How Big a Risk is Falling for Elderly Adults?

By Andy Niska | August 9, 2018 |

Whether you have been caring for your senior for many years, or you have just gotten started in your caregiver journey, something you have likely heard a considerable amount about is fall risk. Seniors are at higher risk of experiencing a fall than younger people, and are also more likely to experience a serious consequence as a result of that fall. But how big of a risk is falling, really? And do you really need to worry about it as a part of your daily care routine with your aging parent? Understanding the realities of fall risk for seniors can help you recognize the seriousness of this issue, and how important it is to make protecting your senior an ongoing part of your care efforts.

Home Care in Spokane Valley WA: Seniors and Fall Risk

Some things you should understand about fall risk for elderly adults include:

Every year throughout the United States approximately 3 million senior adults require treatment in the emergency room due to a fall.
More than 800,000 people end up hospitalized due to the injuries they sustained in a fall.
Approximately 300,000 of these seniors are hospitalized for a hip fracture.
More than 97% of hip fractures in senior adults are caused by falls.
Seniors who suffer a hip fracture are twice as likely to die within the calendar year.
Approximately 20% of falls result in a broken bone or brain injury.
Death rates associated with falls among elderly adults have increased 30% since the year 2006, and are expected to continue increasing.
Even those seniors who are not seriously injured when they fall are likely to experience fear and anxiety after their fall, which can diminish activity, engagement, and quality of life.

Safety is a major issue for elderly adults, and as a family caregiver, protecting your senior’s safety should be an important focus of your care routine. Starting home care can be a great way to feel more confident in your senior’s safety, and also to enable them to remain in their own home for longer. When it comes to protecting a senior safely, the approach may need to be multifaceted. Seniors with mobility problems and balance issues may need to focus heavily on fall risk, while those living with cognitive functioning decline may be at greater risk of wandering tendencies or poor lifestyle decisions. A home care provider offers completely customized services tailored to the specific issues your senior is facing so they can stay safe and healthy, and maintain the type of lifestyle that is right for them.

If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Spokane Valley, WA, please contact the friendly staff at Love at Home Senior Care, today. Call (509) 204-4088

Source

https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html

Author
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Andy Niska

Owner at Love In Home Senior Care

Andy has over 20+ years experience in the medical community and has a true compassion for seniors. With a degree in Health Care Administration, he developed a background in a variety of health care services that only comes from first hand experience. While working as a manager of a large clinic and as an account executive for medical suppliers. Andy has built valuable relationships with the medical community.

His role in Love In Home Senior Care is to educate people on what care choice is the best fit for the senior and their family while attempting to make this decision as stress-free as possible for everyone involved.

This decision making process should be smooth and stress free for everyone, including all family members and their loved ones. Having access to people with experience (like the team at Love In Home Senior Care) to assist you along the way can help this process. With an extensive background in health care, Andy has the experience needed to guide and direct your loved one to the choice that is the best fit.