According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 37 million falls occur each year in the United States among adults age 65 and older, sending almost a million of them to the hospital. Older adults are hospitalized for falls five times more often than for any other type of injury.
There are many things that can cause a fall. A person's eyesight, hearing and reflexes may not be as sharp as they used to be. Certain medical conditions like heart disease and nerve damage can affect a person's balance. Loss of muscle mass, sudden drops in blood pressure, and even some medications can result in falls.
So what can you do? While many of these factors can't be avoided, you can do plenty to reduce your risk of falling and injuring yourself.
The CDC offers the following tips to help prevent falls:
Stay Active
Make Your Home Safer
Speak Up
The STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries) Home Tour
The National Council on Aging wants you to understand that falls are not a natural part of aging. They have created a Falls Free Checkup with 13 simple questions that can help you assess your risk. Please take a moment to answer their questions, and discuss the results with your healthcare provider.
If you feel you or a loved one are at risk for falling, consider getting a medical alert system.