Senior Safety - 5 Key Signs Your Elderly Parent Has a Significant Risk of Falling - What You Can Do

More than one-third of people in the United States over the age of 65 fall each year, according to the CDC, and falls are now the leading cause of injury deaths in this population. The most common cause of falling is lower extremity weakness, which makes activity difficult and, unfortunately, can create a downward spiral of decreased activity leading to even further weakness and greater fall risk. Other intrinsic factors leading to increased fall risk include decreased balance, dizziness, dementia, impaired vision, as well as many disease processes. Extrinsic or environmental factors which increase fall risk include medication side-effects, tripping hazards such as slippery floors, clutter in a walkway, loose stairway handrails, thick or loose carpet, or poor lighting. The greater the number of risk factors, the higher the likelihood of falls.

Education is the key to reducing this risk and keeping your senior loved ones safer at home. How can you tell if someone has a significant risk of falling? The following 5 indicators can give you a heads-up that your senior loved one is at increased risk:

1. A history of falling at least once during the previous 6 months is the greatest fall risk factor. Besides the underlying cause of the fall, once someone falls they often develop a fear of falling again, and severely curtail their physical activities. This leads to increased weakness, which increases fall risk. Unexplained bruises may indicate undisclosed falls.

2. Lack of physical activity, which leads to osteoporosis, weakness, and decreased balance. Lower extremity weakness can be observable by difficulty getting in and out of chairs and often "plopping" down to sit. Decreased balance can be spotted by tendency to hold onto furniture when walking. Osteoporosis can actually cause bones to fracture, leading to falls, as well as falls causing increased fractures of brittle bones.

3. Impaired vision. This can impact depth perception, night vision and general visual clarity.

4. Use of multiple medications. Many medications impact balance, mental clarity, and vision. Some over-the-counter medications may produce adverse effects when combined with prescription medications. Keeping track of multiple medications is difficult and frequently leads to mistakes in dosage or frequency.

5. Use of alcohol, especially in combination with medications.

Many falls can be prevented by:

• Performing a regular, age-appropriate exercise program for strengthening and balance ,
• Reviewing all prescription and over-the-counter medications with your doctor or pharmacist,
• Having yearly vision checks,
• Avoiding alcohol,
• And modifying the home environment to lessen tripping hazards.

Before beginning an exercise program, check with your doctor for clearance. A physical therapist can give input to determine fall risk and initiate an exercise program. A sudden tendency to trip or lose ones balance could signal a serious underlying pathology and warrants immediate attention by a physician.