls and should be avoided.
Balance can get worse in many situations, mainly from orthopedic or dizziness diseases, such as labyrinthitis, orthostatic hypotension, cardiovascular, neurological or psychiatric diseases, endocrine disorders, as well as medication use.
In addition, changes in environmental perception caused by visual difficulties, such as presbicia, cataracts or glaucoma, or hearing impairments, are important causes of loss of balance, a perception that may also be altered by a loss of skin sensitivity, for example by diabetes. .
The presence of both chronic diseases, citing arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, depression or insomnia, as well as acute diseases, such as infections, cardiac arrhythmias, stroke or even after surgery, for example, are more easily associated with falls in the elderly, both for reduced mobility and for greater fragility and dependence.
The higher the number of diseases, or the more serious they are, the greater the limitation of daily activities, so it is important that each disease is properly detected and treated, based on regular medical follow-up.
Incontinence, both urinary and fecal, makes older adults feel the need to go to the bathroom quickly, leading to the risk of falls. It is common for an older person with incontinence to experience falls at night, as they may try to move when it is still dark or because they get dizzy when they get up.
Inadequate diet leads to an increased risk of disease, as well as promoting muscle loss, fragility and impaired physical performance. Older people with diseases that make it difficult for them to swallow food, especially if they use catheters, or who have difficulty moving and preparing food are at increased risk, and caregivers should pay special attention to providing food in adequate quantity and quality.
Falls can have serious physical and psychological consequences for older people, and bone fractures, especially ankle, knee, femur, hip and forearm, in addition to joint and head injuries, can be very limiting and are responsible for the need. cause high dependence and a reduction in quality of life.
As a result, older adults may become more limited, with impaired activity levels and functionality, the need for more frequent hospital admissions and, in some cases, the need for daily care by a caregiver or institutionalization.
Psychological consequences include shame, loss of self-confidence, anxiety and depression. Another serious consequence is post-relapse syndrome, a situation in which the older person is afraid to go back and lose the security of moving, which makes them want to move less. and avoid walking, resulting in serious effects related to physical inactivity, including fragility, muscle atrophy and increased reliance on daily activities.
About 70% of the falls occur inside the house, in its various environments, such as the bathroom, kitchen, living room, stairs and garden, so it is very important that all the space through which older people walk is suitable for their mobility and avoid accidents. Therefore, it is very important to follow certain guidelines, such as:
If older people need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, it is recommended that they be as close as possible, easily accessible and that the environment can be easily illuminated, otherwise it is better to consider the need for diapers or a pot at night, avoiding a fall when trying to go to the bathroom. Get more tips for preventing falls in the elderly.