Blogs > What Are The Common Causes Of Falls In The Elderly, And How To Prevent Falls?

What Are The Common Causes Of Falls In The Elderly, And How To Prevent Falls?

October 19, 2024
Common Causes Of Falls In The Elderly

As our age progresses, physical mobility and complete independence becomes a tad bit difficult. While most elderly adults wish to retain their autonomy and enjoy engaging in physical exertion; injuries and falls are not out of the equation. Deteriorating age, weakness in the body, weakened eyesight, and sometimes changes in mental status, are some of the major reasons for falls and injuries. Thus, it is essential for caregivers to not just take care of the elderly and assist them with their daily tasks, but also actively follow home safety tips to fall-proof homes for seniors.   

Home safety tips and tricks are important not only to the elderly but also to their families. Home safety tips and tricks ensure that elderly people are safe and sound, ensuring their family members and carers are stress-free. If you want to know some of the reasons behind falls and injuries and how to avoid them, then keep reading. These are some of the common causes of falls which can be easily avoided. Lastly, one needs to learn how to care for the elderly while preventing falls. The causes of injuries in older adults given below will give us a broad range of information that would prevent such injuries and create a safer environment at home.  

Let us read further to know the common causes of falls in elderly individuals and how to avoid them.   

Common Reasons Behind Falls and How to Prevent Them   

The reasons behind falls and injuries are often not grievous. Most injuries happen within the comfort of the home and can severely impact the quality of life of older adults. Thus, it is essential for us to know what situations may cause injuries and how to avoid them. Here are some reasons behind falls and how to prevent them from happening to your senior loved ones:  

Poor Sight & Vision Complications 

Causes: Poor sight can be due to cataracts, glaucoma, and many other causes that make elderly people unable to discern their environment. These conditions often lead to falls and injuries. 

Prevention: Proper eyeglasses with regular eye check-ups prevent falls. In addition, proper lighting throughout the house is a must. 

Weak Muscles & Loss of Coordination 

Causes: Older adults tend to have feeble muscles and less balance and coordination, which leads to unnecessary falls. Furthermore, geriatric patients suffer from joint pains that sometimes result in falls and injuries. 

Prevention: Regular exercises, such as tai chi, yoga, or strength training, are beneficial. These work in strengthening muscles, balance, and flexibility. 

Poor Nutrition 

Causes: Lacking a well-balanced diet causes injuries very easily due to weakness. Furthermore, dehydration is another cause of falls. Poor nutrition, as a rule, always results in dizziness and weakness.  

Prevention: The elderly should be watched over their diet and given proper food for holistic well-being. Moreover, they should be well-hydrated. 

Dizziness or Vertigo  

Causes: Conditions such as Vestibular Disorders, or poor blood circulation can cause dizziness or spinning sensations that can cause falls in elderly adults.  

Prevention: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is prevented through the treatment of the underlying conditions and by avoidance of jerking head movements. Moreover, regular physical therapy can improve balance.  

Environmental Hazards  

Causes: Having a cluttered living space with loose rugs, slippery floors, and poor lighting can lead to extreme fall hazards. Since older adults suffer from balance related issues, it would be best to have a secure living space.  

Prevention: The first step to preventing falls and injuries is by keeping the living areas neat, installing railings throughout the house, and even positioning anti-slip mats and rugs in areas like the washroom. Moreover, ensuring good lighting leads to lesser chances of fall.  

Low Blood Pressure (Postural Hypotension)  

Causes: When blood pressure drops suddenly, it causes dizziness and discomfort. This can lead to falls.  

 Prevention: Elderly individuals must avoid sudden movements, stay hydrated, and move slowly only if absolutely necessary. Furthermore, it is essential to consult a doctor if the situation persists.  

Chronic Conditions Like Arthritis, Parkinson’s Disease, Diabetes  

Causes: There is a high probability that chronic conditions impact mobility, sensation, or coordination, thereby increasing the risk of falling.  

Prevention: The management of these diseases, followed by proper exercises, and assistive devices such as a cane or walker can significantly lower the risk of fall and injuries.  

Medications  

Causes: Some medications like sedatives and blood pressure medicines may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or drops in blood pressure. These factors increase the risk of falls.  

Prevention: All potential side-effects of any medication should be discussed in detail with the primary healthcare provider. Moreover, no labor-intensive task should be undertaken after the consumption of medication.  

Fall Prevention Tips  

While these were some of the common causes of falls and injuries, there are many other aspects that can give way to falls. Thus, it is essential not to just fall-proof the home, but also make sure that the elderly individual is monitored closely. Regular wellness and medical check-ups, home safety evaluations, and use of assistive devices such as cans and railings can significantly reduce the risk of falls. In addition, following a nutritious diet is essential.  

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