The Underlying Causes of Falls In Seniors And How To Prevent Them In Broward County

Falls are the primary cause of injuries, hospital admissions, and fatalities among the elderly population. Seniors are not only more prone to falling, but they are also more likely to sustain serious injuries from these falls. Understanding why older individuals are at an increased risk can help caregivers in Broward County take the necessary precautions to keep their loved ones safe.

Reasons Why Seniors Fall

Several factors contribute to falls in seniors. It’s common for seniors to have one or more of the following risk factors:

Physical Fitness Decline

The decline in physical fitness is one of the leading reasons why seniors fall. Lack of regular mild exercise results in reduced muscle mass and strength, decreased bone mass, poor balance and coordination, and reduced flexibility. This altogether increases a senior’s risk of falling but also increases the likelihood of serious injury and a longer, more difficult recovery.
Impaired Vision

As seniors age, eye diseases become an obvious thing due to which it becomes difficult to detect hazards such as puddles, steps, and thresholds. Failure to see obstacles can result in a tumble on the part of seniors.
Besides this, seniors’ reluctance to see a physician or wear eyeglasses can also make seniors fall to the ground.

Medication Side Effects

Plenty of medications also contribute to seniors’ falls. Some side effects of medications include dizziness, low blood pressure, or drowsiness which in turn can make senior falls. Consequently, keep this in mind while giving medications to seniors.

Chronic Diseases

Senior’s strength, balance, or cognitive function can also be affected by health conditions like Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, or Alzheimer’s disease. Bad physical condition increases the risk of falling and minimizes their ability to respond to hazards. Besides this, seniors can also lose their ability to sense environmental hazards.

Surgical Procedures

Procedures such as hip replacements and other surgeries can result in seniors experiencing weakness, pain, and reduced mobility compared to their pre-surgery state. These conditions could be temporary during the healing process or could become a persistent issue. Seniors need to undergo rehabilitation to expedite their recovery and regain their physical, cognitive, and functional capacities to the greatest extent possible.

Environmental Hazards

Environmental hazards are also responsible for making seniors fall. This including clutter, poor lighting, lack of safety equipment, and loose carpets can hamper the senior’s safety and is unsafe for the seniors.
Consequently, these environmental hazards can hamper the senior’s ability to age in place and can lead to accidents.

Behavioral Hazards

A person’s risk of falling can be influenced by their lifestyle and behaviors, including the activities they participate in, the physical demands of these activities, and their ability and willingness to adjust their routine for safety. For instance, doing laundry, a typical daily activity, can be strenuous for a senior, particularly if it involves carrying a heavy laundry basket around the house.

This can be risky in itself, but the risk increases if they also choose not to wear secure, non-slip footwear or try to navigate stairs with the basket. Senior does not fall from any one of the reasons stated above but when the factors combine, it can lead to severe injury. Even if a senior is not injured in the fall, still, the fall experience can leave seniors shaken. This in turn can lead to more decline in physical and mental health.