Children are falling all the time. For them, falling is almost a regular affair to the extent that they are covered in bruises and bumps throughout the year! While children benefit from a quicker recovery rate, falls for seniors can come around with more fatal consequences.
As per the latest studies, one-third of the people aged 65 years or older suffer fall-related injuries like brain damage and fracture, among others.
Falling is directly related to the ageing process and there is indeed some truth in it. Your loving elderly is at constant risk of falling due to several reasons and once he/she falls, it is likely to happen again.
That is why, families having seniors are recommended hiring a caregiver who specializes in providing domiciliary care. Such a professional is not only competent in managing the household activities but can look after your ailing senior with dedication, keeping tabs on their activities and movements.
Lack of awareness and unpreparedness are the leading reasons why seniors are more vulnerable to falls. But don’t worry! In this blog, we’ll highlight the major causes of falls so that you can take the necessary preventive steps.
Causes Behind Why Senior Falls More
Foot-related problems: Isn’t it obvious that foot problems will inevitably lead to falls? For a senior falling repeatedly, flat or sore feet are often to be blamed.
In fact researchers claim that severe foot pain and incorrect foot posture cause a senior to fall more than the young. Hence, treating such foot problems at the earliest is the only way to prevent fall injuries.
Problem with the eyesight: Vision problems are associated with old age. They either see objects too far or too nearer than actually they are and that is when your elderly trips and fall.
Common age-related vision problems include presbyopia (difficulty in seeing close-range objects or small prints), dry eyes, tearing, cataracts, retinal disorders and so on. The good news is that most of these vision problems are treatable by wearing the correct glasses, applying eye drops or operation.
So, schedule appointment with an ophthalmologist/ eye doctor and take your senior for the required treatment.
Side effects of medicines: Medicines for certain illnesses also increase the chance of falls among the aged. For example: some of the medicines treating depression are directly linked to falls among seniors.
Another one is the sleeping pills and sedatives; if your senior is prescribed to take these due to poor sleep patterns, he/she is more prone to falls when getting out of the bed at night/morning.
These medicines cause a problem with balance, memory and understanding of the situation. Hence, if your senior is taking such medicines, it is advisable to engage a day and night caregiver from one of the leading care agencies. Having the expertise in taking care of all the needs of your dear elderly, the professional carer can provide high-quality care round the clock.
Conclusion: It is unfortunate that seniors are at a higher risk of suffering fall-related injuries. However, all hopes are not lost; taking the right measures like getting your senior’s eyesight checked, providing proper nutrition and making your home fall-proof can reduce the number of emergency trips to the hospital due to falls.
