According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the number one cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries among many American senior citizens. Fall accidents are common, but people can minimize the chances of such accidents by taking certain preventive measures to protect the elderly.
Not every accident can be avoided, but not being careful will further endanger senior citizens. Among the things that cause elderlies to fall are the decline in their physical health, impaired vision, medications, chronic diseases, surgical procedures, the environment, and their behaviors.
As people age, they become less active over time, resulting in decreased muscle strength, reduced bone quality, loss of balance, and decreased flexibility. The lack of balance makes increases a person’s chances of falling when they are in elevated areas.
Poor vision resulting from age-related eye diseases makes it challenging to see steps and thresholds, making it easier for seniors to fall.
The medication that seniors take tends to have different side effects, including drowsiness, dizziness, and low blood pressure. These side effects are present in sedatives, anti-depressants, opioids, antipsychotics, and several cardiovascular drugs. Seniors can end up falling when they feel the side effects.
Seniors also tend to suffer from chronic diseases that result in having poor physical health. Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and arthritis are some of these diseases.
Senior citizens are prone to fall accidents, and they, their loved ones, and the caregivers must make sure that they’re knowledgeable on the causes mentioned above to lower the chances of accidents. For more information, see this infographic by Euro-American Connections & Homecare.
