Falls can be dangerous for seniors. While not every fall leads to injury, up to half of falls in older adults cause minor injury, and 20% result in serious problems like fractures or head injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly a million seniors require hospitalization every year for fall-related injuries. And unfortunately, falling just once can increase the risk of falling again by two-fold.
Jennilee Trinidad, MD, a geriatric medicine specialist at Atlantic Health, shares more about why seniors are likely to fall and ways they can prevent them.
Why are seniors more at risk for falls?
Older adults are at higher risk for falls because of factors like:
- Conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke and arthritis that affect the lower extremities.
- Hypotension (low blood pressure), which can lead to feeling dizzy and falling.
- Medications, including psychotropic drugs, sedatives and antihypertensives, that can affect balance and coordination.
- Physical limitations and natural aging processes, such as muscle and bone loss and slower reaction times.
- Worsening vision and poor hearing that can make it harder to spot hazards that can lead to falls.
In addition to these health-related factors, seniors may also face problems in their home environments that can increase their risk of falling:
- Bad lighting
- Loose carpet or rugs
- Obstacles like exposed electric cords, steps, clutter and low furniture
- Poorly fitting footwear
- Uneven or slippery floors
Older adults may also be more prone to falls in certain situations, like when they are distracted while multitasking or rushing to the bathroom.
“Most falls are caused by a combination of risk factors,” says Dr. Trinidad. “The more risk factors a person has, the greater their chances are of falling.”
Indoor falls tend to be more common than outdoor falls, with accidents happening in the home in places like bedrooms, on stairs or in the bathroom. While it’s important to mitigate falls indoors, outdoor falls can also happen. Dangers like uneven walking paths, tree roots or poor weather can create fall hazards.
“It's crucial for seniors to be aware of their fall risk and take proactive steps to prevent them,” says Dr. Trinidad. “Understanding these common risk factors and fall locations is crucial to mitigating fall risk.”
How to lower fall risk
Fortunately, some of these risk factors can be modified to help prevent falls in older adults:
- Ensure you have proper lighting and footwear.
- Exercise regularly to improve strength, balance and endurance. If you have a history of falls, physical therapy and consistent exercise can help lower your risk for future ones.
- Reduce hazards such as electric cords, loose rugs, slippery floors and clutter.
- Request a referral for an environmental assessment and help with modification, such as installing shower bars or no-slip flooring.
- Review your medications and medical conditions with your doctor.
- Speak with your physician about fall education.
- Use walking assist devices and safety devices such as grab handlebars in the bathroom.
What to do if you have fallen
If you’ve fallen, it’s important to notify your doctor, even if you don’t think you’re injured.
Seek emergency medical attention right away if you have signs of a serious injury, like:
- Confusion
- Difficulty moving
- Dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
- Severe pain
- Visible swelling or bruising
“If you’ve already fallen, avoid moving too quickly as this may worsen hidden injuries,” Dr. Trinidad says.
“But avoiding falls in the first place is a much better strategy. For older adults, it is always a good time to speak with your doctor about fall prevention.”
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