Try as I may, I have not been able to curb my 80 year old father-in-law’s daredevil behavior. Too many times, I go over to his house to find his step ladder strewn out under his gutters. I look over the bruises forming on his face and arm while he tells me that he fell off the ladder AGAIN. When it comes to elderly people falling, his behavior puts him on the riskier end of the spectrum. I know that he just wants to keep living an independent life. However, if he falls and breaks his hip, that independent life will vanish. He knows it, and so do I.
Whether you have an elderly daredevil in your life or are caring for a person who needs a bit of extra care, dive into the discourse below to absorb some of the best tips on how to prevent …show more content…
But as we get more mileage on our bodies, not so much. When the elderly take a spill, the results are often not good.
Broken bones, such as wrists, ankles or hips, are common.
Head injuries can result. Elderly persons who are taking medications such as blood thinners can incur serious internal injuries that are hard to spot at first.
Even without physical injury, a fall can start a harmful cycle by causing the older person to shy away from physical activity for fear of falling. This leads to decreased strength and balance which in turn leads to more falls. That downward spiral is the thing to beat.
The major causes of falls in the elderly
When I speak of elderly people in this article, I am referencing the range of advanced adults ranging from independent keen-agers to the elderly who may need assistance with daily living.
The major causes of falls in the elderly are:
Weakening bodies
Deficiency in vitamin D
Medicines such as tranquilizers, antidepressants and sedatives
Low blood pressure can cause dizziness or fainting
Vision problems such as glaucoma, cataracts or simple aging eyesight
Inner ear problems
Poor