Preventing falls in older adults
FROM THE PARISH HEALTH TEAMThe fall season is an ideal time to work on preventing falls in the elderly. People on Medicare qualify for an annual wellness visit, which includes a review of medications. So at your next visit, why not focus on those medications that have side effects of increased falls risk?
More than 41,000 older adults died from falls in 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported. Even worse, the rate of death from falls in people over 85 tripled from 1990 to 2023, so falls are more fatal now than previously. And those over 85 are also taking a larger number of prescriptions. These two factors are linked, but one may not cause the other.
Many factors contribute to falls, including physical impairments, deteriorating eyesight, alcohol use, and tripping hazards in homes. Your prescriber can test and rate your leg strength and balance and prescribe physical therapy.
Healthy older adults should be able to walk continuously for at least 10 minutes, and walk a total of 7,000 to 10,000 steps (roughly 3 to 4 miles) per day, according to a 2011 study.
You can take control of your own home hazards using this resource from the National Council on Aging, which also has many other resources for preventing falls.
—Ruth Fugee, RN, MSN, ruth.fugee@gmail.com