Falls can be prevented with the right gift

According to the New York Times, “Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults. Every 19 minutes in this country, an older person dies from a fall”.

To be sure, nearly everyone falls now and then, and some falls are unavoidable. But falling is not an inevitable consequence of ageing. Most age-related falls are preventable once you know why they happen and take steps to minimize the risk for yourself, relatives and friends whose age or health status renders them especially vulnerable.

Our love and protection is the greatest gift we can give those we care about. So, for the next birthday of a senior you love, here are some ideas from the Fall Prevention Community of Practice that may help prevent falls.

For Older Adults, here are some select gifts which help prevent unintentional falls

·      offer to do household chores that require lifting, reaching or using a ladder

·      offer to do or have someone else do a home safety assessment

·      offer to accompany the person for a medication assessment with a pharmacist or physician

·      offer to create a list of emergency phone numbers in large print and have it laminated – include grocery stores/restaurants/pharmacies that deliver

·      nightlights

·      cordless telephones

·      personal emergency/protection alarm

·      grip bars for the bathtub and toilet

·      small clothes baskets or carriers which avoid awkwardness and imbalance

·      non-alcoholic beverages for holiday celebrations

·      specialty safety items from your pharmacy or therapy retailer (such as a hand gripper for reaching high places)

·      a pill dispenser from your pharmacy and a free medication record book from the Public Health Unit to promote the safe use of medications

·      firm slippers with a non-slip sole

·      boots with a good grip on the soles

·      gift certificates for sturdy walking shoes and snowshoes

·      warm and comfortable outer clothing

·      housecoats short enough to prevent tripping

·      hip protectors

·      portable power switches for turning on lights or electronic items from 30 feet away

·      nutrition supplements (meal replacements)

For the Home, here are some select GIFTS which protect everyone in the home

·      smoke detectors or batteries for the smoke detector

·      carbon monoxide monitors

·      fire extinguishers (talk to your insurance agent)

·      safe and sturdy step stools or ladders

·      repair of any wobbly furniture

·      bathmats or adhesives to avoid slipping in the tub

·      floor mats with safe backing for outside the tub to absorb moisture and prevent falling

·      bright light bulbs

·      replacement of any electrical appliances that need a new cord or plug

·      welcome mats and large indoor mats or trays to absorb moisture from wet boots

·      large print clocks and watches

·      cosmetic bags with attachable handles to attach to walkers and wheelchairs to carry personal items

Finally here are some gift ideas that can also help to prevent injuries for caregivers

·      Temporary poles/grab bars to assist the client in and out of bed and on and off the toilet

·      Offer to give the caregiver time off by caring for the loved one

·      Take food, gifts, items that are enjoyable for the caregiver

·      Tell the caregiver (often) how much their care is appreciated!

·      Connect the caregivers to websites where others are having similar experiences

·    ElderCaring.ca(Canadian)

·    AgingCare.com (American)

Falls

I write about falls and seniors, and I give workshops on how to prevent falls for my age group. So, I should have known better and paid more attention before I fell. We were at my grandaughters second birthday party and we were inside the house, talking and watching the children play when Annie said she was going to the store to get some needed stuff. She asked me to move my car, I said, "Why don't I just go to the store?" She said no it would be more fun if I stayed and watched the children. As we do not get to see them that often, I agreed and then went out to move my car.

The entrance to her house is up a flight of about 8 stairs. It was not raining, I had not had a drink and it was midday, so what could go wrong?  As I started down the stairs, Scott (Annies brother) was about 12 feet away from the bottom of the stairs, waiting at the car, for his sister to come out. Andy (Annie's husband) was to the left of the stairs, walking to the backyard. I took one step, failing to use the handrail and Scott said something and I partially turned and looked over at him and started to respond. As I took the second step, I missed the stair.

I realized that I was going to fall, so I reached out with my left arm to grab the railing, this was a mistake as I now swung back up the stairs. When I was younger I was a runner and a football player and from time to time I would "get in the zone". Athletes know this zone; it is a time when everything is in slow motion and they can see, and predict what will happen next. Some of my friends who have experienced falls also told me that yes, everything seemed to slow down for them as well.  I was in the zone as I started to fall. and everything happened in slow-motion and I was watching it seemed from a distance. This is what I saw.

