Doctor says a senior’s “biggest fear is falling”
March 9, 2011
Falls can be a serious risk to older adults, particularly if they are living home alone, and it seems that the awareness of this problem is spreading – Doctor William Sutton recently told NBC affiliate WECT that the biggest fear among seniors is falling.
“As we get older, the fear is that we can just about fall and not be able to regain our balance, but not just as quickly as we could when we were younger, when we were 10, 15 or even 20,” he added.
One of the biggest factors for an increased fall risk is leading a sedentary lifestyle. This can affect four key areas that are crucial to prevent falling – strength, balance, flexibility and endurance.
The news source reports that each week, more than 30,000 Americans over the age of 65 fall in their homes and up to 30 percent of these individuals suffer permanent injuries.
Experts suggest having a personal emergency response system installed in a home to ensure a senior’s safety in the case of a fall. Medical alert systems are wearable devices that can send an instant medical alert to doctors if one needs assistance.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that one in three Americans age 65 and over fall each year.
