Falls reduce the ability of our elderly population to remain independent in their home or to perform their activities of daily living independently. A fall threatens our seniors’ safety and independence and burdens us with enormous economic and personal costs. We can always prevent falls with adjustments in our lifestyle, regular exercise, physical activity and community education. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one-third of the Americans over the age of 65 has falls each year.1 Every eleven seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every nineteen minutes, an older adult dies from a fall.1 Falls result in more than 2.8 million injuries treated in emergency departments annually, including
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The more the risk factors a person has, the greater their chances of falling. Home or environmental risk factors play a role in about fifty percent of all falls. It is vital to understand these risk factors in order to reduce falls. With reduction in fall risk factors the amount of falls reduces significantly among people living independently in the community. Many older adults, as well as their family members and caregivers, are unaware of the factors or behaviors that put them at a risk of falling. They are also unaware of actions they can take to reduce their risk. Fall risk factor assessment is rarely a part of an older adult’s routine health care, even if they have had a fall or fall injury previously. It is important to encourage all older adults to screen for fall risk assessment through their health care providers, especially the ones with a the history of falls and/or with mobility or balance …show more content…
The authors of this study concluded that the fall management program resulted decline in fall frequency for the facility through a coordinated effort of all staff members to increasing residents’ activity levels, modifying living environments, increasing times of direct supervision, as well as improving the use of proper cueing and transfer techniques by the facility staff. Critical to this multidisciplinary approach, was the consistent focus on the monthly fall management meeting involving the facility team and the home health
The more the risk factors a person has, the greater their chances of falling. Home or environmental risk factors play a role in about fifty percent of all falls. It is vital to understand these risk factors in order to reduce falls. With reduction in fall risk factors the amount of falls reduces significantly among people living independently in the community. Many older adults, as well as their family members and caregivers, are unaware of the factors or behaviors that put them at a risk of falling. They are also unaware of actions they can take to reduce their risk. Fall risk factor assessment is rarely a part of an older adult’s routine health care, even if they have had a fall or fall injury previously. It is important to encourage all older adults to screen for fall risk assessment through their health care providers, especially the ones with a the history of falls and/or with mobility or balance …show more content…
The authors of this study concluded that the fall management program resulted decline in fall frequency for the facility through a coordinated effort of all staff members to increasing residents’ activity levels, modifying living environments, increasing times of direct supervision, as well as improving the use of proper cueing and transfer techniques by the facility staff. Critical to this multidisciplinary approach, was the consistent focus on the monthly fall management meeting involving the facility team and the home health