Over a third of seniors fall each year
November 4, 2010
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society has discovered that up to 40 percent of seniors fall each year and these incidents can lead to serious injuries and health conditions.
Michael A Bearce, the executive director of the Falls Prevention Clinics of America in Naperville, discussed with TribLocal.com some of the top causes of these falls and ways to prevent them.
First, he recommends that seniors check each of their prescriptions to ensure that the medications aren’t causing dizziness, which is often a factor in these incidents. Dizziness can also be caused by a problem with the inner ear.
Poor vision plays another significant part in fall risk. Seniors should be sure to have their eyes evaluated and make sure that their contact lenses or glasses are adequate.
He also suggests that about 50 percent of falls happen in the home and any possible obstacles should be removed from a room.
Seniors can be most vulnerable when they fall alone in a residence. Many may want to consider installing a personal emergency response system, which can allow them to easily send a medical alert to neighbors or friends in the case of an injury.
