Falls
Falls in the elderly should be taken very seriously as they often cause a cascade of other medical problems. Statistics show that when older persons fall they often have subsequent significant medical problems. These other medical problems often result in longer hospital stays than for those persons who have not had a fall incident. In addition, when compared to elderly persons who have not had a fall, those persons who have fallen have a greater decline in functional, physical and social activities.
You should be aware if your loved one has risk factors for a fall. Some risk factors include:
- Previous falls
- Acute illness
- Long term or long lasting medical problems,, especially those that make it difficult to walk.
- Medications, especially the use of four or more multiple prescription drugs
- Confusion or cognitive impairment
- Use of cane or walker
- Poorer vision, which often comes with age.
- Problems getting out of a chair.
- Foot problems
- Age related pain in various areas of the body from nerve damage (i.e., not stable while standing, lessor sensory awareness when touching something, temperature)
- Poorer hearing
- Gait disturbance, balance disorders or weakness, pain related to arthritis
- Vertigo
- Central nervous system disorder, syncope, drop attacks, epilepsy
Nursing homes should assess their residents for their fall risk. A resident with a fall risk should be care–planned so that the risk is avoided. According to the Center for Disease Control, the care plan should include:
- Assessing patients after a fall to identify and address risk factors and treat underlying medical conditions
- Making changes in the nursing home environment to make it easier for residents to move about safely. This should include grab bars, raised toilet seats, lowering bed heights, and installing handrails in the hallways
- Reviewing the prescribed medications to determine their risks and benefits and to minimize their use
- Providing residents with hip pads that can effectively prevent most hip fractures if a fall occurs
- Using devices such as alarms that go off when residents try to get out of bed or otherwise move about without help
- Provide the appropriate physical assistance to those residents who need it
- Exercise programs and therapy can help with balance, strength, walking ability, and physical functioning
- Pressure stockings
If a nursing home or long–term care facility resident has a fall, you should make sure that the nursing home investigates and identifies why the person fell and then takes steps to undertake whatever preventable measures are required. This is important because in our practice we have seen situations where residents have had numerous falls before preventable measures are taken. Also, when a fall occurs, the resident should be transported to a hospital to be examined. Sometimes bones are broken or other injuries occur, but the resident is not properly and timely diagnosed and treated, thus causing unnecessary pain and other complications. If a fall occurs, causing injury, then contact Ed Fox & Associates.