Assisted Living Facilities: Dangers of Falling

A fall is dangerous as it can lead to physical immobility or, in the worst cases, death. The risk is greater with people who are aged 65 years or older, but assisted living facilities have the staff available to help prevent serious falls.

This article will discuss the specifics on dangers related to falling and the statistics for them. It will also examine the role that assisted living facilities play in creating an environment for the elderly where accidents and injuries resulting from falls are greatly minimized, if not eliminated entirely.

The Perils of a Fall

A bad fall can leave someone with broken bones and cause fractures that may not be able to heal completely. When this happens, there is a greater risk for physical immobility.

Statistically speaking, about one out of three senior citizens fall every year. Two-thirds of those who fall, will fall again within six months. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for last year indicate that 2.8 million seniors are being treated in emergency rooms in the United States due to fall-related injuries.

Statistics have also found that men are more likely to die from a fall than women. But women are more likely to be injured from it. Hip fracture rates for women are more than twice what they are for men.

Seniors at Greater Risk

It is riskier for seniors to have a fall because of diminished bone density. The bones are more fragile at this stage in life, making them much more susceptible to breakage.

In medical terms, the conditions related to diminished bone density can be osteoporosis or osteoarthritis.

Osteoporosis is a condition that can cause bones to become fragile, making them prone to fracture. On the other hand, osteoarthritis is defined as a disease that causes damage to the joints.

Apart from fragile bones, there are other consequences to aging that increase the possibility of a fall. Gait and balance are not as they once were in people over 65. Sensory perception won’t be as sharp either. Some forms of medication can be contributory to this.

Fall Prevention

There are a number of ways to mitigate the risk for an elderly member of the family from suffering an injury due to a fall. Some specific tips are listed below.

Exercise regularly. This increases leg strength as well as improves balance and increases flexibility.
Review medications with a doctor in order to reduce or eliminate those that cause drowsiness or dizziness.
Get an annual eye check-up.
Get daily-recommended levels of calcium and vitamin D.
Avoid getting up too fast when lying down or sitting.
Buy an alarm that can be activated in case of a fall.

Those aged 75 and older have a greater probability of falling over constantly. In this regard, they will greatly benefit from becoming admitted into assisted living facilities.

Assisted living facilities are equipped with facilities that allow seniors with limited mobility to live as much of an independent life as possible. Facilities like Fallbrook Assisted Living are staffed by a range of professionals. Some assisted living facilities do have doctors and geriatric nurses on-hand to provide support and care that can help prevent falls or deal with them in a way that minimize painful injury.

It’s important to research and call direct to ensure the facility you’re considering has everything you need. Contact Fallbrook Assisted Living today for more information.

Fallbrook Assisted Living is proud to offer its services to Fremont, NE and surrounding areas and cities: Arlington, Cedar Bluffs, Ames Nickerson, Fontanelle, Arlington, Leshara, Colon, and Hooper