As I swung back up the stairs, my elbow hit the railing and I bounced across the stairs against the house and after hitting the house, I bounced back and slammed my back into the railing. I was now two steps down with 6 more to go. As my back hit the railing I looked over and saw Scott, who looked absolutely panicked--the kind of look where you see a disaster happening and you are powerless to stop it from happening. 

I then looked down and realized that I was starting to fly forward. I realized that I would miss the rest of the stairs. I also realized that I would ram my head into a concrete wall with full force before landing face first in a bed of rocks and gravel. 

Some people claim that your life flashes before your eyes at moments like this; not true for me. My first thought was I am going to ruin the party because I will probably break my neck or at least sustain some sort of major head injury and they will have to phone 911. My second thought was to get your arms out in front of you, they were currently flapping like wings, which was not helpful.

As I moved forward I raised my arms to protect my head and I decided to turn my head to one side so that the upcoming injuries would only impact my right side. The next thing that happened was Andy, who had moved from going to the backyard, was between me and the cement barrier and I was in his arms. He looked very surprised as I did. Andy is a sheet metal fabricator. He was able to catch me and stop my fall without falling down himself.

I looked at Andy and said, "thank you", he said, "no problem". Scott came over and asked how I was and how my back was as he had seen me slamming into the railing as I fell. By then the adrenaline was pumping and I said I was fine. Andy put me down, and I went and moved my car. 

Scott went in and told everyone what had happened and how Andy had saved the day. When I came back in, Annie was asking Scott why he had done nothing. I said Scott was too far away, but he had his phone out and was ready to call 911. 

I did say that I thought Andy was a hero as he had only seen me start to fall out of the corner of his eye and he had moved quickly to a spot he could catch me. The next day, my back and arms were sore, but I was thankful that I had not been hurt.

My lesson, always use a hand railing and pay close attention when walking up or downstairs. The other good news is that I now have a new story for my workshop on falls.

Fall prevention is up to you

Did you know that falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults and the most common reason for hospitalization of older adults in Canada? More than 95 percent of hip fractures are caused by falling. 

The good news is that falls can be prevented. Be proactive by doing strength and balance exercises to improve strength, mobility and endurance. Evaluate risks around the home to help identify ways to make it safer (for example; grab bars, or a chair on a rail to go up and down stairs).

It turns out that exercise – alone or in combination with other strategies – can help reduce the chance that older adults living in the community will fall.

For older adults, the risk of falling is very real. In 2010 it was reported that a staggering 256,011 people reported a fall-related injury.

There are several causes that may contribute to the risk of falling in older adults including chronic conditions, balance problems, poor vision, cognitive impairment, side effects from medications, improper footwear, and previous falls. Even walking can be risky, with many fall-related injuries occurring when older adults engage in this activity.  The fear of falling in older adults is no laughing matter.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to keep your feet safely on the ground. Exercise, for example, is well known to prevent falls in long-term care homes. But what can exercise do for the 92% of older adults in Canada living independently in the community?

One review found that exercise alone, carried out 3 times per week for about 12 months, may lower the risk of falls generally, and specifically falls that lead to injuries. Most studies evaluated strategies focused on improving walking speed, balance, and muscle strength. 

Beneficial exercises included tai chi, resistance training, and exercises aimed at improving flexibility. While the exercise was sometimes associated with minor pain, bruising, or fall-related injuries/fractures, it did not increase the risk of serious injuries.

Another recent meta-analysis showed that exercise alone or combined with other strategies prevented falls, and particularly falls leading to injuries. Strategies such as orthotics, hip protectors, patient quality improvement initiatives (i.e. self-management, education), and environmental assessment and modification activities, when combined with exercise, were all found to reduce the risk of experiencing a fall. 

The risk of more serious falls leading to injury was reduced when exercise was combined with vision tests and treatment. If at the same time efforts to eliminate risk factors from one’s environment were added then the risk of falling fell dramatically. 

The results of the review also indicated that exercise combined with certain strategies could lead to an increased risk of falling, as well as increased risk of an injury as a result of a fall caused by increased mobility. So there is a caveat here any risk should be balanced with the need to improve mobility.

For older adults still living at home, falling should not be considered inevitable. There are many things that can be done to keep your feet firmly planted on the ground. Exercise may be an excellent option, but you should speak with your health care provider, and consider your own values and preferences when deciding which strategy is best for you.