Why elderly people fall

Key Takeaways With one in four older adults being affected, falls can result in hip fractures, broken bones, and even head injuries. Here are some common factors that can lead to a fall: Balance and gait: As we age, most of us lose some coordination, flexibility, and balance— primarily through inactivity, making it easier to fall. Vision: In the aging eye, less light reaches the retina—making contrasting edges, tripping hazards, and obstacles harder to see.

Medications: Some prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can cause dizziness, dehydration, or interactions with each other that can lead to a fall. Environment: Most seniors have lived in their homes for a long time and have never thought about simple modifications that might keep it safer as they age. Often, these increase the risk of falling because they result in lost function, inactivity, depression, pain, or multiple medications.

Enlist their support in taking simple steps to stay safe. Discuss their current health conditions. Ask about their last eye checkup. Talk about their medications. Do a walk-through safety assessment of their home. Here are some examples: Lighting: Increase lighting throughout the house, especially at the top and bottom of stairs. Ensure that lighting is readily available when getting up in the middle of the night. Stairs: Make sure there are two secure rails on all stairs.

For even greater safety, consider using a shower chair and hand-held shower. Was this helpful? Yes No. See if you're at risk for falling. Explore More.

Related Articles. Let's keep in touch. Why do seniors fall so often? There are many reasons why seniors are at increased risk of falling, including: Poor eyesight.

Age-related vision diseases—as well as not wearing glasses—can prevent seniors from seeing objects in their way. Assistive devices. Although canes and walkers are intended to help keep seniors safe, if they are used improperly, they can do more harm than good. Taking sedatives, anti-depressants, or blood pressure medications—plus taking multiple medications—are some of the causes that increase the risk of falling. Many seniors have trouble sleeping soundly and can trip because they are tired during the day.

Lack of physical activity. Failure to exercise regularly results in poor muscle tone, decreased bone mass, loss of balance, and reduced flexibility. Parkinson's disease , Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, and arthritis, among others, can cause weakness in the extremities, poor grip strength, balance disorders, and cognitive impairment.

In fact, falls are the number one cause of injury and injury-related deaths in people over the age of The causes were determined by questioning the seniors themselves, or from laboratory reenactments of slipping, using much younger subjects. Many of these misjudgments or over-corrections occurred while transferring from a walker to a chair, or vice versa.

While forward walking was one of the activities most commonly preceding a fall, so was sitting down and standing quietly. Having precise information about which circumstances and actions lead to falls can help caregivers learn how to prevent them, according to Robinovitch.

For example, the video can be used to show health-care providers, like physiotherapists and occupational therapists, scenarios that cause problems for older adults with balance or mobility issues, helping to answer the question, "Why is my patient falling? Other research has also called for a redesign of conventional walkers, along with better education on how to use them safely.

A review of admissions to emergency departments revealed that more than 47, older people are treated each year in the U. Stephen Robinovitch suggests his data could also be used to update building codes in future long-term care facilities, to include things like softer flooring materials. His team is investigating whether using a thick sublayer under hospital-grade vinyl works to protect residents from more serious injuries when falls do happen.

Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Video capture of the circumstances of falls in elderly people residing in long-term care: an observational study.

The Lancet. Epidemiology and outcomes of osteoporotic fractures. Unintentional fall injuries associated with walkers and canes in older adults treated in U. J Am Geriatr Soc. Your Privacy Rights.