Falls for Seniors Can be Devastating, But Most are Preventable, Says Intermountain Health

As the weather cools in the fall and with winter right around the corner it’s a great time to think about a different kind of fall – actually preventing older adults from falling down and getting hurt- either in their home or unfamiliar and slippery outside locations. It’s also the leading cause of injury-related emergency department visits.

In fact, every 13 seconds, an older adult is seen in an emergency department for a falls-related injury.

One out of five falls also causes a serious injury such as broken bones or head injury and falls can lead to depression, loss of mobility and loss of functional independence.

According to the National Council on Aging, one-in-four Americans over the age of 65 falls each year and every 20 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall.

“Accidental falls, particularly amongst our older populations, contribute to the majority of injuries we see in the Emergency Department,” said Brady B. Cox, MD, trauma medical director at Intermountain Spanish Fork Hospital. “These falls can result in significant long-term morbidity and even mortality.”

In Utah, falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injury-related hospital admissions among those age 65+.

Also, more than half of Utahns aged 65+ who were hospitalized due to a fall were discharged to residential care or a rehabilitation facility.

Sixty percent of hip fractures are also unable to walk again without assistance.

“In addition to the care they receive in the Emergency Department and hospital, we are able to provide patients with multiple resources,” adds Dr. Cox. “This might include setting up in home Physical and Occupational Therapy evaluations or Stepping On falls prevention classes to help them learn how to stay accident free and safe in their homes.”

Dr. Cox says that many falls among older adults can be prevented with some planning and safety in mind.

Here are some tips from Intermountain Health to help keep senior adults on their feet and moving forward safely:

• Exercise regularly. Get up and move! Do exercises that improve your balance and make your legs stronger. Building muscles and keeping ligaments lean and strong helps you walk more confidently.
• Keep your home safe. Remove tripping hazards, such as rugs and toys, increase lighting in low-light areas, make stairs safe by installing handrails and non-slip surfaces and removing obstacles, and install grab bars in areas of uneven flooring and the bathroom. And be careful around small pets, one of the most common trip hazards for senior adults.
• Talk to your family members or others close to you. Ask them to help you take simple steps to stay safe. An unsafe home increases the risk for falling for everyone, from the very young to the very old.
• Ask your doctor to assess your risk for falling. And make sure to share your history of any recent falls
• Regularly review your medications with your doctor and/or pharmacist. This includes medications prescribed by all of your healthcare providers and any over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, supplements, or herbs you are using. Some combinations may cause side effects that increase dizziness or your risk of falling. Take your medications only as prescribed.
• Take extra precautions in unfamiliar environments. When visiting family members make sure their homes are also safe, by removing tripping hazards and adding increased lighting.
• Get your vision and hearing checked every year and update your eyeglasses. Your eyes and ears are key to keeping you on your feet.
• It’s safest to have uniform lighting in a room. Add lighting to dark areas. Hang lightweight curtains or shades to reduce glare.
• Paint a contrasting color on the top edge of all steps so you can see the stairs better. For example, use a light color paint on dark wood.
• Get up slowly after you sit or lie down. Wear shoes both inside and outside the house. Avoid going barefoot or just wearing socks or slippers.
• Take a Stepping On prevention course. You can sign up at https://healthyaging.utah.gov/livingwell. Many of the programs are free, or included with your health plan, like Select Health Medicare Advantage.
• Watch an Intermountain Health Falls Prevention 101 video: https://patient.health-ce.wolterskluwer.com/imhfallpreventionpted/login. They are also offered in Spanish: https://patient.health-ce.wolterskluwer.com/imhfallpreventionpted?&siteLanguage=es

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For more information or updates, see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.